Jerusalem/Settlements – GA emergency session – SecGen report/Addendum

Report of the Secretary-General submitted in accordance

with General Assembly resolution ES-10/2

Addendum

CONTENTS

REPLIES FROM MEMBER STATES

Lebanon

[Original:  Arabic]

1. The current crisis facing the peace process in the Middle East is the responsibility of the Government of Israel, which has repeatedly announced its disavowal of the principles on which the peace process initiated at the Madrid Conference was based.  The Government of Israel has also reneged on commitments made to other parties at Oslo and Washington.

2. That the Government of Israel should still be building and expanding settlements is in itself in flagrant violation of any commitment to the peace process and can only undermine and destroy that process.  Israel's plans to build a new settlement in Jebel Abu Ghneim to the south of occupied East Jerusalem confirm its determination to impose a fait accompli by force in a manner incompatible with the concept of peace and what it requires of the region and also bear out the fact that it ignores the rights and interests of those who are supposed to be its partners in peace.

3. Lebanon reaffirms its commitment to peace as a strategic choice and believes that peace can only be achieved if the relevant principles and United Nations resolutions are respected.  It calls for the resumption of negotiations on the Lebanese and Syrian tracks from the point previously reached.  Lebanon also calls for the final-status talks between Israel and the Palestinians to begin, so that the Palestinian people will be accorded its legitimate rights as they relate to the establishment of an independent State with Jerusalem as its capital, in keeping with the political and religious significance that the Holy City holds for Palestinians in particular and for adherents of the Islamic, Christian and Jewish faiths in general.

South Africa

[Original:  English]

1. The Government of South Africa strongly disapproves of construction activities as undertaken by Israel to build a new settlement on the West Bank in Jebel Abu Ghneim/Har Homa.

2. South Africa reiterates its view that all settlement activities in the occupied territories contravene international law and are a major obstacle to peace.

3. In addition, settlement activities in territories under occupation by Israel constitute a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949.  These territories are not under Israeli sovereignty and South Africa considers the acquisition of such by force as inadmissible.

4. South Africa has taken note with concern that construction in Jebel Abu Ghneim/Har Homa continues and that Israel has not yet complied with calls for its immediate suspension.

Thailand

[Original:  English]

The Royal Thai Government has strictly complied with General Assembly resolution ES-10/2.  It has never supported Israel's illegal activities in the occupied territories, including Jerusalem.  Thailand fully supports the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the peace process in the Middle East.

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