Jerusalem/Settlements – Islamic Group statement – Letter from Indonesia

Identical letters dated 3 March 1997 from the Permanent

Representative of Indonesia to the United Nations

addressed to the Secretary-General and to the President

of the Security Council

I have the honour to forward to you herewith the text of a statement adopted by the Islamic Group at its meeting held today, Monday, 3 March 1997, at United Nations Headquarters (see annex).  The Islamic Group met to consider the latest developments in East Jerusalem following the decision by the Government of Israel on 26 February 1997 to build a new settlement in Jabal abu Ghneim in East Jerusalem in violation of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly, as well as of the Declaration of Principles and the subsequent agreements.

I would appreciate it if you would have the present letter and its annex circulated as a document of the fifty-first session of the General Assembly, under agenda items 33, 35 and 85, and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Nugroho WISNUMURTI     

Ambassador         

Permanent Representative  

Chairman of the Islamic Group

ANNEX

Statement issued on 3 March 1997 by the Islamic Group

of the Organization of the Islamic Conference

1. The Islamic Group of the Organization of the Islamic Conference met on 3 March 1997 at the ambassadorial level at United Nations Headquarters at the request of the delegation of Palestine.

2. The Islamic Group reiterated the earlier resolutions of the Organization of the Islamic Conference on the question of Palestine, the City of Al-Quds Al-Sharif and the Arab-Israeli conflict.

3. The Islamic Group expressed deep concern over recent illegal measures taken by Israel, inter alia, the building of settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Arab Golan.  In this regard, the Group expressed particular concern over the Israeli decision on 26 February 1997 to build a new settlement in Jabal abu Ghneim in East Jerusalem, which constitutes the latest attempt by Israel at pre-empting the outcome of the negotiations on final status by changing the legal status and demographic composition of Jerusalem – a city which is of central importance to the Arab world and the world of Islam, the three major religions, as well as the international community in general.  The Israeli decision violates the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly, as well as the Declaration of Principles and the subsequent agreements.  It therefore threatens to undermine the progress which has been achieved in the Middle East peace process.

4. The Islamic Group called on the international community, including the Security Council, to take urgent steps to ensure that the Government of Israel reverses its decision and renounces any settlement activity in the Arab occupied territories, in particular East Jerusalem.

5. The Islamic Group decided to remain seized of the matter.

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