Mideast situation/Situation in the OPT – Letter from Egypt

Letter dated 21 December 1987 from the Permanent Representative of Egypt

to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

I have the honour to transmit herewith the text of the statement issued by the Office of the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt on the current situation in the occupied Arab territories (see annex).

I kindly request you to circulate this letter and its annex as an official document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 38, and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Abdel Halim BADAWI

Ambassador

Permanent Representative

ANNEX

Statement issued by the Office of the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt

on the current situation in the occupied Arab territories

President Mubarak and the Egyptian people as a whole are following with deep concern and great indignation the bloody events that are taking place in the occupied Arab territories in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, the methods of repression and exemplary punishment resorted to by Israel, Israel's disdain for the innocent lives of old men, women and children and its violation of its international obligations in a manner which is highly distressing and which threatens the course of peace in the Middle East.

The policy which Israel is applying in the occupied Arab territories constitutes a threat to the international community, and its random firing on civilians can only result in more violence and tension, the intensification of hatred, repugnance and vengeful tendencies, and damage to peace efforts at a time when eyes are seeking a gleam of hope.

Egypt calls for an immediate end to this worsened situation and for Israeli respect for the rights of the owners of the occupied territories that are laid down in international conventions and covenants.  It calls upon Israel to respond to the legitimate demands of the inhabitants of the occupied territories and appeals for action without delay to put an end to the occupation and to arrive at an acceptable formula for peaceful coexistence among all the peoples of the region, a formula which is based on mutual respect of rights and obligations and which will bring about greater peace and stability for all parties.

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