Israeli violations of human rights in OPT – Letter from Kuwait

LETTER DATED 30 APRIL 1970 FROM THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF KUWAIT TO THE UNITED NATIONS ADDRESSED TO THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

The Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Population of the Occupied Territories has been engaged in conducting a useful investigation in various capitals.  Israel, however, contrary to the terms of General Assembly resolution 2443 (XXIIl), has refused to receive the Special Committee, to co-operate with it and to facilitate its work, thus defying once more the international community and the rule of law. Israel no doubt does not wish the atrocities perpetrated by it to be formally brought to the attention of world public opinion. Moreover, Israel has shown no sign of desisting from its repressive practices. It wantonly disregards the provisions of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the relevant resolutions adopted by the various international organizations.

On 23 March 1970, the Commission on Human Rights condemned Israel's refusal to apply the 1949 Geneva Convention and called on it to take certain measures to rectify the situation. The Commission condemned Israel on many counts, namely total or partial destruction of villages and cities, establishment of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories, unlawful deportation and expulsion of civilians, coercive acts to compel civilians to collaborate with the occupying Power against their will, abrogation of national laws, and collective punishment. It will thus be seen that the heinous crimes perpetrated by Israel in the occupied territories are no longer a secret, and are even admitted in official statements of the occupying authorities. In addition to official United Nations bodies and observers, the world information media are already teeming with reports on Israeli evil deeds and malpractices.

I should also like to refer to the indiscriminate killing by Israel of civilians in Arab countries.  The photographs of factory workers and school children who have been the victims of Israeli planes and napalm bombing have already been published in United Nations official documents.  Israel has no respect for Arab lives and property.  Its policy is based on territorial expansion and utter disregard for human rights.

Let us once and for all put an end to the misery and suffering of the people of the occupied territories.  Since Israel continues to flout the authority of the United Nations, it is high time that mandatory and coercive measures be taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations to compel Israel to withdraw from the territories it has defiled and devastated for so long.

Upon the request of my Government I should be grateful if this letter and the enclosed photographs, together with the captions relating to them, would be circulated as an official document of the Security Council and the General Assembly.

(Signed) Muhalhel Mohamad AL-MUDHAF

Ambassador, Permanent Representative

* Also issued under the symbol A/7975

Please see attachement for details.

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