Question Palestine – CHR – NGO statement

THE RIGHT OF PEOPLES TO SELF-DETERMINATION AND ITS APPLICATION

TO PEOPLES UNDER COLONIAL OR ALIEN DOMINATION

OR FOREIGN OCCUPATION

Written statement* submitted by North-South XXI, a non-governental

organization in special consultative status

The Secretary-General has received the following written statement, which is circulated in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31.

[20 December 1990]

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* This written statement is issued, unedited, as received from the submitting non-governmental organization.

For the Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrian peoples, victims of military occupation

1. Certain foreign occupations provoke immediate and widespread international reaction.  Such was the case when Kuwait was annexed in 1991.  Others are tolerated or condoned by the great Powers acting in accordance with their interests alone.

2. This is true of the occupation of the West Bank and Jerusalem, which for more than 50 years has deprived the Palestinian people of its State, its land and its capital.  The same applies to the Golan and southern Lebanon, which have been occupied by the Israeli army for several decades and have endured its totalitarian reaction to all signs of resistance, which are nevertheless perfectly legal according to international law.  The occupier benefits from the leniency and protection of the great Powers, in defiance of a multitude of resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and regional organizations.

3. By its failure to condemn these occupations, which openly violate international law and the rights of the Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrian peoples, the United Nations cannot pretext to a legitimate role in settling disputes elsewhere in the world.  The Commission on Human Rights should therefore reaffirm to the State of Israel the fundamental principles of international law in respect of human rights and consider measures to end these military occupations altogether.

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