Assistance to the Palestinian people – GA debate, action – Press release (excerpts)

Sixtieth General Assembly

Plenary

63^rd Meeting (AM)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ESTABLISHES NEW EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND

TO PROVIDE INSTANT CASH FOR HUMANITARIAN CRISES

Resolution also Adopted on Security of Humanitarian Personnel,

Strengthening of Assistance Coordination, Assistance to Palestinian People

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Background

The General Assembly met today to take up issues related to coordination of humanitarian assistance, promotion of democracy, and inclusion of another item on the agenda, as recommended by the Assembly’s General Committee.

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Drafts

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Also before the Assembly is a text on assistance to the Palestinian people (document A/60/L.36), by which it would emphasize the importance of the safety and well-being of all children in the Middle East region, and express its grave concern at the deterioration in the living conditions of the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Territories, which constitutes a mounting humanitarian crisis.

Stressing the need for the full engagement of the United Nations in the process of building Palestinian institutions and in providing broad assistance to the Palestinian people, the text would have the Assembly call upon the international community to provide urgently needed assistance and services in an effort to alleviate the dire humanitarian crisis being faced by Palestinian children and their families, and to help in the reconstruction of relevant Palestinian institutions.  The draft would also have the Assembly urge Member States to open their markets to exports of Palestinian products on the most favourable terms, consistent with appropriate trading rules.

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Introduction of Drafts

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ADAM THOMSON (United Kingdom), speaking on behalf of the European Union, introduced the text on assistance to the Palestinian people (document A/60/L.36), saying that cooperation from the international community was crucial in order to help build and rehabilitate Palestinian infrastructure and institutions.  The European Union, along with other members of the Diplomatic Quartet on the Middle East peace process, were prepared to provide technical and other assistance to the Palestinian people in upcoming elections, including deploying an observer mission.  The European Union would continue to support all efforts to ensure that a final, peaceful, two-State solution was achieved, in line with the Road Map peace plan.

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Action on Resolutions

The resolutions on assistance to the Palestinian people (document A/60/L.36), safety, security and protection (document A/60/L.37), coordination of humanitarian assistance (document A/60/L.38), and assistance in natural disasters (document A/60/L.39), were adopted without a vote, as orally amended amid a number of additional co-sponsorship statements.  During adoption, the representatives of Mali and the United Kingdom made technical oral amendments to the texts.

Explanations of Position after Action

GILAD COHEN ( Israel) said his country had long supported humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people and was pleased to join the consensus.  The drafting of the resolution had been a good example of a process that fostered mutual respect and compromise.  Rather than showing bias against Israel, it found the middle ground that was beneficial to mutual endeavours, as a mechanism that would hopefully be replicated in future resolutions addressing the situation in the Middle East.

He said both Israeli and Palestinian civilians had endured great difficulty and pain because of terrorist activity over the past five years.  Despite continuing violence, such as that which occurred in Netanya just a few days ago, 23,000 Palestinian employees had been approved to work in Israel as of 12 December.  That was in addition to 14,200 Palestinians who worked in Israel as employees of international organizations.

He said humanitarian assistance must be provided without selectivity or politicization.  Israel’s joining of consensus on the resolution reflected that non-political goodwill, and did not represent an endorsement of certain items in the text that contradicted the language of agreements between the parties and the underlying spirit of the agreements.  It must also be emphasized that civilians on both side endured pain.  No one had a monopoly on suffering, and both sides must live without violence or fear.

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Speaking in explanation of position after action had been taken on the resolution on assistance to the Palestinian people, NADYA RIFAAT RASHEED, Observer of Palestine, said that her delegation believed that inclusion of language on children in the text, demonstrated that the international community was prepared to address the effects of the occupation on those children in a comprehensive manner.  Her delegation looked forward to the day when the Palestinian people did not have to depend on the support of the international community for assistance and could live in their own State, peacefully and free from occupation.

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For information media • not an official record