Situation in the OPT/Settlements, detentions – Letter from CEIRPP Chairman

GENERAL ASSEMBLY SECURITY COUNCIL

Thirty-eighth session Thirty-eighth year

QUESTION OF PALESTINE

Letter dated 21 January 1983 from the Chairman of the Committee

on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian

People addressed to the Secretary-General

As Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, it is my duty to draw to your attention the new measures taken by Israel as part of its persistent policy of establishing settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory of the West Bank. I am also bound to express the Committee's deep concern at the continuing violation of the human rights of the Palestinians who reside in the occupied territories.

Regarding the question of new settlements, I would refer you to an article in The New York Times of 17 January 198 3. It states that the Government of Israel approved, on 16 January, the establishment of four new settlements in the occupied West Bank. As you know, more than 100 Jewish settlements have been established in the territory which Israel has occupied since 1967. In addition, you will recall that, in a previous communication (A/37/604-S/15482), I drew your attention to Israel's declared policy, referred to in The New York Times, which is to settle up to 400,000 Jews in the West Bank in the next five years and 1.4 million Jews over the next 30 years.

The change in the demographic structure of the occupied territories which will result, and which constitutes a direct violation of the resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council, can only exacerbate an already tense and explosive situation.

As to the repressive measures purportedly taken against the Palestinians in the occupied territories, the Committee has learned that the occupying authorities have adopted a policy of mass arrests, assembling trade unionists, students, teachers, writers and journalists in order to question them and in many cases putting them in prison. The Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz stated on 26 December 1982 and 6 January 1983 that the persons who have been called "Palestinians detained for security reasons" have started a hunger strike in protest against the inhuman conditions of detention in the prisons of Al-Khalil and Jenin.

In view of the increased gravity and number of the measures taken by the occupying authorities, I take this opportunity to urge, on behalf of the Committee, that you assist in these difficult times in ensuring respect for the civil rights of the Palestinian people.

I should be grateful if you would arrange for this letter to be circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under the item entitled "Question of Palestine", and of the Security Council.

(Signed) Massamba SARRE

Chairman of the Committee on the

Exercise of the Inalienable Rights

of the Palestinian People