Settlements – LAS resolution – Letter from Kuwait

Letter dated 4 April 1997 from the Chargé d'affaires a.i.

of the Permanent Mission of Kuwait the United Nations

addressed to the Secretary-General

In my capacity as Chairman of the Arab Group for the month of April 1997 and on behalf of the States members of the League of Arab States, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a copy of resolution 107/5630, entitled "Settler colonialism in the occupied Palestinian territory", which was adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its one hundred and seventh regular session on 31 March 1997.

I should be grateful if you would have this letter and its annex circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda items 33, 35 and 85, and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Ali Sulaiman R. AL-SAEID

Chargé d'affaires a.i.

ANNEX

Resolution adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States

at its one hundred and seventh session on 31 March 1997

SETTLER COLONIALISM IN THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

The Council of the League of Arab States,

Having considered:

The note by the Secretariat concerning settler colonialism in the occupied Palestinian territory;

The recommendation made by the Conference of Arab Officials Responsible for Palestinian Affairs in the Host Countries at its fifty-seventh session;

Its previous resolutions and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations;

The recommendation of the Political Affairs Committee,

Having been informed of the expansionist plans of the Israeli authorities, the expropriation of land, the escalation of settlement activity and the statements of Israeli leaders calling for the expansion of settlements,

DECIDES:

1. To affirm that the resolutions embodying international legitimacy must be implemented, in particular Security Council resolution 465 (1980) calling upon Israel to halt all settlement activity and to dismantle the existing settlements; and to affirm that settlement activities are in violation of the Geneva Conventions and the Madrid framework and constitute an impediment to the peace process;

2. To reject and condemn all Israeli settlement practices, especially the latest plan for settlement at Jabal Abu Ghneim; and to warn against the consequences of pursuing this policy, which is having a serious impact on the peace process and threatening to destroy it;

3. To urge the international community and all States providing economic and financial assistance to Israel, in particular the United States and the countries of the European Union, as well as the international donor institutions and funds, to halt assistance that is used by Israel to implement settlement plans in the occupied Palestinian territory;

4. To support and endorse the measures taken by the competent authorities of the State of Palestine to form popular local committees to defend Palestinian land and counter Israeli violations;

5. To affirm the need to implement League Council resolution 5582 on the convening, in the second half of 1997, of an international seminar on settlement activity highlighting the dangerous character of the underlying concepts and practical implications of Israeli settler colonialism.

Resolution 107/5630

One hundred and seventh regular session

3rd meeting

31 March 1997

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