Situation in the OPT – Letter from Palestine

Letter dated 22 September 1989 from the Permanent Observer

of Palestine to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

Upon instructions from the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, which has the power and responsibilities of the Provisional Government of the State of Palestine, we bring the following to your immediate attention:

The situation in the occupied Palestinian territory continues to deteriorate owing to the flagrant violations of human rights practised by Israel, the occupying Power, against the Palestinian people, who can no longer tolerate such brutality and call upon the world community to take immediate action.

Yesterday a dental clinic in the city of Bireh in the West Bank was ransacked by Israeli soldiers who opened fire on the patients and staff members of the clinic; as yet we have not received the actual number of people injured.

Furthermore, on 20 September 1989, Israeli soldiers attacked two schools for boys and girls in the town of Khader, near Bethlehem.  Many students were severely beaten by the Israeli soldiers, who used tear-gas bombs and live ammunition, and approximately 20 students were arrested.

In addition, El-Azzeh Refugee Camp, near Bethlehem, was also attacked by the Israeli occupying forces shooting randomly and using an estimated 50 tear-gas bombs on the residents of the camp.

Palestine calls on the Secretary-General of the United Nations to use his good offices to ensure respect for the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and to take adequate measures to protect the Palestinian population in the Israeli occupied territory.

We would be grateful if you would arrange to have the text of the present letter circulated as an official document of the General Assembly, under agenda items 37, 39 and 77, and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Zuhdi Labib TERZI

Permanent Observer of Palestine

to the United Nations

—–