Palestinians living in Lebanon – Letter from Yemen, PLO

Letter dated 19 September 1984 from the Permanent Representative

of Democratic Yemen to the United Nations addressed to the

Secretary-General

I have the honour to transmit, in my capacity as chairman of the Arab Group for the month of September 1984, a letter addressed to you from Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

I would like to request that the enclosed letter be circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under item 33 of the provisional agenda, and of the Security Council.

(Signed) Abdulla S. AL-ASHTAL

Ambassador

Permanent Representative

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* A/39/150.

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ANNEX

Letter dated 19 September 1984 from Mr. Yasser Arafat

to the Secretary-General

I am sending this personal message to you because of my very deep concern regarding recent developments which could have most profound effects on the Palestinians living in Lebanon.

Intelligence reports received by us indicate that the new war cabinet in Tel Aviv is planning withdrawal from the areas of Sidon and Tyre and to deliver these areas to their agents , so-called armed Lebanese forces.

The bitter memory of Sabra and Shatilla, 17 September 1982, exactly two years ago today compels us to remember the act of genocide planned by the Israelis and perpetrated by their agents, and in this context I wish to recall the plan of action suggested by Your Excellency in your report to the Security Council of 9 April 1984, which reads as follows:

"I therefore suggest that the council consider , at the appropriate time, and without prejudice to arrangements elsewhere in Lebanon, a future course of action which would make more effective the mandate of UNIFIL specifically in southern Lebanon, in the context of the withdrawal of Israeli forces from that area. This course would include the following elements:

"(a) The temporary deployment of UNIFIL , with elements of the Lebanese Army and Internal Security Forces, in areas vacated by Israeli forces;

"(b)  Israeli withdrawal from that area , with a view to assuring the safety and security of the population , including Palestinian refugees in the camps in that area;

"(c) The working out of the necessary arrangements to ensure that southern Lebanon becomes a zone of peace under the sovereignty and authority of the Lebanese Government."

It is my understanding that these same difficulties still exist and in light of an impending holocaust I appeal to Your Excellency and, through you, to the international community to take all measures to ensure the non-recurrence of genocide and to provide all possible guarantees for the safety and security of the Palestinians in those areas.

(Signed) Yasser ARAFAT

Chairman of the

Executive Committee of the

Palestine Liberation Organization

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