Situation in the OPT – Vetoed draft resolution

 

Distr.

GENERAL

ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

Algeria, Argentina, Nepal, Senegal, Yugoslavia

and Zambia: draft resolution

The Security Council,

Expressing its grave concern over the current situation in the occupied Palestinian territories,

Reaffirming its resolutions 605 (1987) of 22 December 1987, 607 (1988) of 5 January 1988 and 608 (1988) of 14 January 3988,

Recalling the report of the Secretary-General of 21 January 1988 (S/19443),

Having been apprised of the deportation by Israel, the occupying Power, of eight civilian Palestinians on 11 April 1988 and of its decision to continue the deportation of Palestinian civilians in the occupied territories,

Gravely concerned and alarmed by the measures adopted by Israel against the civilian Palestinian people and its persistent policy of taking measures of collective punishment, such as the recent demolition of homes in the village of Beita,

Also expressing grave concern over the action taken by the forces of the occupying Power against Sheikh Saad Eddin El-Alami, Head of the Supreme Islamic Council, who was assaulted and beaten in the Haram A1 Shareef in Jerusalem, on 1 April 1988,

 Reaffirming once again that the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, is applicable to Palestinian and other Arab territories, occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem,

Recalling in particular the provisions of article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention and expressing alarm that Israel has continued to transfer its civilian population into the territory it occupies and has equipped those settlers with arms which have been used against the civilian Palestinian people,

1. Urges Israel, the occupying Power, to abide immediately and scrupulously by the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, and to desist forthwith from its policies and practices that are in violation of the provisions of the Convention;

2. Urges further Israel to rescind the order to deport Palestinian civilians and ensure the safe and immediate return to the occupied Palestinian territories of those already deported;

3. Urges once again Israel to desist forthwith from deporting Palestinian civilians from the occupied territories;

4. Condemns those policies and practices of Israel, the occupying Power, that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people in the occupied territories, and in particular the opening of fire by the Israeli army, resulting in the killing and wounding of defenceless Palestinian civilians;

5. 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;

6. Requests the Secretary-General to submit periodic reports on the situation in the occupied territories, including those aspects relating to endeavours for ensuring the safety and protection of the Palestinian civilians under Israeli occupation;

7. Decides to keep the situation in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem, under review.

                              ——

The Security Council on 15 April 1988 voted on the draft resolution as follows:

                   In Favour: Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Federal Republic of Italy, Japan, Nepal, Senegal, Union Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Yugoslavia, Zambia.

Against: United States of America.