SUMMARY STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON MATTERS OF WHICH THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS SEIZED AND ON THE STAGE REACHED IN THEIR CONSIDERATION
Pursuant to rule 11 of the provisional rules of procedure of the Security Council, the Secretary-General is submitting the following summary statement.
The list of items of which the Security Council is seized is contained in documents S/19420 of 11 January 1988.
During the week ending 6 February 1988, the Security Council took action on the following item:
The situation in the occupied Arab territories (see S/11935/Add.18, S/11935/Add.19, S/11935/Add.20, S/11935/Add.21, S/11935/Add.44, S/11935/Add.45, S/13033/Add.9, S/13033/Add.10, S/13033/Add.11, S/13033/Add.28, S/13737/Add.7, S/13737/Add.8, S/13737/Add.18, S/13737/Add.20, S/13737/Add.22, S/13737/Add.50, S/14326/Add.50, S/14840/Add.1, S/14840/Add.2, S/14840/Add.3, S/14840/Add.4, S/14840/Add.12, S/14840/Add.13, S/14840/Add.15, S/14840/Add.16, S/14840/Add.45, S/15560/Add.6, S/15560/Add.7, S/15560/Add.20, S/15560/Add.30, S/15560/Add.31, S/16880/Add.36, S/17725/Add.3, S/17725/Add.4, S/17725/Add.48, S/17725/Add.49, S/18570/Add.49, S/18570/Add.50, S/18570/Add.51, S/19420/Add.1, S/19420/Add.2 and S/19420/Add.4)
The Security Council continued its consideration of the item at its 2789th to 2790th meetings, held on 1 February 1988.
In the course of the meetings, in addition to the representatives previously invited, the President, with the consent of the Council, invited the representatives of India, Indonesia and Zimbabwe, at their request, to participate in the discussion without the right to vote.
At the 2790th meeting, the President drew attention to the text of a draft resolution (S/19466) submitted by Algeria, Argentina, Nepal, Senegal, Yugoslavia and Zambia, which read as follows:
"The Security Council,
Having considered the Secretary-General's report of 21 January 1988 (S/19443) pursuant to resolution 605 (1987),
Expressing its grave concern over the increasing sufferings of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territories,
Bearing in mind the inalienable rights of all people recognized by the Charter of the United Nations and proclaimed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
Reaffirming that the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, is applicable to the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem,
Commending the International Committee of the Red Cross for its activities in the occupied territories,
Commending also the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East for its valuable work,
Conscious of the urgent need to resolve the underlying problem through a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement, including a solution to the Palestinian problem in all its aspects,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his report;
2. Calls upon Israel, as the occupying Power and as a High Contracting Party to the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, to accept the de jure applicability of the Convention to the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and fully to comply with its obligations under that Convention;
3. Recalls the obligation of all the High Contracting Parties, under article 1 of the Convention, to ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances;
4. Calls again upon Israel, to desist forthwith from its policies and practices which violate the human rights of the Palestinian people;
5. Requests Israel to facilitate the task of the International Committee of the Red Cross and of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and requests all Members to give them their full support;
6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to monitor the situation in the occupied territories by all means available to him and to make regular and timely reports to the Council;
7. Affirms the urgent need to achieve, under the auspices of the United Nations, a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Arab/Israeli conflict, an integral part of which is the Palestinian problem, and expresses its determination to work towards that end;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his endeavours to promote such a settlement and to keep the Council regularly informed;
9. Decides to keep the situation in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem, under review."
At the same meeting, the Security Council proceeded to vote on the draft resolution (S/19466), which received 14 votes in favour to 1 against (United States of America), with no abstentions, and was not adopted, owing to the negative vote of a permanent member of the Security Council.
