Israeli practices/settlements – SecCo consensus statement – Letter from Oman

QUESTION OF PALESTINE

REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE ISRAELI PRACTICES

AFFECTING THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE POPULATION OF THE OCCUPIED

TERRITORIES

Letter dated 29 July 1977 from the Permanent Representative of

Oman to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

On behalf of the Arab Group, I should like to draw your attention to the following:

On 26 July 1977, Israel took it upon itself to legalize three Jewish settlements in the occupied Arab territory near the towns of Kafr Kaddum,, Khan Al-Ahmar and Ramallah.  This latest measure in Israel's persistent policy of expansion and colonization violates the Charter of the United Nations, the Geneva Convention and the numerous resolutions and decisions by the Security Council.  It aggravates further an already explosive situation.

We wish to recall the consensus statement issued by the Security Council on 17 November 1976:

"Following the request submitted by Egypt on 20 October 1976,, the  Security Council held four meetings between 1 November and 11 November 1976 to consider the situation in the occupied Arab territories with the participation of the representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization. After consulting all the members, the President of the Council states that the Council has agreed on the following:

"(l) To express its grave anxiety and concern over the present serious situation in the occupied Arab territories as a result of continued Israeli occupation;

"(2)  Reaffirmation of its call upon the Government of Israel to ensure the safety, welfare and security of the inhabitants of the territories and to facilitate the return of those inhabitants who have fled the area since the outbreak of hostilities;

"(3) Its reaffirmation that the Fourth Geneva Convention relatively to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War is applicable to the Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967. Therefore, the occupying Power is called upon once again to comply strictly with the provisions of that Convention and to refrain from any measure that violates them.  In this regard the measures taken by Israel in the occupied Arab territories that alter their demographic composition or geographical nature and particularly the establishment of settlements are accordingly strongly deplored. Such measures which have no legal validity and cannot prejudge the outcome of the search for the establishment of peace constitute an obstacle to peace;

"(4) It considers once more that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel, including expropriation of land and properties thereon and the transfer of populations which tend to change the legal status of Jerusalem, are invalid and cannot change that status and urgently calls upon Israel once more to rescind all such measures already taken and to desist forthwith from taking any further action was tends to change the status of Jerusalem.  In this connexion the Council deplores the failure of Israel to show any regard for Security Council resolutions 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967, 252 (1968) of 21 May 1968, 298 (1971) of 25 September 1971 and General Assembly resolutions 2253 (ES-V) and 2254 (ES-V) of 4 and 14 July 1967;

"(5) Its recognition that any act of profanation of the Holy Places, religious building's and sites or any encouragement of, or connivance and any such act may seriously endanger international peace and security.

"The Council decides to keep the situation under constant attention with a view to meeting again should circumstances require."  (S/12233)

The Permanent Representatives of the Arab States to the United Nations and Permanent Observer of the Palestine Liberation Organization have asked me to bring to your attention and, through you, to the attention of the States Members of the United Nations, this latest threat to peace and security.

I kindly ask you to circulate this letter as an official document of the General Assembly under items 30 and 57 of the provisional agenda.

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