DPR Monthly Bulletin – Vol. XVIII, No. 02 – CEIRPP, DPR bulletin (February 1995) – DPR publication

February 1995

Volume XVIII, Bulletin No. 2

CONTENTS

I.    ELECTION FOR 1995 OF OFFICERS OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE

      EXERCISE OF THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS OF THE PALESTINIAN

     PEOPLE; STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL          

On 3 February 1995, the Committee unanimously elected His Excellency Mr. Kéba Birane Cissé (Senegal) as Chairman, His Excellency Mr. Ravan A. G. Farhadi (Afghanistan) as Vice-Chairman, and His Excellency Mr. Joseph Cassar (Malta) as Rapporteur.

After congratulating the Chairman and the other members of the Bureau on their re-election, the Secretary-General made the following statement (see SG/SM/5548-GA/PAL/680):

"The Committee is meeting on the basis of a General Assembly mandate which was renewed with the approval of a great majority of Member States.

"Since your opening session last year, the Middle East has witnessed further historic and encouraging developments towards the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement based on Security Council resolutions 242 and 338:  as the first step towards the implementation of the Declaration of Principles signed in September 1993 by the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel, the signing in May 1994 of the Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area; the withdrawal of Israeli troops from most of those areas; the establishment of the Palestinian Authority and the deployment of the Palestinian Police Force; the signing, in August 1994, of the agreement on Preparatory Transfer of Powers and Responsibilities regarding the West Bank; and, on 26 October 1994, the signing of the historic peace treaty between Jordan and Israel.

"It is my earnest hope that these important events will be followed by the full implementation of the Declaration of Principles, and progress on the Syrian-Israeli and Lebanese-Israeli tracks of the peace process.

"While much has been achieved, far more remains to be done.  The situation on the ground continues to be a cause for concern.  Acts of violence carried out by those opposed to peace remind us that, after decades of bloodshed and distrust, the process of building confidence between Palestinians and Israelis is not only arduous but painful.  There is no justification for such deplorable incidents; they cast a pall over the entire process.  Yet the only way to overcome the doubts and apprehensions generated by them is to renew the commitment to finding workable arrangements which will enable the two sides to live peacefully together.

"The negotiations which lie ahead, and the difficult choices they will bring, will require patience, perseverance and a spirit of compromise at every turn.  They must be carried out in good faith.  In this connection, I am mindful of the deep concern generated by the Government of Israel's decision to expand settlements in the occupied territories, about which I received an urgent letter dated 31 January from the Permanent Observer of Palestine, and which has been issued as a document of the Security Council and the General Assembly.

"The hopes generated by the historic agreements reached in 1993 and 1994 cannot be allowed to give way to despair.  It is disturbing that, after nearly 17 months, these agreements have yet to produce tangible benefits in the daily lives of Palestinians.  There has been deep frustration at the continuing lack of improvement in living conditions in the occupied territories, particularly in Gaza, where unemployment is estimated to be higher than 50 or 60 per cent.  The expectations created by the hundreds of millions of dollars pledged by donors have not been met.  I take this opportunity to appeal once again for the prompt and effective delivery of the assistance already pledged, but not yet delivered, to the Palestinian people.

"For my part, I have placed the greatest possible emphasis on sustainable economic and social development in the occupied territories.  Last June, I appointed Ambassador Terje Rod Larsen as Special Coordinator to ensure the coordinated work of the United Nations system in response to the urgent needs of the Palestinian people.  The importance of his responsibilities was stressed by the General Assembly in its resolution 49/21 M of 20 December 1994.  In close cooperation with the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction, Ambassador Larsen has been active in strengthening local coordination between agencies and programmes of the United Nations system, the Bretton Woods institutions and the donor community.  Work is now under way — by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), in particular — to launch a massive public works programme in Gaza.

"I urge all parties to strive for further progress in the negotiations leading to peace.  On this important occasion, I renew my pledge that the United Nations will spare no effort in support of this process.

"In closing, allow me to express my appreciation for the continuing efforts of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable rights of the Palestinian People in the fulfillment of your mandate, as reconfirmed by General Assembly resolution 49/62 A.  I wish you all success in your work."

II. COMMITTEE ADOPTS PROGRAMME OF WORK FOR 1995

After its 213th meeting, held on 22 February 1995, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People adopted the following programme of work for 1995 (see A/AC.183/1995/CRP.1):

I.   MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF THE

     INALIENABLE RIGHTS OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE

1. The mandate of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for 1995 is contained in General Assembly resolutions 49/62 A, B and C of 14 December 1994, the relevant parts of which  are  paragraphs  2 to 6 of resolution 49/62 A,  paragraphs 2 and  3 of resolution 49/62 B, and paragraphs 2 and 3 of resolution 49/62 C.

2. In  paragraphs  2  to  4 of resolution 49/62 A, the General Assembly considered that the Committee could continue to make a valuable and positive contribution to international efforts to promote the effective implementation of the Declaration of Principles 1/ and to mobilize international support and assistance to the Palestinian people during the transitional period; endorsed the Committee's recommendations 2/ and requested 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 or the Security Council, as appropriate.

3. In paragraph 5 of the same resolution, the Assembly authorized the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to make such adjustments in its approved programme of work as it may consider appropriate and necessary in the light of developments, to give special emphasis to the need to mobilize support and assistance for the Palestinian people and to report thereon to the Assembly at its fiftieth session and thereafter.

4. In paragraph 6 of the same resolution, the General Assembly requested the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in their contribution towards heightening international awareness of the facts relating to the question of Palestine and promoting support and assistance to meet the needs of the Palestinian people, and to take the necessary steps to involve additional NGOs in its work.

5. Resolution 49/62 B deals with the work programme of the Division for Palestinian Rights.  In paragraph 2, the General Assembly considered that the Division for Palestinian Rights continues to make a useful and constructive contribution through the organization of seminars and meetings of non-governmental organizations, as well as through its research and monitoring activities, the preparation of studies and publications, and the collection and dissemination of information in printed and electronic form on all issues pertaining to the question of Palestine.  In paragraph 3, the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to continue to provide the Division with the necessary resources, including the further development of the United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine (UNISPAL), and to ensure that it continues to discharge the tasks detailed in the pertinent resolutions of the General Assembly, in consultation with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and under its guidance.

6. Resolution 49/62 C deals with the programme of work of the Department of Public Information. In paragraph 2, the General Assembly considered that the special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information helps to raise the awareness of the international community on the question and the situation in the Middle East in general, including the achievements of the peace process, and should continue to contribute effectively to an atmosphere conducive to dialogue and supportive of the peace process.  In paragraph 3, it requested the Department of Public Information, 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 on the question of Palestine for the biennium 1994-1995, with particular emphasis on public opinion in Europe and North America.

______________

1/ A/48/486-S/26520, annex.

2/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Forth-ninth Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/49/35), paras. 84-94.

II.   PRIORITY ISSUES IN THE COMMITTEE'S

     PROGRAMME OF WORK FOR 1995

7. In the recommendations contained in its report  to  the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session,2/ the Committee welcomed the significant developments that have taken place since the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements by Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, and expressed its commitment to support the Palestinian people and its leadership during the difficult transition process.

8. The Committee reaffirmed that the United Nations has a permanent responsibility with respect to the question of Palestine until a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement is reached on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), the withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied since 1967, and the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights, in particular the right to self-determination.  The Committee also insisted that, during the interim period, Israel must recognize and respect its obligations as the occupying Power under the Fourth Geneva Convention.

9. The Committee stressed that it can make a valuable contribution as a forum for dialogue, analysis, exchange of expertise, mobilization of public opinion and action in support of the peace efforts and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, as well as their socio-economic development.

10. The Committee considered that the following priority tasks require immediate and sustained attention in its programme of work for 1995:

(a) Promoting support for the ongoing peace process and for the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements and subsequent implementation agreements, and following closely the developments and monitoring the situation on the ground, in order to promote the effective implementation of the agreements reached and the full realization of Palestinian rights;

(b) The mobilization and promotion of international assistance to the Palestinian people by the United Nations system as a whole, as well as by other donors, for immediate relief and for nation-building;

(c) Encouraging constructive consideration and debate of the major issues to be negotiated at a later stage with a view to promoting a final settlement based on international legitimacy in accordance with Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and other relevant United Nations resolutions.

III.   ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE AND

       THE DIVISION FOR PALESTINIAN RIGHTS    

  A.    Action by the Committee

11. The Committee will continue to keep under review the situation relating to the question of Palestine, and to report and make suggestions to the General Assembly or the Security Council, as appropriate.  The Committee will also continue to monitor the situation on the ground and draw the attention of the international community to urgent developments in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem.  The Committee will continue to participate in relevant meetings of intergovernmental bodies in order to promote the full realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.

12. The Committee will once again extend an invitation to all Governments to participate in its work and in the events organized under its auspices.  The Committee requests its Chairman, as in the past, to address a letter to the Secretary-General requesting him to inform all States of the Committee's concerns and to convey the Committee's invitation to them to participate in and contribute to its work.  The Committee also will continue to hold consultations with interested representatives of Member States in this regard.

13. The Committee, in accordance with its mandate as renewed by the General Assembly, will continue its programme of seminars and NGO meetings in the light of the new situation.  The Committee considers that in the period ahead these meetings will continue to provide a useful mechanism for in-depth consideration of the priority issues mentioned above with the participation of all concerned, including Israelis and Palestinians.  The Committee will pay  particular attention to structuring the meetings for maximum usefulness, including the possibility of co-sponsoring them with academic institutions, NGOs or others.  The Committee also will give consideration to the holding of an event in the territory under the Palestinian Authority to address aspects of the transition period.  The Committee will also seek to involve additional NGOs in its activities, particularly those working in the general fields of development and human rights.

14. In carrying out this programme of meetings, the Committee will exercise the necessary flexibility in light of developments and make adjustments as may be dictated by the evolving situation.

B.  Seminars

15. Budgetary provision has been made for seminars to be held in 1995 in the following regions:  Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, North America, Asia and Africa.

16. The Latin American and the Caribbean Seminar on the Question of Palestine, earlier envisaged for 1994, will be held at Rio de Janeiro, from 20 to 23 March 1995, in conjunction with the NGO Symposium for that region.  The Committee expressed its gratitude to the Government of Brazil for agreeing to provide the venue for this important event.

17. In response to the suggestion made in General Assembly resolution  49/21  N  of 20 December 1994 on assistance to the Palestinian people, the Committee decided to devote one of the seminars to Palestinian administrative, managerial and financial needs and challenges in light of the new developments.  The provision made for a European seminar will be utilized for this purpose.  The Seminar is tentatively scheduled to be held in  Paris  from 26 to 28 June 1995.

18. With regard to the North American Seminar, the Committee will explore possible alternatives to the holding of this event.

19. Decisions concerning the convening of seminars and NGO symposia for the Asian and African regions  will  be  made at a later stage.

C. Regional symposia and international meeting

   of NGOs and cooperation with NGOs

20. In addition to the NGO symposia already mentioned above, budgetary provision exists for the holding in 1995 of NGO symposia in North America and  Europe, for an international NGO meeting, as well as for two preparatory meetings for the North American Symposium and the International NGO Meeting.

21. Following consultations between the Bureau of the Committee and representatives of the North American, European and international NGO coordinating committees, the Committee decided to hold only one NGO preparatory meeting for representatives of those three committees, in order to lay the groundwork for the North American symposium, the European Symposium and the International NGO Meeting, as well as to undertake consultations with regard to future cooperation between the Committee, the Division for Palestinian Rights and the NGO community.  The preparatory meeting will be held at New York on 27 and 28 February 1995.

22. The North American NGO Symposium will be held at New York Headquarters from 19 to 21 June 1995.

23. In accordance with recent practice, it is envisaged that the European NGO Symposium and the International NGO Meeting will be held as a combined event at Geneva or Vienna, from 28 to 31 August 1995.

24. In view of the General Assembly's request to the Committee to take the necessary steps to involve additional NGOs in its work, the Committee decided to broaden its NGO constituency through the adoption of expanded accreditation criteria and undertaking outreach efforts.  The Committee decided to request the Division for Palestinian Rights to assist in this endeavour by establishing a comprehensive NGO database in its information system on the question of Palestine (UNISPAL), as well as by participating in NGO-sponsored events, and taking any other necessary steps to identify and establish working contacts with NGOs interested in participating in activities organized by the Committee and the Division.

D.      Research, monitoring, and publications, including the

    United Nations information system on the question of Palestine

25. In its recommendations to the Assembly, the Committee emphasized the essential contribution of the Division for Palestinian Rights  as  a  centre for research, monitoring, the  preparation  of  studies and the collection and dissemination of information on all issues related to the question of Palestine, and requested the Division to continue its programme of publications, in consultation with the Committee.

26. The Committee considers that the studies, bulletins, information notes, reports and other material published by the Division should focus on the priority issues to be addressed by the Committee in 1995 in order to enhance their usefulness at this important stage.

27. In 1995, the publications  programme  of  the Division for Palestinian Rights will include the following:

(a) The monthly bulletin on activities by the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations and NGOs will continue to provide comprehensive coverage of all relevant resolutions, statements and decisions by intergovernmental  bodies, as  well as summaries of the most significant activities of NGOs;

(b) The bulletin entitled "Developments related to the Middle East Peace Process" containing material related to the bilateral Arab-Israeli negotiations, the multilateral negotiations on Middle East regional issues, as well as other aspects of the Middle East peace process, will continue to be published periodically;

(c) The chronological summary of events relating to the question of Palestine, based on press reports and other sources, will continue to be published on a monthly basis.

28. The Division will also continue to issue the reports of regional seminars, regional NGO symposia and the International NGO Meeting; a special bulletin on the commemoration, in 1994, of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People; and a compilation of relevant resolutions, decisions and statements adopted by the General Assembly and the Security Council in 1994.  The Division will also finalize a study on the status of Jerusalem, updating an earlier study issued in 1981, and continue its work on other studies, in consultation with the Committee.

29. The Division will also continue to update periodically its information notes on the work of the Committee and the Division, on NGO activities on the question of Palestine, and on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

30. In response to the  mandate  given  by the General Assembly regarding the establishment and continued development of the computer-based information system on the question of Palestine (UNISPAL), the Division has progressed in implementing the system in its various aspects.  The Committee has noted the positive response and interest generated by the establishment of UNISPAL and has called for the provision of the necessary resources by the Secretary-General and for cooperation by all concerned with the Division in order to make the system fully operational and to maximize its usefulness to all users.  The Division will intensify its work to include in the system all relevant documentary, analytical and statistical information from United Nations and other sources  and  will  continue  to   cooperate with users and sources  of  information  with a view to making the system as comprehensive and useful as possible.  Information notes on the status of the system will be issued as it progresses.

         E.  International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

31. In accordance with General Assembly resolution 32/40 B of 2 December 1977, the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People will be observed on Wednesday, 29 November 1995.  It is envisaged that the observance will take place at Headquarters, at the United Nations Offices at Geneva and Vienna, and elsewhere in accordance with established practice.

32. The Committee has decided, in cooperation with the Office of the Permanent Observer of Palestine, to prepare a special programme for the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian  People in 1995, including an exhibit to be displayed at United Nations Headquarters during the week of 29 November to 5 December 1995, as well as hosting a reception, and organizing other activities as appropriate.

III.   SECURITY COUNCIL CONSIDERS THE SITUATION IN THE OCCUPIED

      TERRITORIES; COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN ADDRESSES THE COUNCIL

In response to the letter received by the Security Council from the Permanent Representative of Djibouti (S/1995/151) on behalf of the members of the Arab Group of States, the Council convened on 28 February 1995 to consider the agenda item "The situation in the occupied Arab territories".

The President of the Security Council drew the attention of the members of the Council to the following other documents: letter dated 6 January 1995 from the Permanent Representative of Algeria addressed to the Secretary-General (S/1995/11); letters dated 9 and 31 January 1995 respectively from the Permanent Observer of Palestine addressed to the Secretary-General (S/1995/14 and S/1995/95); and letter dated 17 January 1995 from the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People addressed to the Secretary-General (S/1995/50).  (The text of the Chairman's letter is reproduced in the January 1995 issue of this bulletin.)

On the same day, Mr. Kéba Birane Cissé, Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, addressed the meeting of the Security Council on the situation of the occupied territories (See S/PV.3505).

After congratulating the President of the Security Council, the  Chairman  made  the following statement:

"…

(interpretation from French)

"I congratulate you warmly, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Council.  I am certain that your great experience and diplomatic skill will contribute to the success of the Council's deliberations.

"I should also like to take this opportunity to warmly congratulate your predecessor, Ambassador Emilio Cárdenas, Permanent Representative of Argentina, for his exemplary guidance of the Council's work during the month of January.

"I am also grateful to the members of the Council for allowing me, as Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People,  to participate in the important debate on the question of the establishment of Israeli settlements in the territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and the dangerous consequences they could have for the Palestinian people and the Middle East peace process.

"The issue before us is as complex from the political, diplomatic standpoint as it is painful and emotional from the human.  I am speaking of Israel's continued construction and progressive expansion of settlements on Palestinian land.  For many years the Committee I represent has tried, as have other United Nations bodies, to make the international community aware of the illegality of those actions.

"Israel, the occupying Power, continues to implement the unlawful policy of establishing settlements in occupied Palestinian territory and authorizing more and more Israeli settlers to move into them, in the most direct and serious contravention of article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949, and also in violation of many Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 446 (1979), 452 (1979) and 465 (1980).

"Not only that, even more Palestinian land is being confiscated, existing settlements are constantly expanding and ever more buildings are being put up while yet more settlements are being established, particularly in and around the occupied city of East Jerusalem.  Since September 1994, several announcements by high-level Israeli officials have indicated a toughening of Israel's position on this key issue, and Israeli policies and other goings-on have caused serious friction.

"Even as recently as 19 February 1995 the Israeli Government, in a vote that showed how divided it is, approved the expansion of three Jewish settlements in the West Bank, near Jerusalem.  This decision cannot but have an adverse impact on the peace talks with the Palestinians.

"The plan in question, under which 500 homes would be built in Maaleh Adumim, 800 in Givat Zeev and at least 500 in the religious settlement of Bitar, was met with immediate criticism from the Palestinians, who hope to gain self-rule in the occupied West Bank through the negotiations now under way.

"It should be noted that the Israeli decision comes at a time when the implementation of the second stage of the 13 September 1993 Declaration of Principles has been delayed for seven months, including the redeployment of the Israeli forces away from populated areas in the West Bank and the election of the Palestinian Council.  Clearly, this decision further undermines the current peace process and exacerbates the already fragile, tense and dangerous atmosphere in the occupied territory.

"It is well known that the Israeli settlements are contrary to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, which is applicable to all the territory occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem.  The Council has repeatedly reaffirmed this fact in several resolutions.  Moreover, settlements are a very serious obstacle to peace, and the continuing settlement activity violates the letter and spirit of the agreements reached between the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, as well as threatening the integrity of the peace process at this critical stage.

"These developments have also triggered widespread demonstrations by Palestinians and Israeli peace activists, highlighting the importance of the settlement issue for future exercise of Palestinian rights and the peace process itself.

"On behalf of the Committee, I should like to recall that the Security Council, in its resolution 465 of 1 March 1980 and other resolutions, determined that all measures taken by Israel to change the physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure or status of the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, have no legal validity, are in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and furthermore, constitute a serious obstruction to the attainment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

"The Committee considers that the increasing expansion and consolidation of settlements create facts on the ground inconsistent with Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) – which the current peace process seeks to implement – and seriously compromise the agreements between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization.  Noting the similar concerns expressed by the Council of the Arab League in its resolution of 5 January 1995 and by the Permanent Observer of Palestine in his letters to the Secretary-General of 9 and 31 January 1995, the Committee wishes to join them in appealing to the Security Council, to the sponsors of the peace process and to all others concerned to exert their influence on the Israeli Government to end its settlement policy, as an indispensable step towards the attainment of the just and lasting peace we are all working for.

"The Committee believes that only rapid and consistent progress in the peace process, leading to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, will prevent the current situation from deteriorating even further.  The Committee calls on all concerned to do everything possible to surmount the current obstacles and to advance towards full implementation of the agreements that have been reached thus far.

"The convening of today's meeting of the Security Council indicates that the continuing deterioration of the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories has become a matter of major concern to the members of the Council and to the international community as a whole.  The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People therefore hopes that this debate will culminate in a clear demonstration of the Council's determination to find ways and means to reinvigorate the peace process.  The international community must assist the  parties to proceed rapidly along the road towards a negotiated peace, on which they have embarked together – the only road that can ensure a lasting peace in the region."

IV.    SECRETARY-GENERAL RECEIVES LETTER FROM ARAFAT ON

        ISRAELI NON-COMPLIANCE WITH DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES

The  following  statement  was  issued  by the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on 9 February 1995 (See SG/SM/5522):

"This evening, Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali received the Permanent Observer of Palestine who handed him a personal letter from Yasser Arafat, head of the Palestinian Authority.

"In his letter, Mr. Arafat briefed the Secretary-General on the most recent talks held in Cairo between him and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin of Israel.  Mr. Arafat further informed the Secretary-General of his complaints that the Israeli side was not implementing the "Declaration of Principles" in the following respects:  by building new settlements in the occupied territories; postponing the redeployment  of  troops;  enforcing  the isolation of Jerusalem; and carrying out collective punishment of the Palestinian population by sealing off the occupied territories."

V.    COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS REVIEWS PRELIMINARY

      REPORT OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR; ADOPTS FIVE

      RESOLUTIONS RELATING TO THE QUESTION OF PALESTINE

The Commission on Human Rights held its fifty-first session at Geneva from 30 January to 10 March 1995.  The Commission considered the question of Palestine under items 4 and 9 of its agenda, entitled respectively "Question of the violation of human rights in the occupied territories, including Palestine" and "The right of peoples to self-determination and its application to peoples under colonial or alien domination or foreign occupation".

Under item 4, the Commission heard a report by the Special Rapporteur, Mr. René Felber, appointed under Commission resolution 1993/2 A of 19 February 1993.  The Rapporteur, who visited Israel and the occupied territories in October 1994, submitted the following conclusions and recommendations in his report (paras. 65-80 of E/CN.4/1995/19):

"Our assessment of the situation in the occupied territories and the  autonomous area of Gaza, together with the facts and testimony we collected (which, of course, it was not possible to verify in detail) were communicated to the Israeli authorities when we met with ministers and members of their staff.

"The peace process initiated in 1993 presupposes that the parties pursuing the negotiations will have the will to make their decisions irreversible.  This should eventually lead to an expansion of Palestinian autonomy in  the  territories  and  to  the Palestinians taking over the management and administration of certain sectors (education, health, etc.).

"At the same time, bilateral solutions are being sought for the establishment of peace and new relations between the States of the Middle East.  The recent agreement with the Kingdom of Jordan is indicative of the Israelis' desire to eliminate the state of war between Israel and its neighbours.

"All the positive steps that have been taken cannot be ignored.  It has to be acknowledged, however, that human rights will have the most chance of being enforced once the process has been completed.  Therefore, it is the international community's duty to support that process, and also to provide those involved in it with strong material support.  Otherwise, the hopes raised will turn into disappointment tinged with anger, and the attack-repression cycle will resume throughout the country.

"There remain two sensitive points with which we have not dealt in this report:  Jerusalem and settlements.

"Regarding the first point, the Palestinian reactions to the Jordan-Israeli agreement and the position taken by H.M. King Hussein demonstrate, if any proof is needed, how particularly sensitive this issue is.

"As regards the Israeli settlements in the occupied territories and in Gaza, it is not necessary to be a prophet to say that they will necessarily be an extremely delicate point in the negotiation of relations between Israel and its Palestinian neighbours.  The settlements' status will have to be defined clearly, and the problem of their security cannot ultimately be resolved by maintaining specialized troops in territories that have regained their autonomy and still less so in the event of independence.

"Even if the large majority of people whom we met acknowledge that the entire country has always had Jews and Muslims living side by side, the current situation, if not redefined, must inevitably lead to painful confrontations.  We had already emphasized this problem in our very brief report on 28 January 1994.

"It is for the international community to support the process and the negotiations now under way, encourage a successful outcome and facilitate the implementation of the agreements reached.  Then and then only can we conceive of new relations between Israelis and Palestinians, in which human rights will naturally be taken into account.

"Since the territories were occupied, the Special Committee appointed by the General Assembly is charged with monitoring respect for human rights in that part of the world.  It has never been authorized to enter Israel or the territories in order to fulfil its mandate.  It has prepared its reports by hearing witnesses outside the territories.  Neither the General Assembly nor the Commission on Human Rights have been able to persuade Israel to change its attitude towards the Committee.

"Neither the General Assembly nor the Commission has had any particular success in the area of enforcement of human rights in the occupied territories.  No specific measures have been taken, and political condemnation is not proving effective.  International public opinion is similar to Israeli public opinion: it regards security as taking precedence over human rights, and every terrorist attack brings out this feeling anew.  Reading this report will not lead to a rapid or appreciable change in the situation in the occupied territories.

"We draw the conclusion that only States, through bilateral or multilateral relations, are in a position to influence the Israeli Government or even the negotiators in the peace process.  The same States also have the possibility of participating actively in the success of the projects undertaken, through financial and technical assistance to the autonomous regions.  Let us cease to think, in contradiction with what the history of mankind, and especially recent centuries, has taught us, that the military occupation of a  territory  by  a  foreign  army is compatible with human rights as we conceive them today and as they have been defined.

"The solution of course lies in the establishment of normal peaceful relations between States, to guarantee the existence and security of each of them.

"That does not mean that we should stop denouncing human rights violations or intervening in countries where human rights are under threat.  But if the solution of the problem lies elsewhere than in simply reporting facts through the publication of a report, then let us change our method.

"It is in this spirit that we submit this report, which naturally concludes with a proposal to do away with our services, and even to do away with appointing a Special Rapporteur in the occupied territories altogether.  A report may soothe consciences, but its effectiveness should be measured by the impact of the points it makes and by how seriously they are taken by those to whom they are addressed."

On 17 February, the Commission adopted the following resolutions under item 4:

        1995/4.   Situation in occupied Palestine

"The Commission on Human Rights,

"Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, in particular the provisions of Articles 1 and 55 thereof, which affirm the right of peoples to self-determination, and scrupulous respect of the principles of refraining in international relations from the threat or use of force, as specified in the Declaration of Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970,

"Guided also by the provisions of article 1 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which affirm that all peoples have the right of self-determination,

"Taking into consideration the provisions of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to  Colonial  Countries  and Peoples,  adopted by  the  General  Assembly  in its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960,

"Guided by the provisions of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (A/CONF.157/23) adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights, and in particular part I, paragraphs 2 and 3, relating to the right of self-determination of all peoples and especially those subject to foreign occupation,

"Noting  Security   Council  resolutions 183 (1963) of 11 December 1963 and 218 (1968) of 23 November 1965, which affirmed the interpretation of the principle of self-determination as laid down in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV),

"Recalling General Assembly resolutions 181 A and B (II) of 29 November 1947 and 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, as well as all other resolutions which confirm and define the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, particularly their right to self-determination without external interference and to the establishment of their independent State on their national soil, especially Assembly resolutions ES-7/2 of   29 July 1990 and 37/86 E of 20 December 1982,

"Reaffirming its previous resolutions in this regard, including the latest, resolution 1994/5 of 18 February 1994,

"Bearing in mind the reports and recommendations of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People which, from 1976 and 1994 have been submitted to the Security Council through the General Assembly,

"Reaffirming the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, the relevant United Nations resolutions and declarations, and the provisions of international covenants and  instruments relating to the right to self-determination as an international principle and as a right of all peoples in the world,

"Recalling that the foreign occupation by the armed forces of a State of the territory of another State constitutes an obstacle to and a grave violation of human rights according to part I, paragraph 30, of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, and an act of aggression and a crime against the peace and security of mankind, according to General Assembly resolution 3314 (XXIX) of 14 December 1974,

"Welcoming the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements signed by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization on 13 September 1993, aimed at enabling the Palestinian people to achieve their national rights and, principally, their right to self-determination free of external intervention,

"1. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination without external interference;

"2. Calls upon Israel to comply with its obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, and to withdraw from the Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem, and the other Arab territories which  it has  occupied  since  1967 by military force, in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions, so as to enable the Palestinian people to exercise their universally recognized right of self-determination;

"3. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the present resolution to the Government of Israel and to all other Governments, to distribute it on the widest possible scale and to make available to the Commission on Human Rights, prior to the convening of its fifty-second session, all information pertaining to the implementation of the present resolution by the Government of Israel;

"4. Decides to include in the provisional agenda for its fifty-second session the item entitled "The right of the peoples of self-determination and its  application  to peoples under colonial or alien domination or foreign occupation" and to consider  the situation in occupied Palestine under that item, as a matter of high priority."

1995/1.   Question of the violation of human rights in the

          occupied Arab territories, including Palestine

"The Commission on Human Rights,

"Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, as well as by the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

"Guided also by the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,

"Taking into consideration the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of  Civilian  Persons  in   Time   of   War,  of 12 August 1949, and the provisions of Additional Protocol I thereto, and the Hague Convention IV of 1907, as well as the principles of international law affirmed by the General Assembly in its resolutions 3 (I) of 13  February  1946, 95 (I) of 11 December 1946,  260 A (III) of  9 December 1948 and 2391 (XXIII) of 26 November 1968,

"Recalling the resolutions of the Security Council, the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights related to the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, to the Palestinian and other occupied Arab territories, including Jerusalem,

"Recalling also the General Assembly resolutions on Israeli violations of human rights in occupied Palestine, since 1967 and until now,

"Recalling further the provisions of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (A/CONF.157/23), adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights,

"Taking note of the report (E/CN.4/1995/19) of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. René Felber, regarding his mission undertaken in accordance with Commission resolution 1993/2 A of 19 February 1993,

"Taking note also of the reports of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories submitted to the General Assembly since 1968, including the latest (E/49/511),

"Noting with great concern the continued Israeli refusal to abide by the resolutions of the Security Council, the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights calling on Israel to put an end to the violations of human rights and affirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, to the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem,

"Welcoming the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self- Government Arrangements by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization on 13 September 1993 and of the following agreement, whereby violations of human rights will end through the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem,

"Recalling all its previous resolutions on the subject, including the latest, resolution 1994/3 of 18 February 1994,

"1. Deeply regrets the continued violations of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory since the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization on 13 September 1993, in particular the continuation of acts of killing and the detention of thousands of Palestinians without  trial,  the continuation of the extension and the establishment of Israeli settlements, the confiscation of property of Palestinians and the expropriation of their land;

"2. Reaffirms 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;

"3. Calls once more upon Israel, the occupying Power, to desist from all forms of violation of human rights in the Palestinian and other occupied Arab territories and to respect the bases of international law, the principles of international humanitarian law, and its commitments to the provisions of the Charter and resolutions of the United Nations;

"4. Also calls upon Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and the other occupied Arab territories in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and the Commission on Human Rights;

"5. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of the Government of Israel and all other Governments, the competent United Nations organs, the specialized agencies, regional intergovernmental organizations and international humanitarian organizations, to disseminate it on the widest possible scale, and to report on its implementation by the Government of Israel to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-second session;

"6. Also requests the Secretary-General to provide the Commission on Human Rights with all United Nations reports issued between sessions of the Commission that deal with the conditions in which the citizens of the Palestinian and other occupied Arab territories are living under the Israeli occupation;

"7. Decides to consider the question at its fifty-second session as a matter of priority."

1995/2.   Human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan

"The Commission on Human Rights,

"Deeply concerned at the suffering of the population of the occupied Syrian Golan due to the violation of their human rights since the Israeli military occupation of 1967,

"Recalling Security Council resolution 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981,

"Recalling also all relevant General Assembly resolutions, including the latest, resolution 49/36 D of 9 December 1994, in which the Assembly, inter alia, called upon Israel to put an end to its occupation of the Arab Territories,

"Reaffirming once more the illegality of Israel's decision of 14 December 1981 to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan, which has resulted in the effective annexation of that territory,

"Reaffirming that the acquisition of territory by force is inadmissible under the principles of international law and under the Charter of the United Nations,

"Taking note with deep concern of the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories (A/49/511) and, in this connection, regretting Israel's constant refusal to cooperate with and to receive the Special Committee,

"Guided by the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and with particular reference to the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, and the relevant provisions of the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907,

"Reaffirming its previous relevant resolutions, the most recent being resolution 1994/2 of 18 February 1994,

"1. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and of the Security Council, particularly resolutions 497 (1981), in which the Council, inter alia, decided that the Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan was null and void and without international legal effect, and demanded that Israel, the occupying Power, should rescind forthwith its decision;

"2. Also calls upon Israel to desist from changing the physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan, and emphasizes that the displaced persons of the population of the occupied Syrian Golan must be allowed to return to their homes and to recover their properties;

"3. Further calls upon Israel to stop its attempt to impose forcibly Israeli citizenship and Israeli identity cards on the Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan and its practices of annexation, establishment of settlements, confiscation of lands, diversion of water resources and imposing a boycott on their agricultural products; and calls upon Israel to desist from its settlement designs and policies aimed against academic institutions with the goal of serving the objectives of occupation, and to desist from its repressive measures against the population of the occupied Syrian Golan;

"4. Determines that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken or to be taken by Israel, the occupying Power, that purport to alter the character and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan are null and void, constitute a flagrant violation of international law and of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, and have no legal effect;

"5. Calls once again upon Member States not to recognize any of the legislative or administrative measures and actions referred to in the present resolution;

"6. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Governments, the competent United Nations organs, the specialized agencies, regional intergovernmental organizations and international humanitarian organizations and to give it the widest possible publicity, and to report to the Commission on Human Rights at its fifty-second session;

"7. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-second session, as a matter of high priority, the item entitled "Question of the violation of human rights in the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine."

    1995/3.  Israeli settlements in the occupied Arab territories

"The Commission on Human Rights,

"Recalling that, in accordance with article 13, paragraph 2, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country,

"Reaffirming that the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of war, of 12 August 1949, is applicable to Palestinian and all Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem,

"Recalling is resolutions 1990/1 of 16 February 1990, 1991/1 of 15 February 1991, 1992/3 of 14 February 1992 and 1993/3 of 19 February 1993 which, inter alia, reaffirmed the illegality of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories,

"Gravely concerned at the continued establishment by the Israeli Government, and at its allowing the establishment of settlers in the occupied territories, which may change the physical character and demographic composition of the occupied territories,

"Welcoming the positive development which originated with the International Peace Conference on the Middle East, convened at Madrid on 30 October 1991, including in particular the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements signed in Washington by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation    Organization  on 13 September 1993 and the subsequent agreement on the Gaza Strip and Jericho signed in Cairo by the same parties on 4 May 1994, as well as all their continuing efforts for the creation of a peaceful and stable environment in the Middle East,

"Noting the report (E/CN.4/1995/19), submitted by the Special Rapporteur pursuant to resolution 1993/2 A of 19 February 1993, in which refers, inter alia, to the continued resort to expropriation and to the expansion of existing settlements,

"Convinced that a complete cessation by Israel of its policy of expanding the settlements would constitute, especially at the present stage of the peace process, a meaningful contribution to the creation of a peaceful and stable environment,

"1. Reaffirms that the installation of Israeli civilians in the occupied territories is illegal and constitutes a violation of the relevant provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949;

"2. Regrets that the Government of Israel has not fully complied with the provisions of Commission on Human Rights resolutions 1990/1, 1991/3, 1992/3, 1993/3 and 1994/1;

"3. Urges the Government of Israel to abstain fully from installing any settlers in the occupied territories and to prevent any new installation of settlers in these territories."

        1995/6.  Middle East peace process

"The Commission on Human Rights,

"Recalling its resolution 1994/4 of 18 February 1994, Sub-Commission on Prevention of  Discrimination  and  Protection  of  Minorities resolution 1994/13 of 25 August 1994,  General Assembly resolutions 49/88 of 16 December 1994, and 48/58 of 14 December 1993, and Economic and Social Council resolution 1994/29 of 27 July 1994,

"Recalling also the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (A/CONF.157/23) adopted by the World Conference of Human Rights,

"Stressing that the achievement of a comprehensive,  just and lasting settlement of the Middle East conflict will constitute a significant contribution to strengthening international peace and security, and is a critical condition for the furthering of human rights in the region,

"Recalling the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East at Madrid on 30 October 1991, on the basis of  Security  Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 23 October 1973, and the subsequent bilateral negotiations, as well as the meetings of the multilateral working groups, and noting with satisfaction the broad international support for the peace process,

"Noting the continuing positive participation of the United Nations as a full extraregional participant in the work of the multilateral working groups,

"Bearing in mind the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements, signed by Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993, and the subsequent Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area, signed by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization at Cairo on 4 May 1994,

"Also bearing in mind the Agreement between Israel and Jordan on the Common Agenda, signed in Washington, D.C., on 14 September 1993, the Washington Declaration,   signed by Jordan and Israel on 25 July 1994, the 29 August 1994 agreement on the preparatory transfer of powers and responsibilities, and the Jordan-Israel Treaty of Peace of 26 October 1994,

"1. Stresses the importance of, and need for, achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East;

"2. Emphasizes that the achievement of such a peace is vital for the full implementation of human rights in the area;

"3. Welcomes the peace process started at Madrid, and supports the subsequent bilateral negotiations;

"4. Also welcomes the establishment of the Palestinian Authority and its positive efforts to develop sound governance based on the will of the Palestinian people and democratic procedures;

"5. Calls upon the Centre for Human Rights to make available, on request, its programme of advisory services and technical assistance to the Palestinian Authority, and invites Government to contribute to the programme;

"6. Expresses its full support for the achievements of the peace process thus far, in particular the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements, signed by Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the subsequent Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area, signed by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestine people, the 29 August 1994 agreement on the preparatory transfer of powers and responsibilities, the Agreement between Israel and Jordan on the Common Agenda, the Washington Declaration signed by Jordan and Israel on 25 July 1994, and the Jordan-Israel Treaty of Peace of 26 October 1994, which constitute important steps in achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, and urges all parties to implement agreements reached;

"7. Encourages the continuation of negotiations on implementation of the next stage of the Declaration of Principles."

VI.    OTHER DOCUMENTATION ISSUED BY THE UNITED NATIONS

1. Report of the Committee against Torture: Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-ninth Session, Supplement No. 44 (A/49/44).

2. Letter dated  9 January 1995 from the Permanent  Representatives  of  Israel,  Jordan, the Russian Federation and the United States of America to the United Nations addressed to  the Secretary-General, transmitting the text of the Treaty of Peace between the Hashemite  Kingdom of Jordan and the State of Israel (A/50/73-S/1995/83)

VII.   FINAL COMMUNIQUÉ AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE

      FIFTEENTH SESSION OF THE AL-QUDS COMMITTEE HELD

       AT IFRANE, MOROCCO, ON 16 AND 17 JANUARY 1995

On 8 February 1995, the following was transmitted to the Secretary-General by the Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations on behalf of the Al-Quds Committee (see A/50/82-S/1995/135):

"Responding to a generous invitation of His Majesty Hassan II, King of Morocco, Chairman of Al-Quds Committee and Chairman of the Seventh Islamic Summit, Al-Quds Committee held its fifteenth session in Ifrane, Kingdom of Morocco, on 15 and 16 Shaban 1415 H, corresponding to 16 and 17 January 1995, to consider the grave conditions through which the cause of Al-Quds al-Sharif, the foremost cause of the Islamic Ummah, is passing as a result of Israel's continued occupation of the Holy City and its persistence on implementing its design aimed at Judaizing Al-Quds and obliterating its Arab-Islamic cultural landmarks.

"His Excellency Mr. Yasser Arafat, President of the State of Palestine, their Excellencies the Ministers and the delegations of the member States of the Committee, and His Excellency Dr. Hamid Algabid, Secretary General of the Organization of the  Islamic Conference (OIC), attended the proceedings of the meeting.

"His Majesty King Hassan II, Chairman of Al-Quds Committee and Chairman of the Seventh Islamic Summit, inaugurated the proceedings of the session by a guiding address in which he stressed the importance of the Committee's responsibilities towards the question of Al-Quds al-Sharif in the light of the latest developments and  highlighted  the need to adapt the Committee's action to this new situation.

"His Majesty the King underlined that the question of Al-Quds al-Sharif, with its dual political and religious dimension, requires a realistic and rational approach as well as patience and wisdom and not to act on more feelings.

"His Majesty the King further indicated that the Islamic Ummah harbours no  hostility vis-à-vis anybody and cannot accept to be placed before a fait accompli, specifying that Islam is not a religion of war, repression or domination, but rather a religion of understanding, tolerance and, more than that, a religion of coexistence, the latter standing as a criterion of civilization.

"H.E. Mr. Yasser Arafat, President of the State of Palestine, delivered a speech highlighting the dangers facing the city of Al-Quds al-Sharif and its religious sanctities, Israel's current attempt to alter its religious character and its Arab- Islamic identity, the continuous confiscation of lands and setting up of settlements.  He requested the Islamic Ummah to take action in all directions and at all levels to face up to the current developments and sustain the steadfastness and struggle of the Palestinian people in the Holy City in particular and in Palestine at large.

"H.E. Dr. Hamid Algabid, Secretary General of OIC delivered a statement in which he  reviewed  the  conditions  facing  Al-Quds al-Sharif and the required action by the Islamic Ummah in support of this cause.  His Excellency also reviewed the activities of the General Secretariat concerning the  cause  of  Al-Quds al-Sharif and Palestine.

"The members of the Committee deliberated on the current conditions facing Al-Quds al-Sharif, and considered the means likely to lead the recovering of the city and to assist and support the Palestinian citizens and institutions in the Holy City, confronting the Israeli designs aimed at Judaizing the City and changing its cultural, civilizational, religious and demographic characteristics, so as to create a new fait accompli on the ground.

"In the light of these deliberations, Al-Quds Committee identified concrete and practical measures and recommend the following:

I. At the international political level, the Committee

"1. Affirms that a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East region cannot be achieved short of the implementation of  Security  Council  resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and 425 (1978) and the principle of land against peace involving Israel's total withdrawal from all occupied Palestine and Arab territories to the border-lines of 4 June 1967 including the city of Al-Quds al-Sharif, the Syrian Golan and south Lebanon; and enables the Palestinian people to achieve their national inalienable and imprescriptible rights including their rights to return, self- determination and the establishment of their independent State on their national soil, with Al-Quds al-Sharif as its capital;

"2.  Affirms that the city of Al-Quds al-Sharif is part and parcel of the Palestinian authorities occupied in 1967, and further affirms the necessity of its return to the Palestinian sovereignty as the capital of the State of Palestine;

"3. Calls on the Islamic Ummah to double its efforts in support of the Palestinian right in Al-Quds al-Sharif, and to assist the stands of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian National Authority, by every means so as to transfer all powers and responsibilities in the occupied Palestinian territories, including Al-Quds al-Sharif, to the Palestinian National Authority;

"4. Calls on the United Nations Security Council, in particular the two co-sponsors of the Peace Conference, to take necessary measures to  compel  Israel  to desist from carrying out any settlement  and  Judaization  of  Al-Quds and any geographic or demographic changes therein, and to comply with agreements and conventions providing for the preservation of the Palestinian institutions  and  the  Islamic  and Christian holy sites at Al-Quds al-Sharif in implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions;

"5. Requests States to abide by Security Council resolution 478 (1980), which calls for refraining from transferring their diplomatic missions to the city of Al-Quds al-Sharif.  It reaffirms that all the legislative, administrative and settlement measures aimed at changing the legal status of the Holy City are null and contrary to international agreements, charters and conventions, in accordance with the resolutions of international legality, including United  Nations  Security  Council resolution 465 (1980), 476 (1980) and 478 (1980), as well as the resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly which consider these measures null and void;

"6. Strongly denounces the decision of the Israeli Knesset on 26 December 1994, which bans any activities of the Palestinian institutions in Al-Quds al-Sharif, and requests the international community not to recognize this decision and to compel Israel to waive this decision;

"7.  Condemns the repeated Israeli aggressions perpetrated against the Lebanese territory as well as the casualties and destruction caused by these aggressions;

"8. Requests   His   Majesty  King Hassan II, King of the Kingdom of Morocco, Chairman of Al-Quds Committee and Chairman of the Seventh Islamic Summit, to pursue contacts which he deems necessary, at the international level, particularly with the United Nations Security Council member States, the two co-sponsors of the Peace Conference, the European Union, the Vatican and other Christian instances, so as to gain the needed support and assistance to recover the city of Al-Quds, and to explain the dangers of Israeli practices and measures jeopardizing the peace process, security and stability in the Middle East region;

"9.  Calls on the Secretary-General to carry out the necessary contacts with the international and regional organizations as well as specialized international agencies, so as to consider ways to preserve the civilizational, cultural and religious heritage of the Holy City, and sustain the resistance of its inhabitants;

"10. Decides to establish a contact group at the level of the Permanent Representatives of the Committee's member States at United Nations Headquarters in New York in order to follow up the implementation of the Committee's resolutions and  those of the United Nations Security Council relating to Al-Quds al-Sharif;

"II. At the level of assisting the city of Al-Quds al-Sharif

"11. Stresses the important role of Al-Quds Fund in supporting the steadfastness of the citizens and institutions of the Holy City against Israeli designs.  It calls on the OIC member States to abide by financing the budgets of both Al-Quds Fund and its Waqf in order to promote urban development of Al-Quds, and to construct housing units, restore its old monuments with the aim of preserving the civilizational and Islamic heritage;

"12.  Decides to grant permission to the Board of Directors of Al-Quds Fund to exercise the powers stipulated in the statute and regulations of Al-Quds Fund, referred to in articles 2, 3 and 8;

"13.  Welcomes  the  proposal of His Majesty Hassan II, King of Morocco, Chairman of Al-Quds Committee and Chairman of the Seventh Islamic Summit to create  Bayt Al-Mal of Al-Quds al-Sharif for the safeguard of the city of Al-Quds al-Sharif,  protection of the Palestinian right to the city, assistance to the religious, cultural and urbanistic heritage;

"This Bayt Al-Mal will take the form of an agency which aims to mobilize material and financial resources from OIC member States, institutions, bodies, private sector, associations, Islamic and Arab communities as well as individuals.

"The agency will operate under the aegis of Al-Quds Committee and management will be ensured according to the following general principles:

"- The agency will carry out its activities in compliance with the rules governing the private sector;

"- It will perform in utter transparency and accountability;

"- It will be subject to private accountancy and financial auditing twice a year by the Al-Quds Committee.

"The Presidency of the Al-Quds Committee will undertake to prepare a draft statute for the Agency, which will soon be conveyed to the member States through the OIC General Secretariat to allow them to examine the draft statute and take necessary measures prior to the creation of the Agency and its establishment by the Islamic Conference.

"The Committee expresses its profound gratitude and sincere thanks to His Majesty, to the Government and the people of the Kingdom of Morocco for the generous hospitality and warm welcome extended to the delegations participating in this session.

        "Appendix

            "States members of Al-Quds Committee

 1.  Kingdom of Morocco

 2.  State of Palestine

 3.  Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

 4.  Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

 5.  Republic of Iraq

 6.  Syrian Arab Republic

 7.  Republic of Lebanon

 8.  Islamic Republic of Mauritania

 9.  Arab Republic of Egypt

10.  People's Republic of Bangladesh

11.  Islamic Republic of Pakistan

12.  Islamic Republic of Iran

13.  Republic of Indonesia

14.  Republic of Senegal

15.  Republic of the Niger

16.  Republic of Guinea"

VIII.  NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS: ACTIVITIES AND INFORMATION

   A.  Preparatory meeting for the United Nations International

   NGO Meeting and European NGO Symposium and the North

     American NGO Symposium on the Question of Palestine

  A combined preparatory meeting was held on 27 and 28 February 1995 to discuss the programmes for the upcoming North American NGO Symposium for the Question of Palestine scheduled for 19 to 21 June 1995 at United Nations Headquarters, New York, as well as the United Nations International NGO Meeting and European NGO Symposium and the North American NGO Symposium on the Question of Palestine scheduled for 28 to 31 August 1995 at the United Nations Office at Vienna.

The meeting was attended by 21 members representing  the  International Coordinating Committee of NGOs on the Question of Palestine (ICCP), the North American Coordinating Committee for NGOs (NACC) and the European Coordinating Committees of NGOs on the Question of Palestine (ECCP). In addition to the preparation of the upcoming meetings, the   discussion focused on the future cooperation between the Committee on the Inalienable  Rights of the Palestinian People and the NGOs in the light of present circumstances.

Information on the agenda and other details on the future NGO events will be given in the next issue of this bulletin.

B.   Information received from NGOs

1. Middle East International, a biweekly publication available from P.O. Box 53365, Temple Heights Station, Washington, D.C., 20009, United States of America.  Issue No. 493 of 3 February 1995 includes articles on the peace process, opinion polls in Israeli newspapers, the Beit Lid bombing, cooperation agreement between Jordans King Hussein and Yasser Arafat, Jerusalems holy sites and the Palestinian economic crisis.  Issue No. 494 of 17 February 1995 includes articles on the peace process, Hebron and Israel and the United Nations.

2. News From Within, a newsletter of the Alternative Information Centre, P.O. Box 31417, Jerusalem.  Vol. XI, No. 2, of February 1995 includes articles on discussions with longtime Palestinian ex-prisoners, administrative detainees after the Declaration of Principles, settlement activity, expropriation of Palestinian lands inside the 1948 borders and the Palestinian Authority policy in Gaza.

3. The Other Front, a weekly bulletin on developments in Israeli society, available from: The Alternative Information Centre, P.O. Box 24278, Jerusalem.  Issue  No. 306 of 18 January 1994 includes articles on the  law  of  return,  the summary execution at Hebron, women political prisoners and settlements.  Issue No. 309 of 8 February 1995 includes articles on Israeli President Weizman and negotiations, the Labor and Likud on separation, activities of Israeli NGOs and a  statement on separation by the Peace Bloc.  Issue No. 310 of 22 February 1995 includes articles on the settlements, refusal to serve in the IDF, on Ben-Gurion and the partition plan, Israeli Palestinians and the Islamic Movement in Israel.

4. Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, available from the American    Educational Trust, P.O. Box 53062, Washington, D.C., 20009, United States of America (fax 202 232 6754).  Vol. XIII, No. 5, of January/February 1995 includes articles on the   Declaration of Principles, the law of return, settlements, the shooting incident in Gaza,    United States policy on aid, the United Nations role and developments in Gaza.

5. April 17 Bulletin, a quarterly publication that focuses on Palestinian   political prisoners, is available from the Alternative Information Centre, P.O. Box 31417,  Jerusalem (fax 972 2 253151).  The issue of 2 November 1994 to 22 January 1995 includes summaries of events concerning Palestinian political prisoners for the period of the bulletin.

6. The Other Israel, a newsletter of the Council  for  Israeli-Palestinian  Peace,  available from:  P.O. Box 2542, Holon, Israel 58125.  Issue No. 65  of  February/March  1995  includes articles on the peace process, Netzarim, the El-Khader settlement confrontation, an update on nuclear issues, women's peace movements and dissent inside the Israeli army.

_________