CEIRPP meeting – Summary record

Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights

of the Palestinian People 

Summary record of the 293rd meeting

Held at Headquarters, New York, on Wednesday, 19 April 2006, at 3 p.m. 

 Chairman:  Mr. Badji  ………………………………………………… (Senegal)

Contents

Adoption of the agenda

Report by the Chairman on developments since the previous meeting

Developments in the Middle East peace process and the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem

United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People

The meeting was called to order at 3.20 p.m.

Adoption of the agenda 

1.   The agenda was adopted.

Report by the Chairman on developments since the previous meeting 

2.   The Chairman informed the Committee that the Security Council had met on 30 March and 17 April 2006 to discuss the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. Twenty-four speakers had taken the floor at the first meeting and over thirty at the second and he had participated in both debates in his capacity as Chairman of the Committee. On 30 March, he had spoken of the Committee’s concerns about the Israeli Government’s plan to define its permanent borders unilaterally. He had also referred to the expansion of settlements, in particular the E1 plan, Israel’s strategy in the Jordan Valley and the continued construction of the wall in violation of the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. On 17 April, he had expressed the Committee’s deep concern at the intensification of military action by the Israel Defense Forces, the increased number of extrajudicial assassinations and the firing of missiles and artillery rounds at Palestinian targets. On behalf of the Committee, he had also strongly condemned the latest suicide attack in Tel Aviv.

3.   In addition, on 30 March 2006, he had addressed a letter to the President of the Security Council in which he had reiterated the Committee’s continuing objection to the deletion from the list of items of which the Council was currently seized of those items relating to the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East, which were of special concern not only to the Committee but also to the majority of Member States. That letter had subsequently been circulated as document S/2006/208.

Developments in the Middle East peace process and the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem

4.   Mr. Mansour (Observer for Palestine) expressed his gratitude to the Chairman for his active support during the Security Council debates of 30 March and 17 April 2006. The Palestinian people had perceived that support as a sign that Committee members and observers understood their just struggle and the suffering and humiliation they were forced to endure on a daily basis in the Occupied Territory.

5.   Since his delegation had made extensive statements at the aforementioned meetings, he would not repeat those remarks. The situation on the ground remained very tense in Gaza and other occupied cities in the West Bank. Eighty armed cars and military units had invaded Nablus, injuring a number of Palestinians and leading to the imprisonment of many others, and in parts of the northern and eastern Gaza Strip more than 300 shells were falling every day.

6.   Although the Security Council had not taken a position on the situation at its meetings of 30 March and 17 April 2006, it had a responsibility to intervene and put an end to the Israeli aggression. The latest events marked the third wave of attacks since January, and it was clear that Israel was using economic, political and military means to punish the Palestinian people because it did not accept the outcome of their recent democratic elections.

7.   The international community was duty-bound to continue to pressure Israel to cease its attacks in order to contain the situation on the ground and pave the way for the resumption of the peace process. He hoped that the Israeli Government would take note of the strong views expressed in the Security Council and draw the appropriate conclusions. It must refrain from further aggression and abide by its obligations under international law, in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention.

8.  The Chairman commended the Observer for Palestine for the recent initiatives he had taken and for the ardour with which he continued to defend the rights of the Palestinian people.

United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People

9.   The Chairman drew attention to working paper No. 1, which contained the provisional programme for the United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People, to be held in Cairo, Egypt, on 26 and 27 April 2006. The Committee’s delegation to the Seminar would be composed of Mr. Farhâdi, Vice-Chairman of the Committee; Mr. Camilleri, Rapporteur; Mr. Mansour, Observer for Palestine; and himself. If he heard no objection, he would take it that the Committee wished to approve the provisional programme.

10.  It was so decided.

11.  Mr. Adel (Egypt) said that Egypt was very pleased to be hosting the Seminar. The Egyptian Government would make every effort to ensure that the event was a success.

The meeting rose at 3.40 p.m.

This record is subject to correction. Corrections should be submitted in one of the working languages. They should be set forth in a memorandum and also incorporated in a copy of the record. They should be sent within one week of the date of this document to the Chief, Official Records Editing Section, room DC2-750, 2 United Nations Plaza.

Any corrections to the record of this meeting and of other meetings will be issued in a corrigendum.