Palestine question – CEIRPP programme of work for 2010

Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People

Programme of work for 2010

I. Mandate of the Committee

1. The mandate of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for 2010 is contained in General Assembly resolutions 64/16, 64/17 and 64/18.
2. In its resolution 64/16, entitled “Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People”, the General Assembly expressed its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the Assembly and took note of its annual report,1  including the conclusions and valuable recommendations contained in chapter VII thereof, requested it to continue to exert all efforts to promote the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to support the Middle East peace process and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people and authorized it to make such adjustments in its approved programme of work as it might consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments and to report thereon to the Assembly at its sixty-fifth session and thereafter. It also requested the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report and make suggestions to the Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as appropriate. It further requested the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations and to continue to involve additional civil society organizations and parliamentarians in its work in order to mobilize international solidarity and support for the Palestinian people, particularly during this critical period of humanitarian and financial crisis, with the overall aim of promoting the achievement by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights and a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet road map. The Assembly invited all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to the Committee in the performance of its tasks and requested the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Committee with all the necessary facilities in that regard.
3. In its resolution 64/17, entitled “Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat”, the General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Division with the necessary resources and to ensure that it continued to carry out its programme of work as detailed in the relevant earlier resolutions, in consultation with the Committee and under its guidance, including the monitoring of developments relevant to the question of Palestine, the organization of international meetings and conferences in various regions with the participation of all sectors of the international community, liaison and cooperation with civil society and parliamentarians, the further development and expansion of the “Question of Palestine” website and the documents collection of the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine (UNISPAL), the preparation and widest possible dissemination of publications and information materials on various aspects of the question of Palestine and the further development and enhancement of the annual training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority in contribution to Palestinian capacity-building efforts. The Assembly also requested the Division, as part of the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November, to continue to organize, under the guidance of the Committee, an annual exhibit on Palestinian rights or a cultural event in cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations and encouraged Member States to continue to give the widest support and publicity to the observance of the Day of Solidarity.
4. In its resolution 64/18, entitled “Special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat”, the General Assembly requested the Department, in full cooperation and coordination with the Committee, to continue, with the necessary flexibility as might be required by developments affecting the question of Palestine, its special information programme for the biennium 2010-2011, and outlined a number of specific activities to be carried out under the programme.
5. The Committee has reviewed the various aspects of its own programme of work and that of the Division for Palestinian Rights, as well as of the mandates governing them. It will continue to make adjustments in this programme in the course of 2010 in order to enhance its responsiveness to developments in the peace process and the situation on the ground, as well as to increase its effectiveness in promoting the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights.

II. The situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem

6. The developments in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, since the submission of the Committee’s annual report to the General Assembly have remained a cause for great concern. In the Gaza Strip, the humanitarian situation has been steadily worsening, exacerbated by the ongoing Israeli military offensive that began in December 2008. The continuing Israeli blockade of Gaza has prevented the long-overdue reconstruction and rehabilitation work and continues to obstruct the movement of persons and goods, including the flow of humanitarian aid, essential supplies and commercial trade, preventing economic recovery and increasing the already high levels of poverty and unemployment. In the West Bank, illegal settlement construction has continued, and Israeli incursions into Palestinian towns and villages and arrests of Palestinians have been an almost daily occurrence. Violent actions by radical Israeli settlers against the Palestinian civilian population have been of great concern. Equally disturbing have been the intensifying illegal Israeli actions in East Jerusalem, including land confiscations, house demolitions and evictions of Palestinian residents. Such unlawful and provocative developments have been counterproductive and precluded any progress in the political process. Ongoing efforts to achieve Palestinian reconciliation and unite the West Bank and the Gaza Strip under the Palestinian Authority have thus far been ineffectual.
7. The Committee maintains that all settlement construction, including so-called natural growth, is illegal and must be halted immediately. All outposts must be dismantled. It is recognized by all, with the exception of Israel, the occupying Power, that settlements in the Occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem are illegal under international law, that they violate numerous relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly, and that they contravene the obligations of Israel under the road map. Moreover, the settlements fuel tensions, perpetuate conflict, lead to violence and undermine the efforts aimed at establishing a contiguous, viable, independent State of Palestine that will live in peace and security with Israel on the basis of the pre-1967 borders. The international community does not recognize Israel’s unilateral claims to the entire city of Jerusalem. East Jerusalem remains an integral part of the Palestinian Territory occupied by Israel since 1967. All actions taken by Israel that alter or purport to alter the demographic composition, character and status of the city are null and void and illegal under international law. The status of the Holy City is clearly and unequivocally outlined in many resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly, and Israel must abide by them. The continuation of these policies by the Government of Israel has prevented any tangible improvements in the situation in the Occupied Territory, casting serious doubts on the real intentions of the Israeli leadership as regards its stated interest in the resumption of negotiations for the achievement of a peace settlement.
8. The Committee has welcomed and commended the work of the various fact-finding missions into the ongoing war in Gaza that began in December 2008 and supported the numerous calls for accountability and justice. In particular, the Committee considered that the report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, established by the Human Rights Council and led by Justice Richard Goldstone, had presented a comprehensive, balanced and authoritative account of the events in Gaza. The report concluded that the Israeli military operation had been directed, at least in part, at the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip as a whole, in furtherance of an overall policy aimed at punishing the population of Gaza. The report concluded that numerous Israeli actions and measures against the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza, including deliberate strikes against population centres and homes, the use of lethal munitions such as white phosphorus and the imposition of the blockade in collective punishment of the entire population, amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. The report also covered violations arising from Israeli treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank, including excessive force against Palestinian demonstrators, increased closures, restriction of movement and house demolitions. The report also concluded that the firing of rockets and mortar rounds into southern Israel by Palestinian armed groups, by failing to distinguish between military targets and the civilian population, constituted war crimes and might amount to crimes against humanity.
9. With its report, the Fact-Finding Mission submitted ample and unbiased evidence that both Israel, the occupying Power, and Palestinian armed groups had committed serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law during the fighting, including some that should be prosecuted as war crimes. The Committee supports the Mission’s pre-eminent recommendation that Israel and the Palestinians conduct impartial investigations and prosecute those found responsible, as called for by the General Assembly in its resolution 64/10. It also supports the Mission’s call for follow-up action by various parties, including the United Nations. Specifically, it supports the idea of requesting the Security Council to create a committee of experts to monitor such investigations. The report challenges the international community to break with past practice and take bold steps to uphold international law in order to protect civilians, promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and achieve peace. It provides the international community with the opportunity to demand, in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the same measure of accountability that is applied in other conflicts. The Committee is of the view that the perpetrators of serious crimes on either side have to be brought to justice and held accountable for their actions. It encourages principled action by the international community aimed at ensuring respect for and adherence to the norms of international humanitarian law. In particular, the Committee appeals to all the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfil their obligations in accordance with common article 1, which requires the High Contracting Parties to respect and ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances.
10. The Committee notes that as a result of these detrimental developments and the continuing Israeli occupation, no progress has been achieved in the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. Self-determination, independence and sovereignty have remained elusive for the Palestinian people, as has the right of return for over 4.6 million Palestine refugees. The Committee fully supports the international consensus that the only viable solution to the conflict and means of ensuring the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights is the creation of a Palestinian State in the territory occupied by Israel in 1967, living side by side with Israel in peace and security.
11. To that end, the Committee calls for the resumption of the permanent status negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions, the Madrid terms of reference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet road map. This would require a genuine commitment of the Government of Israel to the two-State solution, buttressed by appreciable improvements in the situation on the ground, first and foremost by stopping all settlement activities. The continued support of the international community is crucial for moving forward the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations on all permanent status issues. The Committee will therefore support all peace initiatives that have as their main objective the realization of the two-State solution.
12. The Committee remains strongly opposed to the illegal construction of the wall in the West Bank, including in and around East Jerusalem, and finds this activity incompatible with negotiations on the permanent settlement. In this regard, the Committee calls for full respect of the 9 July 2004 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice and the relevant United Nations resolutions. The Committee is also of the view that Israel must release, immediately and unconditionally, all Palestinian prisoners, including children, women and imprisoned members of the Palestinian Legislative Council. The Committee also stresses the need for Israel, the occupying Power, to cease all measures of collective punishment of the Palestinian people, which it has been imposing in direct contravention of international law.
13. The Committee’s position is that the illegal Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territory must end without conditions, which should allow the Palestinian people to establish an independent State on all territories occupied in 1967, including East Jerusalem, and to exercise their inalienable rights, including the right to self-determination. The Committee is of the view that the two-State solution should be based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003) and 1850 (2008). It is convinced that only serious and sustained international engagement will bring about a peaceful and negotiated settlement of all outstanding issues and reverse the growing support for radical forces that promote violent and unilateral approaches to ending the conflict, to which there is no military solution. The Committee remains committed to contributing constructively and actively to international efforts aimed at the achievement of a peaceful settlement.
14. The Committee remains concerned that the divisions among Palestinian factions profoundly affect the legitimate Palestinian national interests and aspirations for statehood and peace, and calls for reinvigorated efforts by all concerned parties to help reconcile their positions on the basis of the prevailing consensus on the need to achieve the two-State solution, which would lead to the end of the Israeli occupation and the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights.
15. The Committee is deeply concerned about the humanitarian emergency in the Gaza Strip, which was substantially worsened by the Israeli invasion of a year ago. It is imperative to embark without delay on the process of recovery and reconstruction of the thousands of destroyed and damaged homes, schools and hospitals, and of other vital civilian infrastructure. The isolation of the Gaza Strip from the rest of the Palestinian Territory and from the international community has to be lifted with the regular and sustained opening of crossings for the movement of both persons and goods. Concrete steps must be taken to restore normal economic activity. Israel, the occupying Power, is obliged to create the necessary conditions, including reparations for the reconstruction of civil structures destroyed during the war, in accordance with Security Council resolution 1860 (2009). The Committee welcomes the readiness of the international community to contribute to the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. The Committee also emphasizes the critical importance of international donor assistance for the functioning of the Palestinian institutions at this time of crisis. It urges the international donor community to continue to provide assistance and to address the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip as a matter of urgency.
16. The Committee reaffirms that the United Nations should play an active and facilitating role in these efforts and maintain its permanent responsibility with respect to all aspects of the question of Palestine until it is resolved in all its aspects, in conformity with relevant United Nations resolutions and the norms of international law. As requested by the General Assembly, the Committee will continue to keep the situation under review and to promote a constructive analysis and discussion of these issues by the international community.

III. Priority issues in the programme of work of the Committee for 2010

17. The Committee considers that its own work and the programme of mandated activities of the Division for Palestinian Rights represent a significant contribution by the United Nations and its membership to the search for a comprehensive, just and lasting peaceful solution of the question of Palestine in accordance with international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions. The Committee will continue to work towards heightening international awareness and dialogue regarding the various aspects of the question of Palestine, international support for the rights of the Palestinian people and the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine. Throughout 2010, its work will remain focused on promoting a better understanding, as gauged by international public opinion, of the importance of the achievement by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights, namely, the right to self-determination, the right to an independent, sovereign State and the right of return, as well as the urgency of bringing about a viable two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for the realization of peace in the Middle East.
18. As in previous years, the Committee will maintain its support of the Palestinian people and the achievement of the two-State solution through a variety of its activities. The Committee will remain supportive of the initiative launched in August 2009 by the Palestinian Authority entitled “Palestine: Ending the Occupation, Establishing the State”, which envisions the establishment of an independent State within two years. It will continue to focus on the urgency of alleviating the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, stimulating Palestinian economic recovery and urging expanded international assistance to ameliorate the dire socio-economic conditions being endured by the Palestinian people. It will draw attention to the plight of Palestinian women and children, the most vulnerable segment of Palestinian society, who are suffering as a result of the occupation and the conflict in the Gaza Strip, and the need to ensure their protection. The Committee will highlight the responsibility of the occupying Power for ending its illegal policies and practices, especially the settlement activity, the construction of the wall and various measures of collective punishment. The Committee will maintain its support for revitalized and active international involvement, including through the Quartet, the regional partners and the continued personal engagement of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process.
19. The Committee attaches great importance to enhancing cooperation and coordination between the Department of Public Information and the Division for Palestinian Rights in the implementation of their respective mandates. In its resolution 64/18, the General Assembly requested the Department, inter alia, to continue to issue and update publications and audio-visual materials on the various aspects of the question of Palestine in all fields, including materials concerning relevant recent developments, in particular the efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine. The Committee will continue to cooperate with the Department in carrying out the various mandated activities.
20. The Committee will continue to make an effort to encourage participation by countries and organizations that have not engaged fully in its programme of work thus far.

IV. Activities of the Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights

21. In pursuance of its mandate, the Committee will continue to keep the situation relating to the question of Palestine under review and to participate in relevant meetings of the General Assembly and the Security Council. The Committee, assisted by the Division for Palestinian Rights, will also continue to monitor the situation on the ground and draw the attention of the international community to urgent developments in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, that require international action.
22. The Committee, through its Bureau, will continue to participate in relevant intergovernmental and other meetings and conferences, as necessary. The Committee considers this activity an important aspect of its work in the promotion of international support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and a peaceful settlement to the conflict.
23. In cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations, the Committee will continue to maintain contacts with the Palestine Liberation Organization, the Palestinian Authority and other institutions, including civil society, in the areas under its jurisdiction and in the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. Following the practice of previous years, the Committee will continue to invite Palestinian officials and other Palestinian personalities to meetings with members and observers of the Committee and the Secretariat, as appropriate.
24. The Bureau of the Committee will continue consultations with Governments and intergovernmental organizations interested in its programme of work. These exchanges should help promote a better understanding of the mandate and objectives of the Committee.

A. International meetings and conferences

25. The Committee considers that its programme of international meetings and conferences implemented by the Division for Palestinian Rights has continued to make a substantial contribution to focusing the attention of Governments, intergovernmental and civil society organizations and the public on the urgency of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and mobilizing assistance to the Palestinian people to aid them in coping with the crises and hardships they face under occupation and in the refugee camps. In 2010, the Committee will continue to work on enhancing the content and impact of the programme. In particular, it will promote broad international support for a peaceful solution of the conflict, based on international law and relevant United Nations resolutions. To that end, the Committee will continue to engage Governments, parliamentarians and civil society. With the assistance of the United Nations entities on the ground, it will reach out to the people most affected by the continuation of the conflict and the perpetuation of the status quo, Palestinians living under occupation and refugees, as well as to members of the Israeli public, to involve them in the search for solutions, to promote dialogue and common projects and to win their backing of a settlement negotiated by their leaders and supported by the international community. The Committee wishes to contribute to efforts towards ending incitement on both sides, to provide a venue to have the respective narratives heard and reconciled and to promote, with the help of civil society, peace education on the ground. It will pay particular attention to the empowerment of women and their organizations in this process.
26. In its programme of meetings and conferences for 2010, the Committee intends to address issues such as the need to alleviate humanitarian and socio-economic hardships, including the plight of Palestinian women and children, with particular focus on the urgent need to support the process of recovery, rebuilding and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip; the collective international responsibility to protect the Palestinian people and the need to uphold international humanitarian law; and the responsibilities of Israeli political and military decision makers for their actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. The Committee will also highlight the illegality and adverse consequences of the settlement policy and the construction of the wall for the livelihood of the Palestinian people and for the prospects of achieving the two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The programme will also address the importance of resuming the political dialogue between the parties aimed at achieving a permanent settlement of the question of Palestine. It will emphasize the significance of bringing about a tangible improvement in the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the urgent need for all stakeholders, including the United Nations, to remain fully and closely engaged in all aspects of the question of Palestine.
27. In 2010, the Committee, in cooperation with prospective host countries, organizations and relevant Secretariat services, will do its utmost to ensure the success of its programme of meetings and conferences. In so doing, it will keep in mind the need for economy and the most cost-effective utilization of resources. The Committee highly appreciates the involvement in these events of Governments, intergovernmental organizations, entities of the United Nations system, parliamentarians and civil society. It encourages them to continue and increase the level of engagement and support for a just and lasting solution to the conflict. The Committee will continue to carry out this programme to foster support for the attainment by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights. The Committee, through its Bureau, will regularly assess the outcomes of the international meetings and conferences and, where required, decide on steps that could be taken to enhance the impact of the programme in implementation of the mandated goals of the Committee.
28. In 2010, the Committee intends to organize the following international meetings and conferences:
(a) International Meeting in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace, Qawra, Malta, February 2010;
(b) United Nations Seminar on Assistance to the Palestinian People, United Nations Office at Vienna, March 2010. The Seminar will be followed by consultations of the Committee delegation with representatives of civil society organizations;
(c) United Nations International Meeting on the Question of Palestine;
(d) United Nations African Meeting on the Question of Palestine. The meeting will be followed by a civil society event in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

B. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations

29. In the course of 2010, the Committee will continue to cooperate on issues relevant to its mandate with the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the African Union, the European Union and the League of Arab States. Representatives of those organizations and groupings will be invited to lend their support to and participate in the Committee’s programme of international meetings and conferences and other Committee activities.

C. Cooperation with civil society, parliaments and inter-parliamentary organizations

Civil society organizations

30. The Committee commends civil society organizations for their support of the Palestinian people. It lauds the courageous advocacy actions of numerous activists, including parliamentarians, who participate in demonstrations against the construction of the separation wall in the West Bank, provide assistance to the people of Gaza and keep their home constituencies informed about the realities of life for the Palestinian people under Israeli military occupation. The Committee and civil society have different roles, which, through periodic consultations and cooperation, complement each other. It encourages civil society partners to work with their Governments and other national institutions with a view to gaining their full support for international efforts to bring about an end to the Israeli occupation and achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine. The Committee also supports all humanitarian and assistance initiatives geared towards improving the daily lives of the Palestinian people. The Committee considers that it is particularly important to build bridges of understanding and trust between the Israeli and Palestinian civil societies and to promote common goals of peace and coexistence between the two peoples. In the course of 2010, the Committee will continue to assess its programme of cooperation with civil society. It will seek new approaches to cooperating and liaising with international civil society on issues of common concern. With a view to strengthening such cooperation and making it more effective, the Committee will review the programme, including such aspects as accreditation, communication and feedback. The Committee will continue to work with civil society partners on ways of enhancing their contribution towards the mandated goals of the Committee and on strengthening synergies.
31. The Committee intends to continue to invite civil society organizations to all international meetings and conferences organized under its auspices. The participation in such meetings of civil society organizations, along with Governments and intergovernmental organizations, should offer a unique opportunity to promote the exchange of views and ideas, as well as develop and strengthen initiatives by all strata of the international community, with a common objective of achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine. The Committee believes that the meetings and conferences organized under its auspices help promote Israeli-Palestinian civil society dialogue and offer a unique platform for interaction between the two sides.
32. The Committee will maintain and further develop its liaison with national, regional and international coordinating mechanisms on the question of Palestine, in addition to the established liaison with a large number of individual civil society organizations. It will continue to accredit new organizations. Periodic consultative meetings with civil society representatives will contribute to the further enhancement of the Committee’s programme of cooperation with civil society.
33. The Committee is of the view that it is important to continue to exchange information with civil society on respective current and planned activities. The Committee requests the Division to obtain information and report periodically on civil society initiatives in order to enhance the interaction between civil society and the Committee. It also requests the Division to continue to develop and regularly update the “civil society” page of the “Question of Palestine” website (www.un.org/Depts/dpa/ngo) as a tool for the exchange of information, communication and coordination of efforts between the United Nations and civil society. The Committee also requests the Division to continue to work towards creating greater awareness regarding the work of civil society organizations on the question of Palestine, through, inter alia, the Internet-based bimonthly summary of civil society activities on the question of Palestine, entitled “NGO Action News”, issued by the Division (see para. 37).
34. In 2010 the resources available for cooperation with civil society will be used for the following activities:
(a) Organization, whenever appropriate and feasible, of meetings of civil society organizations in conjunction with international meetings and conferences held under the auspices of the Committee;
(b) Participation of representatives of the Committee and the Division in important forums and other events on the question of Palestine organized by civil society organizations worldwide;
(c) Periodic consultative meetings with civil society organizations with a view to keeping them apprised of the various activities of the Committee, encouraging better coordination and cooperation among them and with the Committee and other relevant United Nations entities and receiving their views on the work of the United Nations and of the Committee in particular;
(d) Providing assistance to Palestinian civil society organizations in facilitating the participation of their representatives in events held under the auspices of the Committee or supported by the Committee.

Parliaments and inter-parliamentary organizations

35. The Committee views its cooperation with parliamentarians worldwide as one of its programmatic priorities and will continue to develop this aspect of its work. The Committee firmly believes that national parliaments and inter-parliamentary organizations play an important role in shaping public opinion, formulating policy guidelines and upholding international legitimacy in support of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine. The Committee considers that the experience and political influence of lawmakers and their organizations can be instrumental in consolidating the democratic process and institution-building in the territory under the Palestinian Authority, strengthening political dialogue between the parties and applying the principles of international law to efforts aimed at resolving the conflict. The Committee reaffirms the continuing importance of developing closer cooperation and effective partnership with parliaments and representatives of inter-parliamentary bodies in order to encourage the discussion, within the respective parliaments and among all strata of society, of ways of advancing peace in the Middle East and resolving the question of Palestine. To that end, the Committee will strive to involve parliamentarians and representatives of inter-parliamentary organizations in international meetings and conferences organized under its auspices. Consultations between the Committee and representatives of parliaments and inter-parliamentary organizations should improve cooperation between the two sides. The Committee will also make an effort to involve members of the Knesset and the Palestinian Legislative Council in events organized under its auspices.
36. The Committee will organize, jointly with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, the International Meeting in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace, scheduled to take place in Malta in February 2010, with the participation of European and Arab parliamentarians, as well as representatives of other national parliaments and inter-parliamentary organizations.

D. Publications programme

37. The Committee considers the Division’s publications programme to be an important information source and outreach activity which contributes to the heightening of international awareness of the various aspects of the question of Palestine. The Division should continue to monitor developments relevant to the question of Palestine. It should also continue to issue the following publications:
(a) Monthly bulletin on action by the United Nations system and intergovernmental organizations relevant to the question of Palestine;
(b) Periodic review of developments relating to the Middle East peace process;
(c) Monthly chronological review of events relating to the question of Palestine;
(d) Annual compilation of resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly and the Security Council relating to the question of Palestine;
(e) Reports of international meetings and conferences held under the auspices of the Committee;
(f) Annual bulletin on the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People;
(g) Bimonthly summary of civil society activities on the question of Palestine, entitled “NGO Action News”, available on the “civil society” page of the “Question of Palestine” website.
38. The Committee believes that the Division, in consultation with the Bureau, should continue to review the existing publications and make proposals with regard to those that require updating.

E. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine

39. The Committee requests the Division for Palestinian Rights to continue its work on the further development, expansion and administration of the “Question of Palestine” website, including UNISPAL. In consultation with and under the guidance of the Bureau, the Division intends to launch, in the course of the year, a redesigned “Question of Palestine” portal. The Division will continue to ensure that the UNISPAL collection of United Nations and related documents is comprehensive and up to date and that its access modalities and displays are user-friendly. The Committee requests the Division to report periodically to the Bureau on the status of this work and progress achieved in its development.

F. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

40. In accordance with General Assembly resolution 32/40 B, the Committee will observe the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. It is envisaged that special meetings in observance of the Day will be held on 29 November 2010 at United Nations Headquarters, the United Nations Offices at Geneva and Vienna and elsewhere, in accordance with established practice. A Palestinian exhibit or cultural event will be organized at United Nations Headquarters in cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations.

G. Annual training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority

41. The Committee considers that, in the light of its importance to the Palestinian Authority and usefulness in terms of Palestinian capacity- and institution-building, the Division for Palestinian Rights should continue to further develop and enhance the programme in 2010 in cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations. The Committee is of the view that, in selecting candidates for the programme, special consideration should be given to achieving gender balance.

H. Continuing review and assessment

42. The Committee will continue to review and assess its programme of work in the light of the situation on the ground and new developments in the political process and will make adjustments as necessary.

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1A/64/35.

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2021-02-23T11:43:45-05:00

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