Israeli Settlements/Inalienable rights in Palestine – Letter from CEIRPP Chairman

LETTER DATED 12 MARCH 1980 FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE

COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS

OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE ADDRESSED TO THE

PRESIDENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL

The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People has authorized me, in my capacity as Chairman of the Committee, to convey to you its satisfaction at the Security Council's adoption of resolution 465 (1980).

The Committee considers it particularly auspicious that the Council is unanimous in determining that all measures taken by Israel to change the physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure or status of the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, have no legal validity. The Committee takes special note of the Council's reference to the specific status of Jerusalem.

The Committee is also gratified that the Council is unanimous in strongly deploring the Israeli Government's policy of establishing settlements in the occupied territories, including Jerusalem, in determining that this policy constitutes a flagrant violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and also a serious obstruction to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, and in calling on the Israeli Government to dismantle the existing settlements and to cease, on an urgent basis, the establishment of such settlements.

May I reiterate the conviction of the Committee, as reflected in the basic principles on which its recommendations mentioned in my letter of 6 March 1980* are based, that the question of Palestine is at the heart of the Middle East problem and that, consequently, no solution in the Middle East can be envisaged which does not fully take into account the legitimate aspirations and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. The Committee considers it imperative that, in the interest of justice and peace, the Security Council should take urgent action to enable the Palestinian people to exercise their inalienable rights in Palestine.

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

(Signed)  Falilou KANE

Chairman of the Committee on the

Exercise of the Inalienable Rights

of the Palestinian People

*  S/13832.