Mideast situation/Lebanon – Letter from Palestine

Letter dated 30 July 1993 from the Permanent Observer of Palestine

to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

In reference to the letter (A/47/994-S/26196) dated 29 July 1993 from the Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the United Nations, I would like to state the following:

We firmly support the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon, and we do also appreciate the brotherly relationship that exists between the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian leadership on the one hand and the Lebanese Government on the other hand.

At the same time, we adhere to our duty and right to defend the safety and well-being of Palestinian civilians, including those living in the refugee camps of Lebanon, against Israeli attack.  In this regard, we recall several previous agreements on the security and safety of the Palestinian civilians in those refugee camps.

We sympathize greatly with, and also share in, the suffering of Lebanon in the face of the recent Israeli aggression, and we do support the steps taken by the Government of Lebanon in this regard.  However, we were compelled to move, after several days following the start of the Israeli aggression, and in light of the apparent lack of action, with the aim of defending Palestinian civilians through the established international machinery, in this case the Security Council, which has clear responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations.

We reiterate our belief that the Security Council has to consider immediately the situation and take concrete measures to bring the Israeli aggression to an end, and we call upon the Council to do so, as we did in our letters, dated 28 July 1993, to you and to the President of the Security Council.

I would be grateful if you would arrange to have the text of the present letter distributed as an official document of the General Assembly, under items 34, 35, 85 and 86 of the provisional agenda, and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Nasser AL-KIDWA

Permanent Observer of Palestine

to the United Nations

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*A/48/150.