Assistance to the Palestinian people – Report of the Industrial Development Board (excerpts)

UNITED NATIONS

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION

REPORT OF THE

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD

(Fifteenth session)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

OFFICIAL RECORDS:  THIRTY-SIXTH SESSION

SUPPLEMENT No. 16 (A/36/16)

[Original: English]

[24 August 1981]

CONTENTS

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CHAPTER XV

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE

296. At its 297th meeting, on 27 May, the Board began its consideration of agenda item

18. 37/  In its deliberations on the item, the Board had before it a report by the Executive Director (ID/B/255).

297. Appreciation was expressed for the work carried out by the secretariat in the field of delivering technical co-operation to the Palestinian people and the participation of Palestinians in group training programmes organized by UNIDO was welcomed.  It was cause for regret, however, that high-priority technical co-operation projects could not be carried out because UNIDO officials were denied access to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.  Such an act, it was stated, was in clear contradiction of the will of the overwhelming majority of the international community and was to be strongly condemned.

298. The secretariat was urged to intensify its assistance to the Palestinian people by speeding up the implementation of programmes approved by the Board in co-operation with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which, it was stated, was the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.

299. A statement was made on behalf of a Government that whereas that Government supported the concept of technical assistance by UNIDO to the Palestinian people and indeed had been a major contribution of such assistance through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, it did not believe that the PLO, which was not a government, should be the conduit for such assistance and did not support the UNIDO programmes whose execution ignored that premise.  In particular, that Government did not support the UNIDO secretariat’s action in inviting the PLO to nominate candidates for its training programmes and reserved it position with regard to the financial implications of that action.

300. There was an urgent need for the implementation of the projects of technical assistance to the Palestinian people approved by the Board, it was stated.  However, it was added, it was clear that as long as those territories were under illegal occupation, there would continue to be difficulties in the delivery of technical co-operation to the Palestinian people.

301. Under international law, it was stated, an occupied land has a special status and United Nations delegations had a right to enter the area in question, which was not Israeli territory.  Moreover, the PLO, as a representative body of the Palestinian people recognized by the United Nations, had the right to co-operate with UNIDO regarding assistance to that people.

302. The conscience of the international community had to be mobilized against such a situation, which was a crime against humanity and aggravated the suffering of the Palestinian people, who had been deprived of their national territory and their basic rights.

303. The international community had a very heavy debt towards the Palestinian people and must rapidly shoulder its responsibilities in bringing about the materialization of its genuine and inalienable right to national independence and sovereignty.  In so doing, it would also put an end to the process of political deterioration in the entire region, with its direct repercussions on international stability and peace.  UNIDO, in common with other international organizations, should do it utmost to carry out scheduled programmes of assistance to the Palestinian people, including technical assistance.

304. Despite the laudable efforts of the secretariat, it was stated, technical assistance to the Palestinian people through UNIDO had been very modest and far short of actual needs.  The Organization had been unable to implement six out of the seven projects that had been approved by the Board and the Permanent Committee.  The activities of UNIDO should therefore be expanded accordingly and all technical assistance should be delivered in close co-operation with the PLO, it was stated.

305. The statement was made that the Israeli Government was persisting in illegal economic policies against the Palestinian people and hindering industrial and economic development.  UNIDO should co-operate with UNDP and other United Nations bodies in implementing past resolutions adopted by the Economic and Social Council, the General Assembly and the Board in favour of the Palestinian people.

306. An appeal was made to delegates from the industrialized countries to condemn the refusal of Israel to allow UNIDO experts entry into the occupied territories, thus preventing the development of those territories and of the Arab area in general, and to promote the implementation of resolutions of the Economic and Social Council, the General Assembly and UNIDO.  UNIDO was asked to increase its technical assistance and, in particular to survey the industrial sector, organize training centres and courses in the occupied territories and provide assistance to the Palestinian economic production enterprise.  Moreover, all States were appealed to provide material, political and moral assistance to the Palestinian people in the interests of the re-establishment of justice and détente as the indispensable pre-conditions for industrial and economic development in the Arab area.

307. A statement was made in protest against the falsehood and calumnies made in the Board against the Israeli Government.  It was further stated that whereas the Israeli Government was fully conscious of the needs of the inhabitants of the administered territories, it preferred the efforts of international organizations there to be concentrated in the hands of a single organization.  That Government, it was stated, was co-operating with UNDP in the implementation of a number of projects aimed at improving the economic situation and living conditions of the inhabitants of the territories and UNDP had set up a task force to co-ordinate the programme of the various agencies of the United Nations system.  A dozen projects had been approved by the Israeli Government, it was added, and in some cases a work plan had already been approved for implementation. It was stressed that the Israeli Government would not authorize any activity carried out in co-operation with the PLO, a terrorist organization dedicated to the destruction of Israel, and since the UNIDO secretariat had made it clear that it was co-operating closely with the PLO, that Government was unable to allow UNIDO representatives access to the territory administered by it.

308. The question of technical assistance to the Palestinian people should be included in the agenda for the 1982 session of the Board, it was stated.  However, at that session, analyses concerning the implementation of project proposals by UNIDO in the pre- independence phase, together with further arrangements for UNIDO assistance in setting up industrial institutions, defining a framework for industrial development and training manpower in order to facilitate the industrial and general development of independent Palestine, should be provided.

309.  At its 300th meeting, on 29 May 1981, the Board took note of the report of the Executive Director on technical assistance to the Palestinian people (ID/B/255) and expressed appreciation of the secretariat’s efforts.

310.  The Board took note with appreciation of the participation of Palestinian trainees in group training programmes organized by UNIDO and sought the expansion of those activities.

311. The Board noted with regret that other approved and high priority projects of technical assistance to the Palestinian people had not been implemented and condemned and deplored the obstacles placed by Israel’s occupying authorities which prevented UNIDO officials from visiting the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.

312. The Board urged the UNIDO secretariat to intensify its efforts and take all possible measures to increase technical assistance to the Palestinian people in co-operation with the Palestinian Liberation Organization, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 2100 (LXIII) and General Assembly resolution 35/111.

313.  The Board sought a further progress report from the Executive Director on technical assistance to the Palestinian people, including proposals on ways and means of expanding the programme, to be submitted to its sixteenth session. 38/

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Notes

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37/ The deliberations of the Board on agenda item 18 are reflected in ID/B/SR.287, paras. 78 and 106; ID/B/SR.297, paras. 10 and 37-96; and ID/B/SR.298, para. 1.

38/ The conclusion was adopted by a roll-call vote of 26 to 1, with 11 abstentions.  For the voting and statements in explanation of vote, see chapter XXI, Adoption of the report of the fifteenth session, paras. 334-341, and ID/B/SR.300, paras. 52-65.