ECOSOC adopts resolution on repercussions of Israeli occupation on the Palestinian people – ECOSOC meeting, action – Press release (excerpts)

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL ADOPTS TEXTS ON PALESTINIAN PEOPLE,

INDEPENDENCE FOR COLONIAL COUNTRIES, SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 26 July (UN Information Service) — The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) this afternoon adopted a number of decisions and resolutions on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan; granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples; and social development, including new partnerships for Africa’s development, among others.

The Council adopted a resolution by a roll-call vote of 29 in favour to 2 against, with 18 abstentions on the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan, in which it called for the lifting of the severe restrictions imposed on the Palestinian people to alleviate the desperate humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.  The Council demanded that Israel comply with the Protocol on Economic Relations between the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization and called upon Israel to restore and replace civilian properties, vital infrastructure, agricultural lands and governmental institutions that had been damaged or destroyed;.  The Council reaffirmed the inalienable right of the Palestinian people and the Arab population of the occupied Syrian Golan to all their natural and economic resources.

The Council took also note of the Secretary-General’s note transmitting the report prepared by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia on the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan. 

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Action on Resolutions and Decisions

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In a resolution (E/2007/L.26), on the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan, adopted by a roll-call vote of 29 in favour to 2 against (Canada, United States), with 18 abstentions, the Council calls for the lifting of the severe restrictions imposed on the Palestinian people and for other urgent measures to be taken to alleviate the desperate humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory; demands that Israel comply with the Protocol on Economic Relations between the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization signed in Paris on 29 April 1994; calls upon Israel to restore and replace civilian properties, vital infrastructure, agricultural lands and governmental institutions that have been damaged or destroyed as a result of its military operations in the occupied Palestinian territory; reiterates the call for the full implementation of the Access and Movement Agreement of 15 November 2005, particularly the urgent reopening of Rafah and Karni crossings, which is crucial to ensuring the passage of foodstuffs and essential supplies, as well as the access of the United Nations agencies to and within the Occupied Palestinian Territory; calls upon all parties to respect the rules of international humanitarian law and to refrain from violence against the civilian population in accordance with the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949; reaffirms the inalienable right of the Palestinian people and the Arab population of the occupied Syrian Golan to all their natural and economic resources, and calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, not to exploit, endanger or cause loss or depletion of these resources; calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to cease the dumping of all kinds of waste materials in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan; requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-second session, through the Economic and Social Council, a report on the implementation of the present resolution and to continue to include in the report of the United Nations Special Coordinator an update on the living conditions of the Palestinian people, in collaboration with relevant United Nations agencies; and decides to include the item entitled “economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan” in the agenda of its substantive session of 2008.

The results of the vote were as follows:

In favour (29): Algeria, Barbados, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Cape Verde, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Mauritania, Mexico, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Thailand.

Against (2): Canada and the United States.

Abstentions (18): Albania, Austria, Brazil, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Iceland, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania and the United Kingdom.

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Comments on Repercussions of Israeli Occupation

NOA FURMAN ( Israel), speaking in a general statement, said that this resolution was yet another selective and one-sided resolution on the Israeli-Palestinian issue that was completely detached from reality.  Its sponsors were again exploiting ECOSOC for their own personal agenda, as they did in nearly all United Nations forums.  The distorted perspective through which the United Nations was often compelled to view the conflict in the region frequently prevented any scrutiny of Palestinian actions.  This was unfortunate, as reasonable observers could acknowledge there were two sides to every coin.  The failure to recognize the campaign of terror and violence perpetuated against Israel over the past six years, which implicated the socio-economic situation in the region, was an obvious example.

Also, the historic visit of yesterday of members of the Arab League to Israel had not been mentioned, she said.  Unfortunately, some countries would support the text automatically.  The resolution severely lacked veracity and balance.  A resolution crammed with inflammatory language, which pointedly refused to take into account any facts that did not support its predetermined outcome, should not have a place in either ECOSOC or the United Nations.

RANIA AL RIFAIY ( Syria), speaking in a general statement, said the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories including Jerusalem and the Occupied Syrian Arab Golan was very dramatic.  People were condemned to hunger, humiliation, arbitrary execution and expulsion.  The Council had had a brief overview of the activities of the Israeli Occupation Authorities.  A number of United Nations organizations had described situations which the Israelis had described as “imaginary”.  The only bizarre thing was that in the future the Occupation would persist in practices which turned their back on all laws, international instruments and morals.  The draft was a text which was submitted every year, and it should be adopted by consensus, without a vote.  This decision was a moral message to the Arab people in the Occupied Territories and the Golan – this gave a signal to the entire world that the Occupation Authorities did not have carte blanche to destroy people’s lives. 

Mr. FUTSCHER PERIERA (Portugal), speaking on behalf of the European Union, in an explanation of the vote before the vote, said that the European Union wanted to thank the co-sponsors for the constructive dialogue.  The European Union was concerned about the critical humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.  The European Union was acting on its concern.  No entity had provided greater economic and social support to the Palestinian people than the European Union.  Assistance worth €688 million had been provided.  The European Union gave its full support to President Mahmoud Abbas.  It had resumed full financial and technical assistance to the Palestinian authority.

The European Union called upon all parties to work towards an opening of the crossings in and out of Gaza to reach the transit volumes foreseen in order to ensure the development of the Palestinian economy and to improve the living conditions of the Palestinian people both in Gaza and the West Bank.  All the donors were invited to provide funding.  With regard to the resolution, the European Union regretted to announce that the European Union as a whole would not be able to support it.  The Presidency wished to thank the co-sponsors for their efforts.  The parties should continue their bilateral dialogue.  The European Union would continue to work within the Quartet.

HUGH ADSETT ( Canada), in an explanation of the vote after the vote, said the resolution did not sufficiently reflect the obligations of the Palestinian Authority to ensure the economic and social well-being of its people.  Canada had decided to vote against the resolution.  It welcomed the positive agenda of the new Palestinian Government, and would work with it to achieve the goals of peace, stability and good governance. 

Mr. MILLER ( United States), speaking in an explanation of the vote after the vote, said that the United States shared the concerns about the hardships of the Palestinian people.  The resolution did not reflect the complexities of the situation.  Both sides must see the United Nations as an honest broker, being particularly of the Quartet.  The United States could not support the resolution and regretted that there was not a more even-handed text.  Hamas had made its choice, imposing its extremist agenda on the Palestinian people in Gaza.  President Bush underscored the United States commitment for a better future for all people in the region, including the Palestinians.  The Palestinians who wished to live a better life in peace should be supported. 

The United States was working with the Quartet to support the Palestinian people, he said.  The path of violence was rejected.  The American financial institutions could resume normal economic ties with the Palestinian people.  The United States was of the position that there was one Palestinian people and that therefore there should be one Palestinian State.  The United States would provide additional assistance through the World Food Programme in Gaza.  The United States was nevertheless opposing this resolution.  Particularly in the current situation, the Economic and Social Council was urged to focus on working effectively to establish practical steps to address Palestinian needs. 

The representative of Japan, in an explanation of the vote after the vote, said Japan shared the concern over the living conditions of the Palestinian people residing in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and was thus of the same view as colleagues in the Council on the need to extend appropriate assistance to the Palestinian people.  However, the language in the resolution was lacking in balance, and made one-sided demands.  It was also regretted that certain recent developments on the ground were not reflected in the text.  The Council was not the appropriate body to take up political issues such as this one.

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For information media • not an official record