Situation in the OPT – Letter from Palestine

Letter dated 28 February 1989 from the Chargé d'affaires a.i.

of the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine

to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

I am instructed by the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, which has the powers and responsibilities of the Provisional Government of Palestine, to bring the following to your immediate attention.

The situation in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem, remains extremely dangerous and during the past few days has deteriorated further.

The occupation authorities sealed off all of the occupied Palestinian territory from midnight on 27 February until midnight on 28 February 1989. The Palestinian people in the occupied territory are engaged in a general strike, which includes boycotting the Jerusalem municipal elections, reaffirming the rejection by our people of all Israeli measures aimed at the unification of the city under Israeli control.

There have been dozens of casualties over the past few days in the occupied territory, the last of whom was a 24-year-old youth, Atwa' Lutfi Omar, shot last night in Ramallah.

The situation in Nablus is extremely critical. The city remains sealed off and for the fifth consecutive day is under a total curfew. This has led to a serious shortage of water, food and milk for babies.  There is also a critical shortage of minimum medical care. The Israeli occupation army has destroyed and sealed off several houses in Nablus, including its old quarter.

Two hundred Palestinians from Nablus alone have been detained and are being held at the Hawara camp on the road between Nablus and Jerusalem.

We believe that this dangerous situation requires immediate action by the international community.

We should be grateful if you would arrange to have the text of the present letter circulated as an official document of the General Assembly, under items 37, 39 and 78 of the preliminary list, and of the Security Council.

(Signed) Dr. M. Nasser AL-KIDWA

Alternate Permanent Observer

Chargé d'affaires of Palestine

to the United Nations