Commission on Human Settlements – Resolution

REPORT OF THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS

Eighteenth session (12-16 February 2001)

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Resolutions

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The Commission on Human Settlements

Recalling its resolution 13/6 of 8 May 1991 and 14/9 of 5 May 1993 on housing for the Palestinian people and its resolution 16/18 of 17 May 1997 on illegal Israeli human settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories,

Reaffirming its resolution 17/9 of 14 May 1999 on illegal Israeli human settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories,

Considering that the issue of housing for the Palestinian people and the Israeli illegal settlements in the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem, falls within the mandate of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat),

Recalling paragraph 25 of the Habitat Agenda, in which it is stated that alien and colonial domination and foreign occupation are destructive to human settlements and should therefore be denounced and discouraged by all States,which should cooperate to achieve the elimination of such practices,

Recalling also paragraph 204 (h) of the Habitat Agenda, which calls for consolidating the solidarity of the international community and its organizations to provide adequate shelter for all and sustainable human settlement development for people living under foreign occupation,

Taking note of General Assembly resolution 55/132 of 8 December 2000 on "Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem and the occupied Syrian Golan",

Concerned by Israel's continued illegal actions in the occupied Palestinian territories, including the building of new settlements, the expansion of existing settlements the construction of by-pass roads, the confiscation of land and the demolition of Palestinian houses,

Gravely concerned by the deterioration and destruction caused to the Palestinian human settlements as a result of recent Israeli actions in the occupied Palestinian territories,

Regretting that the reports requested in resolution 16/18 and 17/9 were note ready for presentation at the current session,

Taking note of the explanation presented by the Executive Director on the status of the requested comprehensive report on the housing situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as plans of the secretariat to ensure its completion.

1. Calls upon the Israeli authorities to implement the following measures to enable the Palestinian people in the occupied territories to ensure their housing needs;

(a) Provide dignified and appropriate physicals conditions in their human settlements where needed;

(b) Put an end to the confiscation of Palestinian lands and the establishment of settlements in the occupied territories;

(c) Restore to their original state occupied lands that were altered before and during the recent illegal actions;

(d) Refrain from applying policies that prevent and hamper the building permits to the Palestinian people in Times of War to the occupied Palestinian territories;

(e) Accept the de jure applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection Civilian Persons in Times of War to the occupied Palestinian territories;

2. Requests with insistence that member States and all multilateral financial institutions halt all forms of assistance and support for illegal Israeli settlement facilities in the occupied Palestinian territories;

3. Calls upon the international donor community and all financial institutions, in coordination with the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), to increase financial assistance to alleviate the housing problems faced by the Palestinian people in the occupied territories;

4. Requests the Executive Director of the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) to organize a meeting on the establishment of a human settlements fund for the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territories;

5. Also requests the Executive Director to conclude and update a comprehensive report on implementation of this resolution, in particular regarding the housing situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and the problems posed by the Israeli illegal actions in this respect and to present it to the commission at its nineteenth session;

6. Invites the Commission to take appropriate measures at its nineteenth session in accordance with the findings of the comprehensive report.

8th meeting

16 February 2001

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*Adopted by a vote of 22 in favour, one against and 21 abstentions.