Mideast situation/Lebanon – LAS resolution – Letter from Kuwait

GENERAL ASSEMBLY SECURITY COUNCIL

Fifty-first session Fifty-second year

Agenda items 33 and 85

THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE

  TO INVESTIGATE ISRAELI PRACTICES

  AFFECTING THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE

  PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND OTHER ARABS

  OF THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES

Identical letters dated 16 April 1997 from the Chargé d'affaires a.i.

of the Permanent Mission of Kuwait to the United Nations addressed to

the Secretary-General and to the President of the Security Council

In my capacity as chairman of the Group of Arab States for the month of April 1997, and on behalf of the States members of the League of Arab States, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a copy of resolution 5635 entitled "Lebanese hostages and detainees held in Israeli camps and prisons", which was adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its one hundred and seventh regular session on 31 March 1997.

I should be grateful if you would have the text of the present letter and its annex circulated as a document of the fifty-first session of the General Assembly, under agenda items 33 and 85, and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Ali AL-SAEID           

Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the   

Permanent Mission of Kuwait to the

United Nations and Chairman of the

Group of Arab States       

ANNEX

Lebanese hostages and detainees held

in Israeli camps and prisons

The Council of the League of Arab States,

Having examined the note of the General Secretariat and the recommendation of the Political Affairs Committee,

Noting with concern Israeli attacks and oppressive practices in the occupied Lebanese territories of southern Lebanon and the western Bekaa, in particular the kidnapping and detention of innocent citizens who are imprisoned without trial in prisons in Israel and in the camps run by forces under Israeli control,

Recalling with deep regret Israel's failure to implement Security Council resolution 425 (1978),

Mindful of the principles of international law concerning the protection of human rights, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 1949 and The Hague Convention of 1907,

Noting the insanitary and inhumane conditions in which the detainees are kept and in which a number of them have died,

Recalling the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights,

Recalling the Council's earlier resolutions on Lebanese hostages and detainees held in Israeli camps and prisons, the most recent of which was resolution 5587 (CVI) of 15 September 1996,

Decides

1. To condemn the persistent Israeli violations of human rights in the occupied regions of southern Lebanon and the western Bekaa, as exemplified by the kidnapping and arbitrary arrest of civilians and the destruction of their homes, the confiscation of their property and their expulsion from their land, as well as by the shelling of peaceful villages and urban areas;

2. To appeal to the international community, and the United Nations in particular, to take all necessary steps to deter Israel from committing such violations and to comply with Security Council resolution 425 (1978), which calls upon Israel to withdraw forthwith, completely and unconditionally, from all Lebanese territory and for respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Lebanon;

3. To appeal to the international community to make all necessary representations to Israel to secure the immediate release of all Lebanese prisoners and victims of kidnapping held in prisons in Israel and in the camps run by forces under Israeli control in violation of the provisions of international law, the fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and The Hague Convention of 1907;

4. To urge the member States of the League to use their good offices in international organizations so that all necessary representations are made to the Government of Israel, the occupying Power, to enable the International Committee of the Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations to visit the detainees in Khiam and Marj Uyun periodically and on a regular basis, and to ensure that the conditions in which they are being kept are inspected, that they are provided with health and humanitarian care and that their relatives are allowed to visit them regularly;

5. To demand that investigations be held, as required by international treaties, concerning Lebanese detainees who have died in Israeli camps and prisons, and that appropriate compensation be paid for those who have suffered, in accordance with the applicable international law.

(Resolution 5635, one hundred and seventh regular session, 3rd meeting, 31 March 1997)

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