Palestine question/CEIRPP recommendations/SecCo re-examination/Settlements in illegally occupied Arab territories – Letter from CEIRPP Acting Chairman

LETTER DATED 6 MARCH 1980 FROM THE ACTING CHAIRMAN OF THE

COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS OF

THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE ADDRESSED TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE

SECURITY COUNCIL

The members of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People have authorized me, as Acting Chairman of that Committee, to call your attention to the spirit and letter of General Assembly resolution 34/65, adopted at its last session.

In paragraph 7 of its resolution 34/65 A, adopted on 29 November 1979, the General Assembly once again urges the Security Council to consider and take as soon as possible a decision on the recommendations endorsed by the Assembly in its resolutions 31/20, 32/40, 33/28 and 34/65. Those recommendations which have received the approval of our Organization as providing the basis for any solution to the problem of Palestine, are  motivated by the following basic principles:

(a) The question of Palestine is at the heart of the Middle East problem, and, consequently, the Committee stresses its belief that no solution in the Middle East can be envisaged which does not fully take into account the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people;

(b) The legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to return to their homes and property and to achieve self-determination, national independence and sovereignty are endorsed by the Committee in the conviction that the full implementation of these rights will contribute decisively to a comprehensive and final settlement of the Middle East crisis;

(c) The participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, on an equal footing with other parties, on the basis of General Assembly resolutions 3236 (XXIX) and 3375 (XXX), is indispensable in all efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Middle East which are held under the auspices of the United Nations;

(d) The Committee recalls the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force and stresses the consequent obligation for complete and speedy evacuation of any territory so occupied.

I am convinced that you will spare no effort, as President of the Security Council, to ensure respect for these fundamental principles in any effort aimed at establishing a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

I should also like to draw your attention to paragraph 8 of resolution 34/65 A, in which the General Assembly authorizes and requests the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, in the event that the Security Council fails to consider or to take a decision on those recommendations by 31 March 1980 to consider that situation and to make the suggestions it deems appropriate.

Furthermore, in paragraph 2 of its resolution 34/65 C, adopted on 12 December 1979, the Assembly requests the Committee to keep the situation relating to the question of Palestine under review and to report and make suggestions to the General Assembly or to the Security Council, as may be appropriate.

The Committee is profoundly convinced that appropriate and concrete action by the Security Council on the basis of the implementation of the Committee's recommendations would without any doubt lead to the achievement of tangible progress towards a solution to the question of Palestine. The members of the Committee accordingly believe that the impasse currently prevailing in the region, characterized by the absence of any initiative that might lead to peace, and the prolongation of the illegal occupation of Arab territories are in no way conducive to the avoidance of new confrontations. Moreover, in the Committee's view, that impasse could lead only to an aggravation of the threat to international peace and security.

The Committee is of the strong opinion that specific and concrete action by the Security Council should not be delayed further in the face of the increased intransigence by Israel in establishing and strengthening its settlements in illegally occupied Arab territories. During the last year, Israel openly has defied the Security Council's resolutions 446 (1979) and 452 (1979), and only a few days ago openly has made evident that it has no intention of paying any heed to resolution 465 (1980) just passed unanimously by the Security Council.

It is also highly relevant to recall that the Security Council discussed our Committee's recommendations during June and August 1979. Although several delegations participated in the discussion and a draft resolution was presented (S/13514), it was not voted upon. In effect, therefore the Security Council is still seized of the question.

In the light of all the above considerations, the Committee, in keeping with the spirit and letter of General Assembly resolutions on Palestine, considers it important that the Security Council should take practical measures with a view to implementing the Committee's recommendations which are intended to restore to the Palestinian people their inalienable rights, the denial of which is the root of the Middle East problem.

Please find attached those recommendations, which are contained in the Committee's report to the General Assembly at its thirty-fourth session,* and which endorsed by the Assembly in its resolution 34/65. The Committee is convinced that the members of the Security Council will wish to re-examine those recommendations as urged by the General Assembly in that resolution.

I should be grateful if you would have this letter circulated as a document of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Falilou KANE

  Acting Chairman of the Committee

on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights

of the Palestinian People

*  General Assembly, Official Records, Thirty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/34/35).