Economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation – ECOSOC meeting, introduction of draft resolution – Summary record (excerpts)

Provisional summary record of the 43rd meeting

Held at Headquarters, New York, on Thursday, 24 July 2008, at 3 p.m.

President: Mr. Lima (Vice-President). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Cape Verde)

Contents

The role of the United Nations system in implementing the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2007 of the Council (continued)

Economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan (continued)

In the absence of Mr. Mérorès (Haiti), Mr. Lima (Cape Verde), Vice-President, took the Chair.

The meeting was called to order at 3.15 p.m.

/…

Economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan (continued) (E/2008/13; E/2008/L.26)

Draft resolution entitled “Economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan” (E/2008/L.26[Link])

10. Mr. Benfreha (Algeria), introducing draft resolution E/2008/L.26 entitled “Economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan”, said that South Africa had joined the sponsors. The word “mother” should be inserted before the word “homeland” in paragraph 12 of the draft resolution.

11. As noted in the report prepared by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia on the same subject (E/2008/13), the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory and Syrian Golan continued to intensify the economic and social hardship of the Palestinian and Syrian people. The report painted a bleak picture of high unemployment, rampant poverty and rising health-related problems among the Palestinian population, particularly in the Gaza Strip and confirmed that illegal Israeli settlements, the confiscation and destruction of Palestinian land and the unlawful construction of the wall in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, continued to have negative repercussions on Palestinian people’s living conditions. Indeed, such illegal policies curtailed normal economic and social life, and fuelled and prolonged the conflict. The report also documented the continued negative impact of Israeli settlements in the occupied Syrian Golan on the Syrian people’s access to their natural resources and social services, and the threat posed by Israeli landmines to Syrian Arab villagers in the occupied Syrian Golan.

12. The draft resolution was very similar to the resolution adopted the previous year. In addition, it expressed grave concern about the continuation of settlement activities and other related measures in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as well as in the occupied Syrian Golan; stressed the importance of national unity among the Palestinian people, and emphasized the need for the respect and preservation of the territorial integrity and unity of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; and called upon Israel to comply with the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and to facilitate the visits of Syrian citizens of the occupied Syrian Golan whose family members resided in their homeland, the Syrian Arab Republic, via the Qunaitra entrance.

13. He hoped that the draft resolution would be adopted by consensus and that it might help alleviate the misery and untold suffering of the Palestinian civilian population living under Israel’s 41-year-old occupation.

14. The President said that Indonesia, Malaysia and Mauritania had become sponsors of the draft resolution and that action would be taken thereon at a later stage.

The meeting rose at 3.35 p.m.

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Corrections to this record 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.