Mideast situation/civil population and prisoners/follow-up to S/RES/237 – SecGen report

REPORT BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL
IN PURSUANCE OF OPERATIVE PARAGRAPH 3 OF THE COUNCIL'S
RESOLUTION OF 14 JUNE 1967 (S/RES/237 (1967))

1. In its resolution adopted on 14 June 1967 (S/RES/237 (1967)), concerning the civil population and prisoners of war in the area of conflict in the Middle East, the Security Council requested the Secretary-General to "follow the effective implementation of this resolution and to report to the Security Council".

2. In support of the appeal from the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the Secretary-Genera], appealed on 14 June for contributions from Governments and other sources in order,to enable UNRWA to assist those who through no fault of their own have been caught in the toils of war. A number of Governments have since that time announced special contributions to UNRWA, as well as measures of direct assistance to Governments in the area and contributions through the Red Cross and other voluntary organizations.

3. From the beginning of the hostilities on 5 June 1967, the Secretary-General has kept in close touch with the Commissioner-General of UNRWA who, within the limits of the situation and of his own resources, has been co-ordinating emergency assistance in the area and taking measures designed to deal with the tragic and difficult circumstances which have arisen. The Commissioner-General has been working in particular in close co-operation with the International Red Cross.

4. On 20 June 1967, the Secretary-General submitted to the Security Council (S/8001) and to the General Assembly (A/6723) a report of the Commissioner-General of UNRWA on the current situation in the area. Since that time, as a matter of course, the Commissioner-General has reported regularly to the Secretary-General on his activities and on problems as they arise.

5. The Secretary-General has received two reports from the Permanent representative of Israel to the United Nations, dated 22 and 25 June 1967, respectively, concerning the situation of the civilian population in areas under Israel control. These are attached to this report as annexes. I and II. In addition, the Permanent Representative of Israel has informed the Secretary-General in a note dated 28 June 1967 of an exchange of prisoners of war between Israel and Jordan. This note is attached as annex III.

6. The Secretary-General is of the view that special attention is required, particularly with regard to obtaining precise information, in order to enable him to discharge effectively his responsibilities under paragraph 3 of resolution S/RES/237(1967) of the Security Council. The Commissioner-General of UNRWA already has the burden of greatly increased problems and difficulties as a result of the events of the past month, and it would be an unjustifiable imposition to ask him to assume still further tasks in implementation of the Council's resolution. UNRWA's primary function, moreover, is to look after the refugees, and its capability is necessarily limited, both practically and politically, with regard to the task of protecting newly displaced persons or of taking on other humanitarian responsibilities. The Secretary-General, therefore, plans to send out to the area for a short time a representative of suitable experience and rank to obtain for him on the spot the information required for the proper discharge of his responsibilities under paragraph 3 of the resolution of the Security Council. (S/RES/237 (1967)).


ANNEX I

The Permanent Representative of Israel presents his compliments to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and has the honour, on instructions from the Government of Israel, to refer to the mote verbale dated 13 June 1967, concerning the situation of the civilian population under Israel control, and to state as follows :

The Government of Israel, guided by the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and other relevant international obligations, is making every effort to restore the normal civilian life in the areas under its control.

The bitter fighting which resulted from the Egyptian attack on Israel and the subsequent attacks of Jordan and Syria, caused suffering to the civilian population on all sides, and in consequence, civilian life in the affected areas was severely disrupted. During and after the hostilities, there were movements of population in several parts of the areas. Any allegation that Israel has been expelling residents from their homes and thus creating a new refugee problem is untrue and inconsistent with the facts.

Subsequent to the cease-fire, the Israeli Defence Forces engaged in the re-establishment of law and order, the resumption of essential services, and the restoration of normal life.

The restoration of normal life already includes the following:

(a)  The civilian administration in the West Bank is functioning.
(b)  All hospitals are functioning in good order.
(c)  Civilian and private vehicles are being located and will be returned to their owners within a few days.
(d)  Gas stations have been opened and are operating.
(e)  All charitable institutions have resumed their work.
(f)  Telephone service is functioning in the major cities in the West Bank.
(g)  In the major cities the local police force is functioning.
(h)  Factories and other industries are beginning to resume production.
(i)  The railway in the Gaza Strip is functioning.

At the initiative of the Government of Israel, an agreement was signed between the Government of Israel and. UNRWA for the continuation of the work of the Agency in refugee camps.

Very strict precautions have been taken for the preservation of the religious places and the freedom of worship. Freedom of movement has been accorded to diplomats, International Red Cross personnel, journalists and other persons engaged in charity and welfare work.

The Government of Israel will continue with its efforts to provide the Arab population with the necessary conditions for an orderly, peaceful, and quiet life.

The Permanent Representative of Israel avails himself of this opportunity to express to the Secretary-General the assurances of his highest consideration.

New York
22 June 1967


ANNEX II

The Permanent Representative of Israel presents his compliments to the Secretary-General, and on instructions from the Government of Israel, has the honour to convey the following additional information concerning the situation of the civilian population under Israeli control to supplement the note verbale of 22 June 1967.

Permission was granted to Moslems to enter the Old City of Jerusalem on 23 June for the purpose of conducting religious services at the Moslem Holy Places in the City.

Similar permission was granted to Christians for the Sunday services on 25 June.

The supply of agricultural products to the cities has been resumed.

In the Gaza Strip starting on 25 June 1967, the following arrangements will enter into effect:

(a) Curfew hours will be reduced, and will be in force from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
(b) Public transport facilities in Gaza City will be resumed.
(c) Personal arms are being returned to the local Arab police.
(d) Sale of flour will be resumed.

UNRWA has resumed its operations, and there is a regular distribution of food in the Gaza Strip.

All medical services are now functioning in good order.

The Permanent Representative of Israel avails himself of this opportunity to express to the Secretary-General the assurances of his highest consideration.

New York
25 June 1967


ANNEX III

The Permanent Representative of Israel presents his compliments to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and has the honour to convey the following information concerning the exchange of prisoners of war with Jordan.

On 27 June 1967, 424 Jordanian military personnel, including seventeen officers, and three civilians who served on the staff of, the Iraqi Consulate in Jerusalem, were returned to Jordan at the Allenby Bridge. In this exchange, two Israeli pilots who had been detained by Iraq were returned to Israel.

The exchange of prisoners with Jordan was conducted under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross, following an agreement with the Governments of Israel and Jordan.

In this connexion, a statement of the International Committee of the Red Cross was published in Geneva on 27 June 1967, giving details of the exchange, and mentioning that about twenty-five other wounded Jordanian prisoners of war will be repatriated as soon as their condition permits.

The Permanent Representative of Israel avails himself of this opportunity to express to the Secretary-General the assurances of his highest consideration.

New York
28 June 1967

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2019-03-11T22:07:24-04:00

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