Beirut Palestinian refugee camps/Physical safety/Proposed int’l Mideast peace conference – Letter from CEIRPP Chairman

Letter dated 23 May 1985 from the Chairman of the Committee

on the Exercise of the inalienable Rights of the Palestinian

People to the Secretary-General

In my capacity as Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People I wish to inform you of the Committee's profound concern at the current tragic developments in and around the Palestinian refugee camps in Beirut. The world is once again watching with horror as the camps at Sabra, Shatila and Burj el-Barajneh are the object of armed attacks. The Gaza hospital in Shatila and a home for the aged in Sabra were destroyed by artillery shells a few days ago, with considerable casualties. Reports today indicated that many injured Palestinians have died for lack of medical care. The fighting is continuing, with great loss of life and destruction, thus adding to the cruel suffering of the Palestinians as well as of the Lebanese people.

The Committee has repeatedly pointed out that conflict and violence in the region will continue as long as the Palestinian people are prevented from exercising their inalienable rights in their own independent State. We wish to assert once again that the United Nations, and particularly the Security Council have a clear responsibility to ensure the physical safety of the Palestinians and to bring about the exercise of their inalienable rights.

The Committee remains convinced that positive action by the Security Council on its recommendations, and on the proposed International Peace Conference on the Middle East, would advance prospects for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, and avoid the recurrence of tragedies such as the one now unfolding, it continues to call on all parties concerned to co-operate in the search for a peaceful solution.

In this connection the Committee urges you to continue to do all in your power to put an end to the violence against the Palestinian refugee camps and to promote a just and durable solution of the Palestinian question, the core of the conflict in the Middle East.

I should be most grateful if you would have the text of the present letter circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under item 33 of the preliminary list, and of the Security Council.

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* A/40/50/Rev.l.