Situation in the OPT – Letter from CEIRPP Chairman

QUESTION OF PALESTINE

Letter dated 21 June 1978 from the Chairman of the Committee

 on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian

 People addressed to the Secretary-General

The reply of the Government of Israel to the Government of the United States concerning the future of the occupied territories, reported in the press, and the clarification given by Mr. Dayan, Israeli Minister for Foreign Affairs, quoted in The New York Times of 20 June 1978, that "the plan for autonomy in the occupied territories would be permanent and not a transitional phase to a separate Palestinian homeland" confirm that Israel has no intention of honouring the resolutions of the United Nations opposing the occupation of territories by force. These resolutions recognize the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, which have been the subject of recommendations of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. The recommendations in question have been adopted by the General Assembly.

Mr. Dayan's clarification constitutes, moreover, a violation of the principle of self-determination.

It is clear that all the assurances given by the Israeli Government concerning the territories occupied for the past 11 years have been aimed at enabling the Israeli State to evade its responsibilities and its obligations with respect to the United Nations and its Charter. It is also clear that a solution to the problems of the Middle East can be achieved only when the United Nations, and the Security Council in particular, take positive action in keeping with the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, which has recognized that the question of Palestine is at the heart of the problem 0£ the Middle East.

I should be grateful if this letter could be circulated as an offical document of the General Assembly under item 31 of the preliminary list.

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* A/33/50/Rev.1.

78-14794