Mideast situation/Palestine question/Attack on refugee camp in Tunis – Letter from United Republic of Tanzania

Letter dated 2 October 1985 from the Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the

Permanent Mission of the United Republic of Tanzania to the

United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

I have the honour to transmit herewith a statement issued by the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania on the recent Israeli attack against a Palestinian refugee camp outside Tunis.

At the request of my Government, I should be most grateful if you would have this text circulated as an official document of the General Assembly, under agenda items 33 and 38, and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  C.K.P. MAJENGO

Chargé d'affaires a.i.

ANNEX

Statement by the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania

on the Israeli attack against Palestinian premises

The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania has learned with profound indignation of the recent callous attack by Israel armed forces against Palestinian premises outside Tunis in Tunisia in blatant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of that peace-loving country, of international norms of civilised conduct, and of the Convention relative to the protection of refugees. More than one hundred innocent civilians were murdered, hundreds more wounded.

The gravity of the violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Tunisia apart, this latest dastardly act of state terrorism and murder of innocent refugees, themselves forcefully uprooted from their Palestinian homeland by Israel aggression, represents a new twist to the grand ambition of Israel to annihilate the entire Palestinian nation and to destabilize the Arab world. This unjustified attack represents a new escalation of Israel attempts to further internationalize its war against the Palestinian and Arab people.

The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania resolutely condemns this yet another wanton act of murder by the regime of Israel, now reportedly committed with the knowledge and connivance of a purportedly responsible member of the international community.

The act of aggression and murder, premeditated to decimate the leadership of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, and to intimidate those countries, like Tunisia, which extend humanitarian assistance and Political solidarity to the Palestinian people will, as have the numerous such acts in the past, not subdue the Palestinian people or discourage their supporters in their legitimate struggle.

Tanzania reiterates its conviction that in the final analysis, Israel, the pariah state in that region, can, andwill not secure its peace through aggression and state terrorism. The key to the Middle East problem lies in the restoration of the Palestinian people of their right to self-determination in an independent Palestine.  Hence, the interests of all countries in the Middle East, including Israel, require that such acts of barbarism be abandoned and there be established an atmosphere conducive to peaceful co-existence.

In vehemently condemning this latest barbaric manifestation of Israel state terrorism, the Tanzania Government calls upon the international community to do likewise and respond immediately to the humanitarian needs of the victims of those senseless and immoral acts. The Government equally demands that those countries, which in a multiplicity of ways have abetted that policy of aggression, to prevail upon her to cease forthwith such genocidal acts.

The Tanzania Government and people express their condolences and join the Palestinian people in solidarity in their fight against Israel aggression and for the emancipation of their homeland. Tanzania expresses its unflinching solidarity with the fraternal Republic of Tunisia in its resolute determination not to submit to Israel lawlessness. Tanzania equally expresses its full solidarity with the Palestinian Liberation Organization in its struggle for the rights of the Palestinian people. Its undaunted commitment to that struggle has reinforced the determination of the Tanzanian people in rendering their unwavering support.

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