1.  The United Nations Asian Meeting in Support of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 15 and 16 December 2006, under the auspices of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.  Participants in the Meeting included international experts, representatives of Governments, Palestine, intergovernmental organizations, United Nations entities, parliaments, civil society, and the media.

2.  The Meeting was convened by the Committee with a view to sensitizing international public opinion, particularly in Asia and the Pacific, to the situation of the Palestinian people and the urgency of resuming a meaningful political dialogue leading to a permanent two-State solution, based on the 1967 borders, in accordance with the Road Map and Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003).

3.  In the course of the Meeting, the participants reviewed the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; discussed the action and strategies of Israel, the occupying Power; and the state of the Palestinian economy and humanitarian situation of Palestinians.  The Meeting also addressed such issues as international efforts at salvaging peace in the region, including through the efforts of the Quartet, the Arab Peace Initiative, the role of the Security Council, action by Asian and Pacific States, as well as intergovernmental organizations and parliaments.

4.  The participants emphasized that the continuing occupation of the Palestinian territory, now in its fortieth year, remained the root cause of the conflict.  They expressed the view that this long-standing conflict would have no final settlement without the achievement by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights, defined by the General Assembly in 1974 as the right to self-determination without external interference, the right to national independence and sovereignty, and the right of Palestinians to return to their homes and property, from which they had been displaced and uprooted. 

5.  The participants expressed great concern at the escalation in recent months of Israeli military attacks in the Gaza Strip, particularly the tragic events that had taken place in the town of Beit Hanoun.  These military operations resulted in a large number of deaths and injuries among Palestinian civilians, including women, children and the elderly.  The participants denounced the use of excessive and indiscriminate force, extrajudicial killings, and the vast destruction of homes, civilian infrastructure and agricultural lands.  They reminded Israel, the occupying Power, that it has to respect its obligations under international humanitarian law.  They also called for the cessation of rocket attacks on Israel carried out by Palestinian groups from the Gaza Strip.  These actions put civilians in serious danger and only aggravate an already grave security situation. 

6.  The participants welcomed the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, which, they stressed, needed to be extended to the West Bank and supported by tangible political steps that would allow the parties to engage in a meaningful political dialogue.  They called upon the international community, including the members of the Quartet, to establish a credible and effective third-party monitoring mechanism.  They also urged the United Nations to establish in cooperation with the parties a general mechanism for the protection of civilians on the ground. 

7.  The participants condemned the continuing construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, in contravention of the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice.  They welcomed the adoption of the General Assembly resolution ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006 on the establishment of the Register of Damage caused by the construction of the wall confirming the Secretary-General's report on the issue.  They felt it was crucial to set in motion, without further delay, the establishment of the Register of Damage two and a half years after the landmark decision of the International Court of Justice.  The participants were extremely concerned about the lack of action on freezing settlement activities, continuing in spite of repeated appeals by the Quartet and the wider international community.  In addition to being illegal and causing daily hardship for the Palestinian population, these physical obstacles in the Occupied Palestinian Territory prejudice the outcome of the permanent status negotiations and complicate efforts at establishing a contiguous and independent State of Palestine.

8.  The participants expressed frustration at the deepening economic, social and humanitarian crisis and isolation of the Gaza Strip.  They criticized Israel for withholding of tax revenues due to the Palestinian Authority, resulting in an unprecedented financial shortfall for the Authority, which delivered basic public services in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.  The participants also stressed the critical importance of the international donor assistance.  In this regard, they urged donors to give generously to the recently launched emergency appeal by 12 United Nations agencies and 14 non-governmental organizations aimed at addressing a rapidly worsening humanitarian situation.

9.  The participants expressed appreciation to countries, including in Asia, which had been generous providers of assistance to the Palestinian people.  The participants also remained hopeful that the established Temporary International Mechanism, endorsed by the Quartet, would help alleviate the desperate humanitarian situation.  They also welcomed the decision to extend the functioning of the Temporary International Mechanism for three months.  At the same time, they urged the Government of Israel to fulfil its obligations under international law and lift its restrictions on the freedom of movement and other measures stifling the economic and social life of the Palestinians, and to resume the transfer of collected Palestinian tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority in keeping with signed agreements. 

10.  The participants strongly supported continuing efforts of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas aimed at forming a Government of National Unity that is capable of achieving maximum support of the Palestinian people and capable of fulfilling its responsibilities vis-à-vis the international community.

11.  The Meeting took note of the Declaration on Palestine adopted at the 14th Summit Conference of Heads of State or Government of the Non-Aligned Movement held in Havana in September 2006, which reiterated the vital role of the Movement with regard to the question of Palestine and entrusted its Chairman to lead efforts of the Movement in the pursuit of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

12.  The participants reaffirmed the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with respect to the question of Palestine, until it was resolved based on relevant Security Council resolutions, the Madrid terms of reference, the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Road Map, and until the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people were fully realized in all aspects.  They called upon the United Nations to promote the convening of an international peace conference on the Middle East.  They commended the Committee for organizing meetings, like this one in Kuala Lumpur, that mobilize Governments and public opinion in the different regions in support of a peaceful solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  They urged the Committee to continue upholding the norms of international law thus setting the standards for a final settlement of the question of Palestine, in conformity with international legality.

13.  The participants welcomed the pledge of Governments of Asia, intergovernmental organizations, and civil society representatives to support Israelis and Palestinians in their quest for a just and peaceful settlement of the conflict.  The participants also urged them to continue their moral, political and material support of the Palestinian people.

14.  The participants voiced their appreciation for the active and constructive role played by Malaysia, a Member of the Committee, in efforts to assist the Palestinian people achieve its inalienable rights.  The personal engagement and support of H. E. Dato' Seri Syed Hamid Albar, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, contributed significantly to the success of the meeting.  The participants expressed their deep gratitude to the Government of Malaysia, its Ministry of Foreign Affairs for hosting the Meeting and for the assistance and support extended to the Committee and the United Nations Secretariat in its preparation.

Kuala Lumpur, 16 December 2006