DPR Monthly Bulletin – Volume XXXIII, No. 11, CEIRPP, DPR Bulletin (November 2010) – DPR publication

November 2010

Volume XXXIII, Bulletin No. 11

Bulletin

on action by the United Nations system and

intergovernmental organizations

relevant to the question of Palestine

I.  COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS

OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE ELECTS NEW CHAIR

The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People held its 328th meeting  on 23 November 2011 in which it elected its new Chair Mr. Abdou Salam Diallo, the Permanent Representative of Senegal to the United Nations.  The following is an excerpt from press release GA/PAL/1176 of the meeting:

Abdou Salam Diallo of Senegal was today elected Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.

Mr. Diallo’s nomination by Oumar Daou ( Mali) was seconded by Hamidon Ali ( Malaysia) as B. Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, facilitated the election.

Following his election, the new Chair thanked Committee members, saying their endorsement was an honour to him, as well as his country.  He expressed hope of meeting that expression of confidence, pledging that he would work to ensure that the Committee’s discussions would be as easy as possible.  He said the election was an indication of the importance that his country attached to the Palestinian question and of its solidarity with the Palestinian people and leadership, noting that it was also a renewal of their confidence in Senegal.

Mr. Diallo (Senegal) reiterated the right of the Palestinian people to a State of their own, a road that had seen many difficulties, failures and disappointments.  But those disappointments should not end the parties’ determination to pursue dialogue and consultations in order to achieve peace, he stressed, noting that painful concessions and sacrifices had to be made.  Calling on the international community, the Security Council and Middle East Quartet  to commit themselves to bringing the parties to the negotiating table and helping bring about two States with recognized borders, he said he would “spare no effort” in exploring every possible avenue to reach the objectives assigned by the General Assembly.

Representatives of Cuba, Mali (on behalf of the African Group), Palestine, Egypt and Malaysia welcomed the new Chair and pledged their full support for him.

II.  UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS BRIEFS

SECURITY COUNCIL

On 23 November 2010, B. Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, briefed the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question (S/PV.6430).  The following are excerpts from his briefing:

We are in the midst of a delicate period that will determine whether a resumption of  Israeli-Palestinian peace talks is    possible.   The    continued     diplomatic impasse since the moratorium on settlement construction    ended   on  26  September    is worrying. We believe that a return to talks is crucially important. Efforts are continuing to bring the parties back to the negotiating table. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu met with United States Secretary of State Clinton on 11 November. Discussions between the United States and the parties are ongoing.

There have also been consultations in the region to support those efforts. The League of Arab States Follow-up Committee of the Arab Peace Initiative deferred its meeting agreed upon in Sirte to allow more time for diplomatic efforts. Senior Egyptian interlocutors met with President Abbas in Ramallah on 29 October, and subsequently with Prime Minister Netanyahu on 5 November. On 20 November, President Abbas met with President Mubarak in Cairo and with League of Arab States Secretary-General Amr Moussa for discussions. United States efforts to re-start negotiations have reached a critical phase. It is essential that the parties engage seriously and make substantive progress quickly once the talks resume, with a view to resolving all permanent status issues. Quartet envoys have  been  in regular contact.  We support a Quartet meeting soon to help move the process forward.

There has been significant construction in a number of settlements since the expiry of the partial settlement moratorium. There have also been announcements of plans to construct 1,300 settlement units in the Har Homa settlement in East Jerusalem, 32 units in the East Jerusalem settlement of Pisgat Ze’ev, as part of a plan to expand it by a further 220 units, and a further 800 units in the Ariel settlement, deep inside the West Bank. In his letter (S/2010/578) of 10 November to the President    of    the    Security    Council, the Permanent Observer of Palestine raised concerns about the impact of this renewed settlement activity on the prospects for talks.

The Secretary-General expressed his concern about these developments to Prime Minister Netanyahu when they met in New York on 8 November. We call on Israel to fulfil its Road Map obligation to freeze illegal settlement construction and not to implement plans for additional settlement units. In its 21 September statement, the Quartet recalled that unilateral actions taken by either party cannot prejudge the outcome of negotiations and will not be recognized by the international community. Previously, the Quartet had also reiterated that the annexation of East Jerusalem is not recognized by the international community and that the status of Jerusalem is a permanent status issue that must be resolved through negotiations between the parties.

The Palestinian Authority’s State-building agenda continues to advance steadily, in accordance with Prime Minister Fayyad’s strategy. However, the strategy requires adequate and sustainable financial backing.  The  recent  and  welcome  support from donors has improved the Palestinian Authority’s liquidity situation over the past month. However, the United Nations urges Member States to find additional resources to address outstanding shortfalls.

During the reporting period there was a decline in the number of violent incidents recorded in the West Bank. Palestinian security forces continued to maintain law and order and to fight extremism in accordance with Palestinian Road Map obligations. Security forces uncovered a significant arms cache in Ramallah on 22 October. A  number  of  militants  were  also arrested during the reporting period, including a leader of Islamic Jihad. A cell of Hamas militants was arrested by Palestinian security forces in Ramallah on 17 November.

International efforts to improve the capacity and strength of Palestinian security forces continue. A sixth battalion of Palestinian national security forces completed its training in Jordan on 10 November and will soon be deployed in the West Bank.

During the reporting period, Israeli security forces conducted 371 operations in the West Bank, in which 87 Palestinians were injured and 211 arrested, while four Israeli security personnel were injured. Those detained by Israel included Palestinians in possession of arms and members of the Hamas political wing, including the Secretary of the Palestinian Legislative Council.

There were 15 attacks by Palestinians on Israeli settlers, which resulted in injuries to four Israelis. On 30 October, shots were fired at an Israeli vehicle travelling near the village of Al-Walaja, north-west of Bethlehem.

The olive harvesting season took place during the reporting period. Attacks by Israeli settlers, including arson, the uprooting of thousands of olive trees belonging to Palestinians, vandalism and theft of agricultural equipment and crops, were reported on an almost daily basis, and in greater numbers than in the two previous olive harvests. On 22 October, Israeli settlers desecrated a Palestinian cemetery on the outskirts of the West Bank village of Kfar Kadum. There were 29 attacks by Israeli  settlers  against  Palestinians  or their property, in which 14 Palestinians were injured.

The construction on the barrier continues, with  deviations  from  the  Green Line in contravention of the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. The number of obstacles to movement in the West Bank has remained constant in recent months, at approximately 508.

While recognizing the Israeli Government’s legitimate security concerns, it is important that international organizations and their staff are given greater access to the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza to implement effectively their assistance projects. In that regard, we are concerned that there may be deterioration in access between East Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank as a result of the proposed changes to the administration of the crossings.

In East Jerusalem, the situation in the Silwan neighbourhood, adjacent to the Old City, is tense. There have been continued confrontations between settlers and Palestinian residents. On 25 October, eviction orders were handed out to eight families living in Silwan.  That led to violent clashes in which a Palestinian child was seriously injured by a rubber bullet.

The humanitarian community finalized its consolidated appeal for 2011, in full consultation with the Palestinian Authority. The appeal, which will be presented in Brussels on 30 November, articulates specific humanitarian strategies to address critical needs in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. We urge generous donors to support the consolidated appeal fully in order to prevent further  deterioration   in   living  conditions, especially in areas beyond Palestinian Authority control. Residents in Gaza and Area C of the West Bank remain among the most vulnerable.

I shall now turn to the situation in Gaza. During the reporting period, Palestinian militant groups fired eight rockets, including two Grad rockets, and 41 mortars from Gaza into Israel. Israeli security forces conducted 10 air strikes and 23 incursions into the Strip. Four Palestinian militants were killed, including three who died in targeted killings carried out by Israeli security forces. Without prejudice to Israel’s right to legitimate and proportionate self-defence, we reiterate our consistent opposition to extra-judicial killing. Twenty civilians were injured during the reporting period, 12 of whom were injured collecting rubble in the restricted area along the perimeter fence. Three Palestinians died in accidents while working in smuggling tunnels. In a worrying escalation, Palestinian militant groups fired four phosphorus mortar shells into Israel on 19 November. Israel subsequently conducted three air strikes against tunnels along the Rafah crossing and a militant training facility. We continue to condemn rocket fire, which  indiscriminately endangers civilians, and which must cease. We urge all parties to show calm and restraint and respect international humanitarian law.

On 21 October, a large explosion near Rafah resulted in more than 12 injured Palestinian civilians and extensive material damage. Hamas subsequently admitted that the explosion was an accident that took place inside a training facility for its militants. On 10 November, a land-to-sea missile was test-fired by Palestinian militants over a densely populated Palestinian    neighbourhood     of    Gaza.   I reiterate my deep concern about all armed activity that puts civilians in danger or is aimed at civilian populations.

The priority of the United Nations remains the rebuilding of a viable Gazan economy in the framework of the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1860 (2009). That will take time, but there are a range of important steps that can begin the process, namely, the resumption of exports, the free movement of people into and out of Gaza and the return of the Palestinian Authority to the crossings. All of these represent achievable steps that are fundamental to Gaza’s long-term recovery. Access to agricultural land along the Gaza border and to fishing areas, which are currently prohibited, are important elements for economic recovery, together with revival of the construction industry, with multiplier effects across all sectors.

The Israeli Government’s 20 June decision on Gaza was a welcome and positive step, but it has not yet been fully translated into practice. The United Nations continues to work both to expand the flow of its reconstruction work in the Gaza Strip and to increase that work’s pace of implementation.  Both the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have now received written Israeli approval for the implementation of programmes of work worth approximately $80 million. However, approval and implementation procedures remain slow and bureaucratic. Capacity at the crossings is critical. As noted in the last Security Council briefing (see S/PV.6404), the United Nations remains concerned about capacity at the Karni crossing for the entry of aggregate and essential wheat grain.  We  call  on  Israel  to facilitate the timely entry of construction materials for the implementation of approved United Nations work and to allow the Organization’s agencies to continue to expand the flow of reconstruction in the Gaza Strip.

During this reporting period there was an increase in the weekly number of truckloads entering the Gaza Strip, to 1,026, up from 940 in the previous reporting period, and from 566 in June, before the announcement of the new Israeli measures. However, the total number is still short of the 2,800 that were entering Gaza weekly in June 2007.

The water and sanitation situation in Gaza remains dire. Funding amounting to $15 million has been secured for the UNDP Khan Younis wastewater project, which was approved in March. I appeal to donors to assist in funding the outstanding $40 million needed for the project to be implemented.

The Rafah crossing continues to remain open for humanitarian passage to Egypt. I note that there was good cooperation between all of the relevant bodies in enabling the departure of pilgrims from Gaza for the annual hajj to Mecca.

  Representatives of Fatah and Hamas met in Damascus on 9 November for further discussions on Palestinian reconciliation. Reports indicate that the meeting was inconclusive. We continue to support efforts to advance Palestinian reconciliation within the framework of the legitimate Palestinian Authority and the commitments of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

The date of 11 November marked 1,600 days since the capture of Israeli Staff Sergeant Gilad Shalit. We reiterate our call for his immediate release. Humanitarian access to him should be granted without conditions. There has been no apparent progress on the efforts to complete a prisoner exchange for some of the 9,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

…

In the period ahead, we must work to bring about a return to direct talks between the parties and to support an atmosphere on the ground conducive to quick and concrete progress in those talks, including a freeze on settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory. Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas must show vision and leadership, rise above their domestic constraints and seize this opportunity to secure a historic and lasting peace. The Secretary-General remains committed to working with the parties and his international partners for an end to the occupation that began in 1967, for the  establishment of a Palestinian State living side by side in peace and security with Israel and for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East, in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions, the Road Map and the Arab Peace Initiative.

III.  SECRETARY-GENERAL’S MESSAGE ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE

The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observed on 29 November 2010  at the United Nations Headquarters in New York; the United Nations Offices at Geneva  and  Vienna; and   the Economic and  Social Commission for Western Asia  in accordance with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 32/40 B of  2 December 1977.  All States Members of the United Nations, observers and specialized agencies were invited to attend the Special Meeting of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.  At the meeting, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivered the following message (Press Release SG/SM/13277):

  Every year on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, we reflect on the situation of the Palestinians and consider what more we can do for peace.

Two timelines reach a critical point in 2011.  First, Palestinian President [Mahmoud] Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu have pledged to  seek a  framework agreement  on permanent status by September.  Second, the Palestinian Authority is on track to complete its two-year agenda of readiness for statehood by August.

At its meeting in September 2010, the Quartet stated that an agreement can be reached in the time frame set out by the leaders themselves, and that the Palestinian Authority, if it maintains its current performance  in  institution-building and  the delivery of public services, is well positioned for the establishment of a State at any point in the near future.

Yet few Palestinians are optimistic that anything decisive will be achieved next year, or even at all.  Looking at the situation on the ground, I understand this despair.  Soon after direct talks on final status began in September, they were undermined by the expiry  of  Israel’s commendable  settlement moratorium.  Construction of hundreds of new units throughout the West Bank commenced, and new approvals for settlements in East Jerusalem were given. This development is a serious blow to the credibility   of   the   political   process.   The obligation remains on Israel to meet its responsibilities under international law and the Road Map to freeze settlement activity.

It is also true that few Israelis seem hopeful that peace can be achieved soon, and I am sensitive to Israel’s security concerns.  But I ask all Israelis to look with fresh eyes at the indisputable emergence of a reliable security partner on the ground, and the continued commitment of President Abbas to Israel’s right to live in peace and security, and to his rejection of violence and terrorism.  I also remind everyone of the promise of the Arab Peace Initiative that a two-State solution and comprehensive Israeli-Arab peace would be followed by the establishment of normal relations between Israel and all Arab States.

I commend the steps taken during the past year to improve conditions on the ground.  However, much more is needed. The Palestinian Authority must continue to roll out the institutions of statehood, combat  terrorist  attacks and curb incitement.  Meanwhile, it is both Israel’s interest and its duty to begin rolling back the measures of occupation, particularly with respect to movement, access and security actions.

I remain very concerned about conditions in Gaza.  I express appreciation for the modification of Israel’s policy and the approval of a substantial number of United Nations projects.  But this can only be   a   first   step.   Full   implementation  of  Security Council resolution 1860 (2009) should follow.  Israel needs to enable broader civilian reconstruction, free movement of persons and the export of goods, and to facilitate the swift implementation of projects.  Rocket fire from Gaza must stop.  A prisoner exchange, the extension of de facto calm and progress on Palestinian reconciliation are also key steps.

An overwhelming international consensus exists on the need to end the occupation that began in 1967, address the fundamental security concerns of both parties, find a solution to the refugee issue and see Jerusalem emerge from negotiation as the capital of two States.  I challenge the two leaders to show statesmanship and political courage in reaching a historic peace.  The international community, for its part, must be ready to assume its own responsibilities for peace.

Let the year ahead be the one in which we realize, finally, a just and lasting peace in the Middle East based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003) and 1850 (2008), previous agreements, the Madrid framework, the Road Map and the Arab Peace Initiative.  I will do everything in my power to support these efforts.

IV.  GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS FOUR RESOLUTIONS ON THE QUESTION OF PALESTINE

The General Assembly considered agenda item 37 of its sixty-fifth session entitled “Question of Palestine” at plenary meetings held on 29 and 30 November 2010.  For the verbatim record of those meetings, see A/65/PV.53, A/65/PV.54 and A/65/PV.55.

The General Assembly had before it the Secretary-General’s report (A/65/380-S/2010/484 and Add.1), the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (A/65/35), draft resolutions A/65/L.14-17 and Add.1, which  were introduced by the Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.  The four draft resolutions were adopted on 30 November 2010 as resolutions 65/13, 65/14, 65/15, and 65/16.  The texts of the resolutions are reproduced below with an indication of the vote:

65/13.

Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable  Rights of  the Palestinian People

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and 3376 (XXX) of 10 November   1975,  31/20  of  24   November 1976 and all its subsequent relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its emergency special sessions and its resolution 64/16 of 2 December 2009,

Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,

Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,¹ 

Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides and the need for full compliance with those agreements,

Affirming its support for the Middle East peace process on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session² and the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, endorsed by the Security Council in resolution 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003,³

Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on  the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,⁴ and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,

Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory manner in accordance with international legitimacy,

1.   Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly, and takes note of its annual report,¹ including the conclusions and valuable recommendations contained in chapter VII thereof;

2. Requests the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination, to support the Middle East peace process and to mobilize international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people, and authorizes the Committee to make such adjustments in its approved programme of work as it may consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session and thereafter;

3. Also requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation relating to the question of Palestine and to report  and  make suggestions to the General Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as appropriate;

4.   Further requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation and support to Palestinian and other civil society organizations and to continue to involve additional civil society organizations and parliamentarians in its work in order to mobilize international solidarity and support for the Palestinian people, particularly during this critical period of political instability, humanitarian hardship and financial crisis, with the overall aim of promoting the achievement by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights and a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative² and the Quartet road map;³ 

5. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, established under General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and other United Nations bodies associated with the question of Palestine to continue to cooperate fully with the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information and documentation which they have at their disposal;

  6. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to the Committee in the performance of its tasks;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to circulate the report of the Committee to all the competent bodies of the United Nations, and urges them to take the necessary action, as appropriate;

  8.  Also requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Committee with all the necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks.

55th plenary meeting
30 November 2010 

Adopted by a vote of 112 to 9

 with 54 abstentions.

_______________

^1/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/65/35).

^2/ A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.

^3/   S/2003/529, annex.

^4/ See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1; see also Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 136.

65/14.

Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat

The General Assembly,

Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,¹   

Taking note, in particular, of the action taken by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat in accordance with their mandates,

Recalling its resolution 32/40 B of 2 December 1977 and all its subsequent relevant resolutions, including its resolution 64/17 of 2 December 2009,

1. Notes with appreciation the action taken by the Secretary-General in compliance with its resolution 64/17;

2. Considers that, by providing substantive support to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People in  the  implementation of

its mandate, the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat continues to make a most useful and constructive contribution to raising international awareness of the question of Palestine and to generating international support for the rights of the Palestinian people and a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine;

3.   Requests the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Division with the necessary resources and to ensure that it continues to carry out its programme of work as detailed in relevant earlier resolutions, in consultation with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and under its guidance;

4. Requests the Division, in particular, to continue to monitor developments relevant to the question of Palestine, organize international meetings and conferences in various regions with the participation of all sectors of the international community, liaise and cooperate with civil society and parliamentarians, develop and expand the “Question of Palestine” website and the documents collection of the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine, prepare and widely disseminate publications and information materials on various aspects of the question of Palestine and develop and enhance the annual training programme for staff of the Palestinian Authority in contribution to Palestinian capacity-building efforts;

5. Also requests the Division, as part of the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November, to continue to organize, under the guidance of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian   People, an   annual   exhibit   on Palestinian rights or a cultural event in cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations, and encourages Member States to continue to give the widest support and publicity to the observance of the Day of Solidarity;

6. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure the continued cooperation with the Division of the United Nations system entities with programme components addressing various aspects of the question of Palestine and the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;

7. Invites all Governments and organizations to extend their cooperation to the Division in the performance of its tasks.

55th plenary meeting
30 November 2010 

Adopted by a vote of 110 to 9

with 56 abstentions.

_________________

^1/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/65/35).

65/15.

Special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat

The General Assembly,

Having considered the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,¹ 

Taking note, in particular, of the information contained in chapter VI of that report,

Recalling its resolution 64/18 of 2 December 2009,

Convinced that the worldwide dissemination of accurate and comprehensive information and the role of civil society organizations and institutions remain of vital importance in heightening awareness of and support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the efforts to achieve a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine,

Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, as well as the existing agreements between the two sides,

Affirming its support for the Middle East peace process on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session,² and the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, endorsed by the Security Council in resolution 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003,³

Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,⁴ 

Reaffirming that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in a satisfactory manner in accordance with international legitimacy,

1. Notes with appreciation the action taken by the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat in compliance with resolution 64/18;

2. Considers that the special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department is very useful in raising the awareness of the international community concerning the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East and that the programme is contributing effectively to an atmosphere conducive to dialogue and supportive of the peace process and should receive the necessary support for the fulfilment of its tasks;

3. Requests the Department, in full cooperation and coordination with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, to continue, with the necessary flexibility as may be required by developments affecting the question of Palestine, its special information programme for 2010–2011, in particular:

(a) To disseminate information on all the activities of the United Nations system relating to the question of Palestine and the peace process, including reports on the work carried out by the relevant United Nations organizations, as well as on the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Special Envoy vis-à-vis the peace process;

(b) To continue to issue, update and modernize    publications   and   audio-visual materials on the various aspects of the question of Palestine in all fields, including materials concerning the relevant recent developments in that regard, in particular the efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine;

(c) To expand its collection of audio-visual material on the question of Palestine, to continue the production and preservation of such material and to update, on a periodic basis, the public exhibit on the question of Palestine displayed in the General Assembly building as well as at United Nations headquarters in Geneva and Vienna;

(d) To organize and promote fact-finding news missions for journalists to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel;

(e)  To organize international, regional and national seminars or encounters for journalists aimed in particular at sensitizing public opinion to the question of Palestine and the peace process and at enhancing dialogue and understanding between Palestinians and Israelis for the promotion of a peaceful settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including by fostering and encouraging the contribution of the media in support of peace between the two sides;

(f)  To continue to provide assistance to the Palestinian people in the field of media development, in particular to strengthen the annual training programme for Palestinian broadcasters and journalists;

  4. Encourages the Department to formulate ways for the media and representatives of civil society to engage in open and positive discussions to explore means for encouraging people-to-people dialogue and promoting peace and mutual understanding in the region.

55th plenary meeting
30 November 2010 

Adopted by a vote of 167 to 8,

with 2 abstentions.

___________________

^1/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/65/35).

^2/ A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.

^3/  S/2003/529, annex.

^4/  See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1; see also Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 136.

65/16.

Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine

The General Assembly,

Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth emergency special session,

Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004,

Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, 1397 (2002) of 12 March 2002, 1515 (2003) of 19 November 2003, 1544 (2004) of 19 May 2004 and 1850 (2008) of 16 December 2008,

Recalling the affirmation by the Security Council of the vision of a region where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized borders,

Noting with concern that it has been more than sixty years since the adoption of its  resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947 and forty-three years since the occupation of Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in 1967,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to the request made in its resolution 64/19 of 2 December 2009,¹   

Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in accordance with international law and relevant resolutions,

Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,² and recalling also its resolutions ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006,

Convinced that achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the attainment of comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East,

Stressing that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples is among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations,

Reaffirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war,

Recalling its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970,

Reaffirming the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem,

Stressing the extremely detrimental impact of Israeli settlement policies, decisions and activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, on efforts to resume and advance the peace process and to achieve peace in the Middle East,

Reaffirming the illegality of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of Jerusalem, including measures such as the so-called E-l plan, home demolitions, evictions of Palestinian residents, excavations in and around religious and historic sites, and all other unilateral measures aimed at altering the character, status and demographic composition of the city and of the Territory as a whole,

Reaffirming also that the construction by Israel, the occupying Power, of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and its associated regime are contrary to international law,

Expressing deep concern about the continuing Israeli policy of closures and severe restrictions on the movement of persons and goods, including medical and humanitarian, via the imposition of prolonged closures and severe economic and movement  restrictions that  in effect amount to a blockade, as well as of checkpoints and a permit regime throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the consequent negative impact on the socio-economic situation of the Palestinian people, which remains that of a   humanitarian  crisis, and   on   the  efforts aimed at rehabilitating and developing the damaged Palestinian economy and on the contiguity of the Territory, while taking note of recent developments regarding the situation of access to the Gaza Strip,

Recalling the mutual recognition between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people,³ and the need for full compliance with the agreements concluded between the two sides,

Recalling also the endorsement by the Security Council, in resolution 1515 (2003), of the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict⁴ and the call in Council resolution 1850 (2008) for the parties to fulfil their obligations under the road map, as affirmed in the Israeli-Palestinian Joint Understanding reached at the international conference held in Annapolis, United States of America, on 27 November 2007,⁵ and to refrain from any steps that could undermine confidence or prejudice the outcome of negotiations,

Noting the Israeli withdrawal in 2005 from the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank and the dismantlement of the settlements therein as a step towards the implementation    of    the    road   map,   and recalling in this regard the road map obligation upon Israel to freeze settlement activity, including so-called “natural growth”, and to dismantle all settlement outposts erected since March 2001,

Recalling the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002,⁶   

Expressing support for the agreed principles for bilateral negotiations, as affirmed by the parties at the Annapolis conference, aimed at concluding a peace treaty resolving all outstanding issues, including all core issues, without exception, for the achievement of a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and ultimately of the Arab-Israeli conflict as a whole for the realization of a comprehensive peace in the Middle East,

Reiterating support for the convening of an international conference in Moscow, as envisioned by the Security Council in resolution 1850 (2008), for the advancement and acceleration of a resumed peace process,

Noting the important contribution to the peace process of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, including within the framework of the activities of the Quartet,

Welcoming the reconvening of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians, under the chairmanship of Norway, at United Nations Headquarters on 21 September 2010, affirming the importance   of   continued   follow-up    and fulfilment of pledges made at the International Conference in Support of the Palestinian Economy for the Reconstruction of Gaza, held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on 2 March 2009, for the provision of emergency assistance and support for reconstruction and economic recovery in the Gaza Strip and alleviation of the socio-economic and humanitarian crisis being faced by the Palestinian people, and acknowledging the contribution of the Palestinian-European Mechanism for the Management of Socio-Economic Aid of the European Commission in this regard,

Recognizing the efforts being undertaken by the Palestinian Authority, with international support, to rebuild, reform and strengthen its damaged institutions, emphasizing the need to preserve and develop the Palestinian institutions and infrastructure and affirming, in this regard, its support for the Palestinian Authority’s August 2009 plan for constructing the institutions of an independent Palestinian State within a twenty-four-month period, and commending the significant progress towards that goal, as confirmed by international institutions, including the World Bank in its Economic Monitoring Report of 13 April 2010 to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee,

Welcoming the continued efforts and tangible progress made in the security sector by the Palestinian Authority, calling upon the parties to continue cooperation that benefits both Palestinians and Israelis, in particular by promoting security and building confidence, and expressing the hope that such progress will be extended to all major population centres,

Reiterating its concern over the negative developments that have continued to   occur     in   the    Occupied    Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, including the large number of deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians, the construction and expansion of settlements and the wall, acts of violence, vandalism and brutality committed against Palestinian civilians by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, the widespread destruction of public and private Palestinian property and infrastructure, the internal displacement of civilians and the serious deterioration of the socio-economic and humanitarian conditions of the Palestinian people,

Expressing grave concern, in particular, over the crisis in the Gaza Strip as a result of the continuing prolonged Israeli closures and severe economic and movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade and the military operations in the Gaza Strip between December 2008 and January 2009, which caused extensive loss of life and injury, particularly among Palestinian civilians, including children and women, widespread damage and destruction to Palestinian homes, properties, vital infrastructure, public institutions, including hospitals and schools, and United Nations facilities, and internal displacement of civilians,

Stressing the need for the full implementation by all parties of Security Council resolution 1860 (2009) of 8 January 2009 and General Assembly resolution ES-10/18 of 16 January 2009,

Expressing concern over continuing military actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including raids and arrest campaigns, and over the continued imposition of hundreds of checkpoints and obstacles to movement in and around Palestinian population centres by the Israeli occupying  forces, and  emphasizing  in  this

regard  the need  for  the implementation  by both sides of the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings,

Emphasizing the importance of the safety, protection and well-being of all civilians in the whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and terror against civilians on both sides,

Expressing concern over the unlawful takeover of Palestinian Authority institutions in the Gaza Strip in June 2007, and calling for the restoration of the situation to that which existed prior to June 2007 and for the continuation of the serious efforts being exerted by Egypt, the League of Arab States and other concerned parties for the promotion of dialogue for the achievement of reconciliation and the restoration of Palestinian national unity,

Stressing the urgent need for sustained and active international involvement, including by the Quartet, to support both parties in resuming, advancing and accelerating the peace process negotiations for the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement, on the basis of United Nations resolutions, the road map and the Arab Peace Initiative,

Noting the Quartet’s determination in the recent period to support the parties throughout the negotiations, which can be completed and resolve all final status issues within one year, and in the implementation of an agreement between the two sides that ends the occupation which began in 1967 and results in the emergence of an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian State living side by side in peace and security with Israel and its other neighbours,

Acknowledging the efforts being undertaken by civil society to promote a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine,

Recalling the findings by the International Court of Justice, in its advisory opinion, including on the urgent necessity for the United Nations as a whole to redouble its efforts to bring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which continues to pose a threat to international peace and security, to a speedy conclusion, thereby establishing a just and lasting peace in the region,⁷   

Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders,

1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects, and of intensifying all efforts towards that end;

2.  Also reaffirms its full support for the Middle East peace process, based on the relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session,⁶ and the Quartet road map to a permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,⁴ and for the existing agreements between the Israeli and Palestinian sides, stresses the necessity for the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, and welcomes in this regard the ongoing efforts of the Quartet and of the League of Arab States;

3. Encourages continued serious regional and international efforts to follow up and promote the Arab Peace Initiative, including by the Ministerial Committee formed at the Riyadh summit in March 2007;

4. Urges the parties to undertake, with the support of the Quartet and the international community, immediate and concrete steps in follow-up to the Israeli-Palestinian Joint Understanding reached at the international conference held in Annapolis,⁵ including through the resumption of active and serious bilateral negotiations;

5. Encourages, in this regard, the convening of an international conference in Moscow, as envisioned by the Security Council in resolution 1850 (2008), for the advancement and acceleration of a resumed peace process;

6.  Calls upon both parties to act on the basis of international law and their previous agreements and obligations, in particular adherence to the road map, irrespective of reciprocity, in order to create the conditions necessary for the resumption and accelerated advancement of negotiations in the near term;

7.  Calls upon the parties themselves, with the support of the Quartet and other interested parties, to exert all efforts necessary to halt the deterioration of the situation  and  to  reverse  all   unilateral  and unlawful measures taken on the ground since 28 September 2000;

8.  Calls upon the parties to observe calm and restraint and to refrain from provocative actions and inflammatory rhetoric, especially in areas of religious and cultural sensitivity;

9. Underscores the need for the parties to take confidence-building measures aimed at improving the situation on the ground, promoting stability and fostering the peace process, including the need for the further release of prisoners;

10. Stresses the need for the removal of checkpoints and other obstructions to the movement of persons and goods throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the need for respect and preservation of the territorial unity, contiguity and integrity of all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem;

11. Also stresses the need for an immediate and complete cessation of all acts of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror;

12. Reiterates its demand for the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1860 (2009);

13. Reiterates the need for the full implementation by both parties of the Agreement on Movement and Access and of the Agreed Principles for the Rafah Crossing, of 15 November 2005, and the need, specifically, to allow for the sustained opening of all crossings into and out of the Gaza Strip for humanitarian supplies, movement    and    access, as   well    as   for commercial    flows     and     all     necessary construction materials, which are essential for alleviating the humanitarian crisis, improving the living conditions of the Palestinian people and promoting the recovery of the Palestinian economy;

14. Stresses, in this regard, the urgent necessity for the advancement of reconstruction in the Gaza Strip, including through the completion of numerous suspended projects managed by the United Nations and the commencement of United Nations-led civilian reconstruction activities;

15. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and to cease all of its measures that are contrary to international law and unilateral actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, that are aimed at altering the character, status and demographic composition of the Territory, including via the de facto annexation of land, and thus at prejudging the final outcome of peace negotiations;

  16. Reiterates its demand for the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, and calls for the full implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions;

17. Stresses, in this regard, the need for Israel forthwith to abide by its road map obligation to freeze all settlement activity, including so-called “natural growth”, and to dismantle settlement outposts erected since March 2001;

18. Calls for the cessation of all provocations, including by Israeli settlers, in East Jerusalem, including in and around religious sites;

19.  Demands, accordingly, that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with its legal obligations under international law, as mentioned in the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice² and as demanded in General Assembly resolutions ES-10/13 of 21 October 2003 and ES-10/15, and, inter alia, that it immediately cease its construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and calls upon all States Members of the United Nations to comply with their legal obligations, as mentioned in the advisory opinion;

20. Reaffirms its commitment, in accordance with international law, to the two-State solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borders;

21.  Stresses the need for:

(a)  The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem;

(b)  The realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent State;

  22. Also stresses the need for a just resolution of the problem of Palestine refugees in conformity with its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948;

23. Calls upon the parties to resume and   accelerate   direct   peace   negotiations

towards the conclusion of a final peaceful settlement on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions, especially of the Security Council, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, the road map and the Arab Peace Initiative;

24. Urges Member States to expedite the provision of economic, humanitarian and technical assistance to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Authority during this critical period in order to help to alleviate the humanitarian crisis being faced by the Palestinian people, particularly in the Gaza Strip, to rehabilitate the Palestinian economy and infrastructure and to support the rebuilding, restructuring and reform of Palestinian institutions and Palestinian State-building efforts;

25. Encourages, in this regard, the continuing efforts of the Quartet’s Special Representative, Mr. Tony Blair, to strengthen Palestinian institutions, promote Palestinian economic development and mobilize international donor support;

26.  Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, towards the attainment of a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the promotion of peace in the region and to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session a report on these efforts and on developments on this matter.

55th plenary meeting
30 November 2010 

Adopted by a vote of 165 to 7,

with 4 abstentions.

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^1/ A/65/380-S/2010/484 and A/65/380/Add.3-S/2010/484/Add.1.

^2/ See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1; see also Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 136.

^3/  See A/48/486-S/26560, annex.

^4/  S/2003/529, annex.

^5/  Available from http://unispal.un.org.

^6/ A/56/1026-S/2002/932, annex II, resolution 14/221.

^7/ See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1, advisory opinion, para. 161; see also Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 136.

for the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, and welcomes in this regard the ongoing efforts of the Quartet and of the League of Arab States;

V.  GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS TWO RESOLUTIONS ON THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

During its 55^th plenary meeting on 30  November 2010, the General Assembly considered under agenda item 36 of its sixty-fifth session two draft resolutions on the situation in the Middle East (A/64/L.18  and A/64/L.19), which were adopted  as resolutions 65/17 on Jerusalem and 65/19 on the Syrian Golan.  For the verbatim record of the meetings, see A/65/PV.55.  The resolution on Jerusalem is reproduced below with an indication of the vote.

Jerusalem 65/17.

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, in particular its provisions regarding the City of Jerusalem,

Recalling also its resolution 36/120 E of 10 December 1981 and all  its  subsequent relevant resolutions, including resolution 56/31 of 3 December 2001, in which it, inter alia, determined that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel, the  occupying Power, which  have altered or purported to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, in particular the so-called “Basic Law” on Jerusalem and the proclamation of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, were null and void and must be rescinded forthwith,

Recalling further the Security Council resolutions relevant to Jerusalem, including resolution 478 (1980) of 20 August 1980, in which the Council, inter alia, decided not to recognize the “Basic Law” on Jerusalem,

Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of    the   Construction   of   a   Wall   in   the

Occupied Palestinian Territory,¹ and recalling its resolution ES-10/15 of 20 July 2004,

Expressing its grave concern about any action taken by any body, governmental or non-governmental, in violation of the above-mentioned resolutions,

Expressing its grave concern also, in particular, about the continuation by Israel, the occupying Power, of illegal settlement activities, including the so-called E-1 plan, its construction of the wall in and around East Jerusalem, its restrictions on access to and residence in East Jerusalem and the further isolation of the city from the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which are having a detrimental effect on the lives of Palestinians and could prejudge a final status agreement on Jerusalem,

Expressing its grave concern further about the continuing Israeli demolition of Palestinian homes and the eviction of numerous   Palestinian   families   from  East

Jerusalem neighbourhoods, as well as other acts of provocation and incitement, including by Israeli settlers, in the city,

Expressing its concern about the Israeli   excavations  undertaken  in  the  Old City of Jerusalem, including in and around religious sites,

Reaffirming that the international community, through the United Nations, has a legitimate interest in the question of the City of Jerusalem and in the protection of the unique spiritual, religious and cultural dimensions of the city, as foreseen in relevant United Nations resolutions on this matter,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in the Middle East,² 

1. Reiterates its determination that any actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem  are  illegal  and therefore null and void and have no validity whatsoever, and calls upon Israel to immediately cease all such illegal and unilateral measures;

2.   Stresses that a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of the City of Jerusalem should take into account the legitimate concerns of both the Palestinian and Israeli sides and should include internationally guaranteed provisions to ensure the  freedom of religion and of conscience of its inhabitants, as well as  permanent, free and unhindered access to the holy places by the people of all religions and nationalities;

3. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution.

55th plenary meeting
30 November 2010

Adopted by a vote of 166 to 6,

with 4 abstentions.

_________________

^1/ See A/ES-10/273 and Corr.1; see also Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 2004, p. 136.

^2/ A/65/379.

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