Situation in the OPT/SecGen to conduct on-site monitoring/ Need for int’l protection – Vetoed draft resolution

Distr.

GENERAL

S/20945/Rev.1

6 November 1989

   ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

Algeria, Colombia, Ethiopia, Malaysia, Nepal, Senegal and

Yugoslavia: revised draft resolution

The Security Council,

Having considered the letter dated 3 November 1989 from the Permanent Representative of Kuwait to the United Nations, 1/ in his capacity as Chairman of the Group of Arab States for the month of November,

Recalling its relevant resolutions on the situation in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem, in particular resolution 605 (1987) of 22 December 1987,

Taking note of General Assembly resolution 44/2 of 6 October 1989,

Bearing in mind the inalienable rights of all peoples recognized by the Charter of the United Nations and proclaimed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 2/

Recalling also the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, 3/

Alarmed by the deteriorating situation in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem,

Having heard the statements concerning the policies and practices of Israel, the occupying Power, and the conduct of its troops and agents in those territories, as manifested in the town of Beit Sahur, other towns and refugee camps,

Taking into account the immediate need to consider measures for the impartial and international protection of the Palestinian civilian population under Israeli occupation,

Considering that the current policies and practices of Israel, the occupying Power, in the occupied territory are bound to have grave consequences for the endeavours to achieve comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East,

1. Strongly deplores those policies and practices of Israel, the occupying Power, which violate the human rights of the Palestinian people in the occupied territory, and in particular the siege of towns, the ransacking of the homes of inhabitants, as has happened at Beit Sahur, and the illegal and arbitrary confiscation of their property and valuables:

2. Calls upon Israel to desist from committing such practices and actions and lift its siege;

3. Urges that Israel return the illegally and arbitrarily confiscated property to its owners:

4. Reaffirms once again that the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, is applicable to the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem.

5. Calls once again upon Israel, the occupying Power, to abide immediately and scrupulously by the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, and to desist forthwith from those policies and practices which are in violation of the provisions of the Convention;

6. Calls upon all the High Contracting Parties to the fourth Geneva Convention to ensure respect for it, including the obligation of the occupying Power under the Convention to treat the population of the occupied territory humanely at all times and in all circumstances;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to conduct on-site monitoring of the present situation in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, by all means available to him, and to submit periodic reports thereon, the first such resort as soon as possible.

1/ S/20942.

2/ General Assembly resolution 217 A (III).

3/ United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.

                                        —–

The Security Council on 7 November 1989 voted on the draft resolution as follows:

In favour: Algeria, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Malaysia, Nepal, Senegal, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Yugoslavia.

Against: United States of America.