UNRWA/Israeli Practices – Fourth Cttee debate – Summary record

 

Special Political and Decolonization Committee

(Fourth Committee)

 

Summary record of the 25th meeting

Held at Headquarters, New York, on Monday, 14 November 2005, at 3 p.m. 

 

 Chairman:  Mr. Aliyev ………………………………………………….. (Azerbaijan)

 

 

 

Contents

 

Agenda item 30: United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East ( continued)

Agenda item 31: Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories ( continued)

  


 

The meeting was called to order at 3.25 p.m.

 

 

 

Agenda item 30: United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (continued) (A/C.4/60/L.9, L.10, L.11/Rev.1, L.12 and L.18/Rev.1)

  

1.   The Chairman invited the Committee to take action on the four draft resolutions and the draft decision under the item.

 

Draft resolution on assistance to Palestine refugees (A/C.4/60/L.9) 

 

2.   The Chairman read out the following list of additional sponsors: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cuba, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

3.  A recorded vote was taken.

In favour: 

Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam ,Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

 Israel. 

Abstaining :

Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Cameroon, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America.

 

 

4.   Draft resolution A/C.4/60/L.9 was adopted by 151 votes to 1, with 8 abstentions.*

*   The delegation of Antigua and Barbuda subsequently informed the Committee that it had mistakenly voted to abstain but had intended to vote in favour.

 

Draft resolution on persons displaced as a result of the June 1970 and subsequent hostilities (A/C.4/60/L.10)

 

5.  The Chairman said that Cuba, Mali and Mauritania had joined the sponsors. A minor editorial change had been made in paragraph 5 of the text: “sixtieth session” should read “sixty-first session”.

6.  A recorded vote was taken.

In favour: 

Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Swit zerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America.

Abstaining:

 Albania.

7.   Draft resolution A/C.4/60/L.10, as orally revised, was adopted by 154 votes to 6, with 1 abstention .

 

Draft resolution on operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (A/C.4/60/L.11/Rev.1)

 

8.   The Chairman announced that Cuba had joined the sponsors.

9.   A recorded vote was taken.

In favour:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America.

Abstaining:

Albania, Cameroon.

10.   Draft resolution A/C.4/60/L.11/Rev.1 was adopted by 152 votes to 6, with 2 abstentions .

Draft resolution on Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues (A/C.4/60/L.12)

 

11.  The Chairman said that the following delegations had also become sponsors: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cuba, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

12.  A recorded vote was taken.

In favour:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America.

Abstaining:

Albania, Cameroon.

13.   Draft resolution A/C.4/60/L.12 was adopted by 153 votes to 6, with 2 abstentions.

 

Draft decision on an increase in the membership of the Advisory Commission on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (A/C.4/60/L.18/Rev.1)

 

14.   The Chairman said that paragraph (b) of the draft decision had been revised: the word “Australia,” should be inserted after the words “To invite”.

15.  Draft decision A/C.4/60/L.18/Rev.1, as orally revised, was adopted.

16.  Ms. Rasheed (Observer for Palestine) expressed deep appreciation for the support given to the Palestinian people by the draft resolutions just adopted. The plight of the Palestine refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, who were living under deteriorating socio-economic and security conditions as a result of Israel’s military aggression, continued to be of grave concern, and the assistance provided by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) remained absolutely essential. The Agency continued to play a central role in all fields of operation. The Palestinian Authority thanked the staff of UNRWA for their tireless efforts and the donor countries for their generous contributions to the Agency. She also welcomed the draft decision that had just been adopted which would increase the membership of the Advisory Commission on UNRWA.

17.   The overwhelming reaffirmation of the right of the refugees to return in accordance with General Assembly resolution 194 (III), which was a prerequisite for the peaceful resolution of the conflict in the Middle East, was gratifying.

 

 

Agenda item 31: Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories (continued) (A/C.4/60/L.13, L.14, L.15/Rev.1, L.16/Rev.1, L.17)

  

18.   The Chairman invited the Committee to take action on the five draft resolutions under the item.

 

Draft resolution on the work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories (A/C.4/60/L.13)

  

19.  The Chairman said that Mali and Mauritania had joined the sponsors.

20.   A recorded vote was taken.

In favour:

  Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

  Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu, United States of America.

Abstaining:  

  Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, Uzbekistan.

21.   Draft resolution A/C.4/60/L.13 was adopted by 80 votes to 9, with 68 abstentions.

 

  Draft resolution on the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the other occupied Arab territories (A/C.4/60/L.14)

  

22.  The Chairman announced that Mali and Mauritania had joined the sponsors.

23.   A recorded vote was taken.

In favour:

  Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (B olivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

  Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Palau, United States of America.

Abstaining:

  Albania, Australia, Cameroon, Dominican Republic, Nauru, Tuvalu.

24.   Draft resolution A/C.4/60/L.14 was adopted by 153 votes to 5, with 6 abstentions.

 

Draft resolution on Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan (A/C.4/60/L.15/Rev.1)

 

25.  A recorded vote was taken .

In favour:

  Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

  Australia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America.

Abstaining:

  Albania, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu.

26.   Draft resolution A/C.4/60/L.15/Rev.1 was adopted by 149 votes to 7, with 7 abstentions.

 

Draft resolution on Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem (A/C.4/60/L.16/Rev.1)

 

27.  A recorded vote was taken .

In favour:

  Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

  Australia, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America.

Abstaining:

  Albania, Cameroon, Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Nicaragua, Solomon Islands.

28.   Draft resolution A/C.4/60/L.16/Rev.1 was adopted by 144 votes to 7, with 11 abstentions.

 

Draft resolution on the occupied Syrian Golan (A/C.4/60/L.17)

 

29.   The Chairman said that Mauritania had joined the sponsors.

30.   A recorded vote was taken.

In favour:

  Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indi a, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against:

 Israel.

Abstaining:

  Albania, Australia, Cameroon, Dominican Republic, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, United States of America.

31.   Draft resolution A/C.4/60/L.17 was adopted by 153 votes to 1, with 9 abstentions.

32.  Mr. Yamamoto (Japan) said it was regrettable that the texts of draft resolutions A/C.4/60/L.15/Rev.1 and L.16/Rev.1 had not been distributed until that morning, leaving delegations very little time to consider them. While his delegation had voted in favour of both those draft resolutions, it regarded the reference to the alteration of the character and status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, in paragraph 4 of draft resolution A/C.4/60/L.15/Rev.1 and paragraph 6 of draft resolution A/C.4/60/L.16/Rev.1 as unrelated to the legal status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

33.  Mr. Nimmo (Australia) said that his Government continued to attach the highest importance to adherence to international humanitarian law and to compliance by all States parties with their obligations under the Geneva Conventions and with relevant customary international law. Yet, despite its traditional support for resolutions on the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention, his delegation had been unable to vote in favour of draft resolution A/C.4/60/L.14 because it contained unhelpful and inappropriate language regarding the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. It would be recalled that in 2003 Australia had voted against the resolution requesting the International Court of Justice to render an advisory opinion on the legal consequences of Israel’s security barrier and in 2004 it had voted against resolution ES-10/15 because it believed that the Court’s consideration would distract the parties from the need to resume negotiations and would not advance a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.

34.  Ms. Grant (Canada), referring to all five draft resolutions that had just been adopted, said that references to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice should not be made without an unequivocal statement that it was non-binding. Moreover, resolutions should not selectively quote elements from the advisory opinion without a balancing reference to Israel’s security concerns. The previous year her delegation had reviewed all its votes on resolutions relating to the Middle East, and had determined that it would support only those that served to strengthen dialogue between the parties, were balanced and pragmatic, and had mechanisms in place for follow-up on agreed benchmarks.

35.   Her delegation had therefore voted against draft resolution A/C.4/60/L.13 because, in its view, the activities of the Special Committee, which duplicated the work of other more appropriate and effective mechanisms, added nothing of value. Resources should be reassigned to activities that were more consistent with the Quartet’s objectives and the road map. By focusing solely on the rights of Palestinians, the draft resolution distorted a picture that should reflect the rights and responsibilities of all parties.

36.   Her delegation had, on the other hand, maintained its support for the draft resolution on the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention (A/C.4/60/L.14) because it firmly believed in the obligation of all States parties to uphold that Convention in the case of all affected peoples. Canada was deeply concerned about the violence and suffering of both Palestinians and Israelis and called on both parties to return to negotiations as soon as possible.

37.   Her delegation had voted in favour of draft resolution A/C.4/60/L.15/Rev.1 because it did not recognize permanent Israeli control over the territories occupied since June 1967, and it opposed the expansion of settlements, especially any expansion that would inhibit the territorial contiguity of the northern and southern parts of the West Bank, thereby prejudicing the two-State solution envisaged under the road map. Her delegation supported the dismantlement of settlements in accordance with the road map and commended Israel’s recent withdrawal from Gaza and parts of the West Bank; it therefore welcomed the language recognizing the withdrawal.

38.   With regard to paragraph 4 of draft resolution A/C.4/60/L.15/Rev.1 and paragraph 6 of draft resolution A/C.4/60/L.16/Rev.1, she said that while Canada maintained the position that Israel, as the occupying Power, must fulfil its obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention, it believed that the terms “character” and “status” were synonymous, since the former had no known legal meaning under international humanitarian law, including customary international law.

39.   Her delegation had abstained in the vote on draft resolution A/C.4/60/L.16/Rev.1 despite its concerns over the disproportionate use of force in the occupied territories and notably in refugee camps. It commended the new language welcoming the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and parts of the West Bank and recognizing its right to take actions in self-defence, as well as the reference to suicide bombing attacks against Israeli civilians. However, that useful language was outweighed by the serious failure to condemn terrorism. Canada deplored the violence that was killing and injuring both Palestinians and Israelis. References to acts by only one side would not advance the prospects for peace, nor would the disproportionate emphasis on measures taken by Israel; the responsibilities and shortcomings of the other side should also be addressed. Lastly, her delegation considered it implicit in the text of the twenty-second preambular paragraph that any international monitoring presence must have the consent of both parties.

40.  Mr. Mekdad (Syrian Arab Republic) said he was heartened by the level of support the resolutions had received, the support for the resolution on the occupied Syrian Golan being almost unanimous. The international community was clearly still committed to justice and the rule of law and opposed to the rule of occupation. A clear message had been sent that Israel should respect the international community, join the peace process, and withdraw from the occupied Arab territories, including the Syrian Golan. For many years his country had called for a just and comprehensive solution, while Israel had refused to negotiate an agreement that would ensure its withdrawal from the occupied territories, thereby keeping the region in a state of tension and maintaining the threat to peace and security in the world. He commended the work and relevance of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices. Israel’s continuing refusal to cooperate with the Special Committee was evidence of its disrespect for the international community. Member States should take positive steps to force Israel to join in peace negotiations and work towards a just and comprehensive solution.

41.  Ms. Rasheed (Observer for Palestine) thanked all delegations which had supported the draft resolutions that had just been adopted on Israeli practices; those draft resolutions addressed the serious violations of human rights by the occupying Power which had caused the Palestinian civilian population great suffering. They also reaffirmed the relevant principles and rules of international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law, applicable to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; Israel, as the occupying Power, must abide by those legal principles. The overwhelming support expressed in the Committee on those issues reflected the international community’s commitment to the rule of law.

The meeting rose at 4.30 p.m.

 

 

 

This record is subject to correction. Corrections should be sent under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned within one week of the date of publication to the Chief of the Official Records Editing Section, room DC2-750, 2 United Nations Plaza, and incorporated in a copy of the record.

Corrections will be issued after the end of the session, in a separate corrigendum for each Committee.


2021-11-10T16:56:23-05:00

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