Situation in the OPT incl. Jerusalem – Letter from Palestine

GENERAL ASSEMBLY SECURITY COUNCIL

Fifty-first session Fifty-first year

Agenda items 33, 35 and 85

THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

QUESTION OF PALESTINE

REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO

  INVESTIGATE ISRAELI PRACTICES

  AFFECTING THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE

  PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND OTHER ARABS

  OF THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES

Letter dated 28 September 1996 from the Permanent Observer

of Palestine to the United Nations addressed to the       

Secretary-General

Following my last three letters to you, dated 24, 25 and 26 September 1996 (A/51/400-S/1996/779, A/51/407-S/1996/786 and A/51/411-S/1996/791), I have been instructed to bring the following to your immediate attention.

On Friday, 27 September 1996, the Israeli army and police, in yet another escalation of the situation in occupied East Jerusalem, stormed into the holy area of Al-Haram Al-Sharif shooting at Palestinian prayers and causing three deaths and injuring 120.  The three Palestinians killed were:

1. Mr. Jawad Abdel-Halim Hijazi Al Bazlamit – 20 years old;

2. Mr. Aymen Yehya Mustafa Edkidi – 25 years old;

3. Mr. Ibrahim Ali Muosa Abu-Ghanam – 22 years old.

This additional crime committed by the Israeli occupying authorities confirms the intention of the Israeli Government to further change the existing situation of the holy places, as well as the situation of Jerusalem as a whole.

Since the opening of the tunnel on Monday, 23 September 1996, the Israeli Government continues to further escalate the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, by adamant provocative declarations

and statements as well as continued army and police attacks on Palestinian civilians, causing greater casualties.  While the casualties continue to increase, today they stand at more than 80 killed and more than 1,000 injured.

The situation described above adds urgency to the needed actions by the Security Council.

I would be grateful if you would arrange to have the text of the present letter circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda items 33, 35 and 85, and of the Security Council.

                                    (Signed)  Nasser AL-KIDWA

                                 Permanent Observer of Palestine

                                      to the United Nations

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96-25700 (E)   280996