Jerusalem/Settlements – GA emergency session – Letters from Palestine

ILLEGAL ISRAELI ACTIONS IN OCCUPIED EAST JERUSALEM AND THE

REST OF THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

Identical letters dated 18 July 1997 from the Permanent Observer of Palestine

to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

and to the President of the Security Council

Israel's reaction to resolution ES-10/3 of 15 July 1997, which was overwhelmingly adopted by the General Assembly at its resumed tenth emergency special session, is indeed a reason for increased concern on our part and on the part of the international community.  The reaction reflects the same kind of intransigence, arrogance and even contempt for the will of the international community.

Mr. David Bar-Illan, an adviser of the Prime Minister of Israel, called the resolution "shameful" and "morally bankrupt".  Prime Minister Netanyahu himself went on to threaten the Palestinians in a show of complete disregard for the positions of Member States by stating:  "If the Palestinians think that this ridiculous and meaningless resolution can succeed at achieving anything, they have made a big mistake.  Israel will continue to maintain its sovereignty in Jerusalem despite the objections of other countries throughout the world".

Before the resumption of the tenth emergency special session, the Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations submitted the Israeli response (A/52/225-S/1997/530) to the report of the Secretary-General (A/ES-10/6- S/1997/494 and Corr.1), which was submitted pursuant to resolution ES-10/2 of 25 April 1997.  Such an outrageous response can only be viewed as absolute nonsense, as it makes unacceptable challenges to the integrity of the work of the United Nations and ignores the facts on the ground and the established positions of the international community, as well as the provisions of international law.  This lengthy response, in fact, does not even deserve an answer.

These kinds of actions and responses, in addition to the fact that Israel continues illegal settlement activities, including at Jabal Abu Ghneim, clearly indicate that the Israeli Government does not understand the messages that have been sent by the international community.  Obviously this increases the need for serious follow-up of resolutions ES-10/2 and ES-10/3, and probably even the need for further actions by the international community with the aim of ensuring Israel's compliance with the provisions of those resolutions and other relevant United Nations resolutions, as well as provisions of international law.

I should be grateful if you would arrange to have the text of the present letter distributed as a document of the General Assembly, under items 36, 37 and 87 of the provisional agenda, as well as of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Dr. Nasser AL-KIDWA

Permanent Observer of Palestine

to the United Nations

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emspecsess10.97