Situation in the OPT/Jerusalem/Settlements- Request for SecCo meeting – Letter from Palestine

GENERAL ASSEMBLY SECURITY COUNCIL

Fifty-first session Fifty-second year

Agenda items 33, 35 and 85

THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

QUESTION OF PALESTINE

REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO

  INVESTIGATE ISRAELI PRACTICES

  AFFECTING THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF

  THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND OTHER

  ARABS OF THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES

Letter dated 18 March 1997 from the Permanent Observer

of Palestine to the United Nations addressed to the

Secretary-General

Following my letter to you of 17 March 1997, I wish to inform you that Israel, the occupying Power, has today, 18 March, begun the actual work for construction of a new settlement in the Jabal Abu Ghneim area to the south of occupied East Jerusalem.  The Israeli occupying authorities closed off the area, declaring it a military zone, and sent in bulldozers to start the work.

We call upon the Security Council to convene an immediate, official meeting to consider this serious situation, and to adopt a resolution in this regard, clearly demanding the immediate and full cessation of all settlement activities in Jabal Abu Ghneim, East Jerusalem and throughout the occupied Palestinian territory.

We believe that it is the duty of the Council to act and to act rapidly in response to such grave developments.

I would be grateful if you would arrange to have the text of the present letter distributed as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda items 33, 35 and 85 of the fifty-first session, and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Nasser AL-KIDWA        

Permanent Observer of Palestine

to the United Nations     

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