Situation in Jerusalem – Letter from Qatar

Letter dated 25 November 1986 from the Permanent Representative of

Qatar to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

In my capacity as Chairman of the Arab Group for the current month, I have the honour to transmit herewith the letter of the Permanent Observer for the Palestine Liberation Organization to the United Nations, dated 24 November 1986, concerning the latest repressive measures taken by the Israeli authorities against the Palestinian population.

I should be grateful if you would arrange for this letter and its annex to be circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda items 35 and 37, and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Hamad Abdelaziz AL-KAWARI

Ambassador

Permanent Representative

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ANNEX

Letter dated 24 November 1986 from the Permanent Observer of the Palestine Liberation Organization

to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

I am instructed by Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, to bring the following to your most immediate attention.

In the city of Jerusalem, illegal Jewish settlers have gone on a rampage and have fire-bombed houses and vehicles belonging to Palestinians living in the old city of Jerusalem, and specifically Khalidye Street.  They have viciously attacked and beaten up a number of Palestinians, resulting in several Palestinian families fleeing the vicinity.  Confirmed reports indicate that the so-called Yeshiva students embarked on this intimidation campaign more than a month before the stabbing of a Yeshiva student.  Tactics have also included urinating and defecating on Palestinian houses.  For more than a week, passing vehicles belonging to Palestinians have been shot at or stoned.  Shopkeepers have been compelled to stay in their homes, and have virtually been forced into observing a self-imposed curfew.

The aim of these fanatic Jewish terrorists is spelled out in their slogan "only if all the Arabs leave will there be an end to terrorism".  Furthermore, these Yeshiva students led by members of the Kach movement, followers of the Judeo-Nazi Meir Kahane, have instigated violence, and it has been reported that they have stockpiled illegal firearms and other weaponry.

Chairman Arafat wishes to ask for immediate action by the Security Council and the Secretary-General, with a view that the occupying Power, Israel, bring this vicious rampage to an end.  Our people still recall with alarm the massacres of Deir Yassin and others, which were carried out in a bloody campaign to intimidate them and force them to leave their homeland.  The parallels are evident.

(Signed)  Zuhdi Labib TERZI

Permanent Observer