Volume XVIII, Bulletin No. 5
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I.
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Security Council considers the situation in the occupied territories;
Acting Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People addresses Council
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1
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II.
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Special Committee on Israeli Practices concludes Field Mission to Egypt, Jordan and Syria
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III.
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UNICEF Executive Board reports on assistance to Palestinian children and women
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IV.
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Governing Council of UNEP takes note of report of Executive Director on the
environmental situation in the occupied territories; adopts decision.
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V.
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Text of letter addressed to the Security Council from the Islamic Group at the
United Nations on the issue of Jerusalem
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9
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VI.
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Excerpts from final Communiqué and Declaration adopted at the Seventh Islamic
Summit Conference held at Casablanca, Morocco, from 13 to 15 December 1994
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VII.
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Non-governmental organizations: activities and information
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A. Activities of NGOs
B. Information received from NGOs
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I. SECURITY COUNCIL CONSIDERS THE SITUATION IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES;
ACTING CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF THE
INALIENABLE RIGHTS OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE ADDRESSES COUNCIL
In response to letters of 8 May 1995 received by the Security Council from the Permanent Representative of Morocco and the Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates (S/1995/366), and the letter from the Permanent Representative of Morocco (S/1995/367), the Council convened on 12 and 15 to 17 May 1995 to consider the agenda item "The situation in the occupied Arab territories".
On 12 May 1995, H.E. Mr. Ravan Farhadi, Acting 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 (S/PV.3536).
After congratulating the President of the Security Council as well as his predecessor, the Acting Chairman made the following statement:
(interpretation from French)
"I am grateful to you, Mr. President, and to the other members of the Security council for having given me the opportunity, as Acting Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, to participate in this important debate on the decision by the Israeli Government to confiscate 53 hectares of Palestinian land within the area of illegally annexed East Jerusalem. Of these hectares, 33 are near Beit Hanina, and the other 20 are near Beit Safafa. This is the biggest confiscation of Palestinian land in East Jerusalem since Israel occupied the Palestinian territory in 1967. The Israeli Government has also declared that the land will be used to build further illegal Israeli settlements.
"The main issue at stake is Israel's continued illegal construction and expansion of settlements on Palestinian land and its allowing more Israeli settlers to move there, which is a direct and serious violation of international law, the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, and the relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions.
"This action by Israel also flagrantly violates the spirit and the letter of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements signed on 13 September 1993 by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, as well as other agreements between the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, and threatens the integrity of the peace process at this critical stage. It is an attempt by Israel to consolidate its claims on East Jerusalem ahead of talks due to begin next year, that are to determine the status of Jerusalem.
"In the Declaration of Principles it was agreed that negotiations on the final status of Jerusalem and on other issues would begin not later than the third year of the interim period. This recent decision by the Israeli Government to confiscate Palestinian land in East Jerusalem seriously undermines the peace process at a time when the implementation of the second stage of the Declaration of Principles has been deferred, as have the redeployment of the Israeli forces to outside the populated areas in the West Bank and the elections for the Palestinian Council.
"The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People considers that the confiscation of land in East Jerusalem and the increasing expansion and consolidation of settlements create a de facto situation inconsistent with Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, which the current peace process seeks to implement, and seriously compromise the agreements between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization.
"Noting that similar concerns have been expressed by the League of Arab States, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations, 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 desist from taking any further measures that undermine the peace process and, specifically, to rescind its decision to confiscate Palestinian land in East Jerusalem and end its settlement policy, as indispensable steps towards attaining the just and lasting peace we are all striving 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 spare no effort to overcome the current obstacles and move forward towards the full implementation of the agreements that have been reached thus far.
"The convening of the Security Council indicates that the continuing deterioration of the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories is 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 rescind the declared confiscation of Palestinian land by Israel and instead to reinvigorate the peace process. The international community must assist the parties in proceeding rapidly on the road to a negotiated peace, a road on which they have embarked together, the only road which can assure a lasting peace in the region."
Draft resolution S/1995/394, which was sponsored by Botswana, Honduras, Indonesia, Nigeria, Oman and Rwanda, was endorsed by 14 states out of the 15 Security Council members. One permanent member vetoed the resolution. The draft resolution was not adopted owing to the negative vote of a permanent member.
II. SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ISRAELI PRACTICES CONCLUDES FIELD MISSION
TO EGYPT, JORDAN AND SYRIA
The following is a press release issued by the United Nations Information Service on 25 May 1995 (HR/4172):
"The Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs in the Occupied Territories has completed a field mission to Egypt, Jordan and Syria.
"The Special Committee, established by the General Assembly by resolution 2443 (1968) of 19 December 1968, is mandated to investigate Israeli practices affecting the human rights situation in the territories occupied by Israel, namely, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank (including East Jerusalem), and the occupied Syrian Arab Golan, and to report through the Secretary-General to the Assembly.
"After meeting in Geneva on 12 May, the Committee held meetings in Cairo from 13 to 16 May, in Amman from 17 to 21 May, and in Damascus on 22 and 23 May, where it concluded its field mission.
"The members of the Special Committee were of the view that, despite the signing of the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements and the Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and Jericho Area, unless progress was made in the enjoyment of human rights by all the inhabitants of the occupied territories, support for the peace process would erode and give way to despair. All the parties concerned had to endeavour to build a truly meaningful culture of respect for human rights in the occupied territories so that the recent significant achievements might enable the people of the region to live together in dignity, peace and mutual respect. The progress in the peace process had to go hand in hand with full compliance with all relevant United Nations resolutions and all universally accepted standards of human rights.
"As was the case last year, the Committee focused its attention on the human rights situation since the signing of the Declaration of Principles and especially after the Cairo Agreement. Witnesses testified that the situation in the occupied territories had not improved. A most serious aspect of the current human rights situation in the occupied territories was the deterioration in its economic and social conditions. The closures imposed had had more disastrous consequences on their economic well-being than the closures enforced before the Cairo Agreement. The Gaza Strip had been particularly affected. There had been a significant reduction in the number of Palestinians allowed to work in Israel, who had been replaced by a large number of foreign workers. The closure of the Gaza Strip had had particularly severe consequences on agriculture and the export of agricultural produce. Consequently, there was in effect a state of economic blockade.
"The freedom of movement from both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank had been restricted further by the requirement for persons and goods to change vehicles at the border. Access had been particularly difficult with regard to East Jerusalem, where the Al-Aqsa Mosque was located, in addition to numerous hospitals and educational institutions.
"It had been reported that a continuing source of tension in the occupied territories was the existence of Israeli settlements. There had been an expansion of several already existing settlements. A disquieting trend had been the continuing acts of violence perpetrated by settlers, often armed, who were protected by the Israeli Army. In the West Bank, the tensions between the Arab population and settlers were particularly felt in Hebron.
"Although the overall number of deaths had reportedly declined, the nature of violence perpetrated by the Israeli Defence Forces was of an aggravated kind. The Special Committee was informed that Israeli soldiers now sought to ensure the death of a person by repeatedly shooting at the head at close range. The activities of undercover units were said to continue unabated. The attention of the Special Committee had been drawn to the situation of Palestinian prisoners detained in prisons in the occupied territories and in Israel. Detention conditions had deteriorated since the signing of the Declaration of Principles and the Cairo Agreement.
"In the province of Quneitra (Syrian Arab Republic), witnesses informed the Special Committee that the freedom of movement had been severely curtailed, educational and health facilities for the Arab population had worsened, land and water resources continued to be confiscated, and expression of any nationalist sentiment through word and song was prohibited and severely punished.
"During the Committee's mission, the question of confiscation of Arab-owned land and particularly in East Jerusalem became a matter of international concern. The witnesses who testified before the Special Committee stated that the settlements around East Jerusalem were being expanded with a view to altering the demographic composition of the city and to creating a settlement "security belt". It was informed that archaeological excavations endangering the Al Aqsa Mosque, the second holiest shrine for Moslems, had begun.
"The Special Committee is composed of three members from Malaysia, Senegal and Sri Lanka. Herman Leonard de Silva, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York, is Chairman of the Committee. The other two members are Ibra Déguène Ka, Permanent Representative of Senegal to the United Nations Office at Geneva, and Abdul Majid Mohammed, Ambassador of Malaysia to the United States."
III. UNICEF EXECUTIVE BOARD REPORTS ON ASSISTANCE
TO PALESTINIAN CHILDREN AND WOMEN
At its second regular session held on 20 to 23 March 1995, the Executive Board of UNICEF considered a review paper entitled UNICEF Assistance to Palestinian Children and Women (E/ICEF/1995/P/L.40). The paper, which was prepared pursuant to Executive Board decision 1994/R.2/7 (E/ICEF/34, E/ICEF/13), presents background information on the work of UNICEF and other United Nations agencies in assisting Palestinian children and women in Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic and the West Bank and Gaza. It also lists the various programmes of cooperation in those areas and developments relating to the organization's work. The strategy for programme cooperation is presented in paragraphs 17 to 19, reproduced below.
"V. STRATEGY FOR PROGRAMME COOPERATION
"17. UNICEF programme cooperation in support of Palestinian children and women follows a three-pronged approach:
"(a) For the immediate and short term, the aim is to strengthen and support the delivery of basic services to rehabilitate and recover what could otherwise become a lost generation;
"(b) Simultaneously, there is a focus on local capacity-building as an indispensable aspect of sustainability of services over the medium and long term;
"(c) Finally, programme cooperation will support the development and implementation of the NPA for the survival, protection and development of the Palestinian children, women and youth, incorporating the goals of the World Summit for Children and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
"18. Within the strategy outlined in paragraph 17 above, UNICEF cooperation will be directed to:
"(a) Advocacy, social mobilization and community empowerment, in cooperation with Palestinian NGOs and community-based initiatives, towards achieving and sustaining the decade goals for children;
"(b) Empowerment of women and girls and elimination of gender-related disparities will be priorities at all levels of intervention of UNICEF-supported programmes. Special emphasis will be given to the promotion of children's and women's rights;
"(c) Strengthen inter-agency programming within an interrelated, complementary and coherent framework for capacity-building of the Palestinian Authority institutions and service delivery. With the roles of the various agencies (UNDP, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNRWA and WHO) being defined in relation to their respective mandates, UNICEF will advocate the promotion and monitoring of the decade goals for children, youth and women, and the strengthening of basic services.
"19. A monitoring system on the status of children, youth and women, developed in collaboration with the Palestinian Bureau of Statistics, will provide the data for surveillance of progress towards key programme goals. An immediate need is to establish baseline data, update existing information and develop gender-specific indicators for a situation analysis and goal monitoring."
At the annual session of the Executive Board of UNICEF, which was held from 22 to 26 May 1995, the Board approved the recommendations for programme cooperation for Palestinian children and women in Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic and the West Bank and Gaza. These are contained in document E/ICEF/1995/P/L.30.
IV. GOVERNING COUNCIL OF UNEP TAKES NOTE OF REPORT OF
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL
SITUATION IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES; ADOPTS DECISION
At the eighteenth session of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme held in Nairobi, Kenya from 15 to 26 May 1995, the Council took note of the report of the Executive Director on the environmental situation in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories. The text of the report is reproduced below (UNEP/GC.18/18).
"POLICY ISSUES
"The environmental situation in the occupied Palestinian
and other Arab territories
"Report of the Executive Director
"Summary
"The present report reviews the implementation of Governing Council decision 17/31 which requested the Executive Director, inter alia, to update the report on the state of the environment in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories and to provide the necessary technical assistance in Palestinian institutional and self-capacity-building in the field of the environment.
"Suggested action by the Governing Council
"The Governing Council may wish to adopt a decision along the following lines:
"The Governing Council,
"Recalling the decisions of the Governing Council on the environmental situation in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories, and relevant resolutions and decisions of the Security Council, the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council,
"Recalling also the results of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, particularly principle 23 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development,
"Taking note of the Executive Director's report on the environmental situation in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories,
"(a) Notes with satisfaction the progress which has been made in the Middle East peace process since the last session of the Governing Council;
"(b) Welcomes the activities which the United Nations Environment Programme is undertaking within the framework of the Multilateral Working Groups of the Middle East peace talks, and requests the Executive Director to continue to intensify such support;
"(c) Expresses its concern over the continued degradation of the environmental conditions in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories, including those in the Palestinian National Authority, and urges the United Nations Environment Programme to take a prominent role in the activities of the Secretary-General's Special Coordinator for the Occupied Territories in order to ensure that environmental concerns are given due priority in all the cooperative programmes under the jurisdiction of his office.
"The environmental situation
"1. Since the adoption of decision 17/31 on 21 May 1993, there have been significant changes in the political situation in the Middle East. The signing of the Declaration of Principles at Oslo on 13 September 1993, the pledging of $2.3 billion on 1 October 1993 at the subsequent donors' conference and the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority in the Gaza Strip and Jericho have reflected well on the dual-track diplomacy established by the Madrid Conference, under the stewardship of the United States of America and of the Russian Federation, and with the crucial intermediary role of the Norwegian Government. Most of all, political accommodation by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization has laid the foundation for a lasting peace in the Middle East, despite the formidable obstacles which still remain.
"2. One result of these changes is that UNEP now has access to the occupied territories and has been able to pursue the implementation of decision 17/31, even though the drastically altered circumstances have warranted a different approach. For example, significant initiatives have been taken by the World Bank, UNDP and the Government of the Netherlands in the field of the environment. The Government of Austria is assisting an environmental non-governmental organization (NGO) in the West Bank in the field of environmental data and the Government of the Netherlands has called for an environmental profile of Gaza and is planning to commence work in the West Bank later in 1995.
"3. From the reports of these various projects and programmes it is clear that serious environmental problems exist in the Gaza Strip. The influx of large numbers of refugees (575,000 out of the total population of 850,000) has led to high population densities, particularly in the refugee camps. Over the 27 years of occupation, there has been a significant degradation of the natural and human environment. Overexploitation and groundwater have led to a drop in water levels and saline intrusion in the coastal zone. Poor solid waste collection, transport and disposal systems pose a public health hazard and an environmental threat. Inadequate domestic water supplies and poor wastewater systems also threaten health.
"4. It is considered that human and animal life is directly threatened and this requires an immediate response. Elsewhere, the unsustainable use of scarce natural resources may inhibit the economic and social development of the Gaza Strip in the medium term.1
"5. Given the above-mentioned initiatives, it became important for UNEP not to duplicate these efforts, but rather to direct its attention to the second part of decision 17/31. Thus the main progress has been in assisting Palestinian capacity-building in the field of the environment.
"6. The existence of the dual-track process has also imposed ground rules on the way in which UNEP has been able to provide such assistance. UNEP is represented in both the Multilateral Working Group on Water Resources, in which UNEP representative heads the United Nations delegation, and the Multilateral Working Group on the Environment. In both Working Groups, assistance in regional cooperation is closely governed by the procedures established by the regional parties and the sponsors.
"7. In the case of direct assistance to the Palestinian people, which at present is largely to Gaza, United Nations assistance is now controlled by the Office of the Secretary-General's Special Coordinator in the Occupied Territories (UNSCO), headed by Mr. Terje Roed Larsen. This office has established both inter-agency and bilateral mechanisms to ensure that assistance is delivered in a timely and coordinated fashion.
"8. UNEP will play an active role in two of the Working Groups established by UNSCO, dealing with infrastructure and housing and health. In addition, it has responded to specific assistance requests made by representatives of the Palestinian National Authority prior to the establishment of the coordinating mechanism.
"Specific assistance to the Palestinian National Authority
"9. The principle assistance provided by UNEP has been in the field of environmental information networks and decision support systems. Such networks and data systems are an essential prerequisite for environmental planning systems, environmental impact assessment and sustainable development. The decision support systems will enable planners and decision makers to assess the social, economic and environmental impacts of different development scenarios and to choose options on the basis of objective and quantifiable indicators. With the assistance of the Government of Norway, the detailed formulation phase of this project was launched in early 1995 after discussions with the Palestinian authorities on the most appropriate institutional framework to adopt. The newly formed Palestinian Environmental Planning Directorate will be the hub of the environmental networks and the chief repository of the environmental database.
"10. Because of the lack of institutional infrastructure and the scattered nature of the available environmental data, the project will aim at strengthening or establishing "satellite" databases in municipalities, universities and appropriate non-governmental organizations. These will be linked to the Environmental Planning Directorate, which, in turn, will have access to international networks when outside information is required. The project should become fully operational in mid-1995, given the approval of the capacity-building programme. In addition, Infoterra is seeking to establish the Environmental Planning Directorate as a cooperating centre, with the intention of assisting it to become a national Infoterra focal point in due course.
"11. Another UNEP initiative is directed towards capacity-building within the Gaza municipality. In view of the large infrastructural investments which will take place through bilateral and multilateral assistance, it is essential to establish a capacity for planning, monitoring and assessing environmental aspects of this complex development programme. Such an environmental health and human settlements database and planning centre will also be a major node on the environmental network serving the Environmental Planning Directorate.
"12. One continuing activity in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) has been the promotion of environmental health and development in Palestine refugee camps. This activity has involved the training of environmental health officers and support to the subsequent training of camp sanitation officers. Approximately 100 camp sanitation officers have been trained under this programme, and a manual on environmental health in refugee camps has been produced. Arrangements are being made to augment the training activities through supervision of the trainers by the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office of WHO. This activity will conclude in December 1995.
"Regional cooperation
"13. Through the two multilateral working groups of the multilateral peace talks, UNEP has been able to play a part in the activities set out in sub-paragraphs (a) to (d) below.
"(a) Desertification
"A major desertification initiative was undertaken by the World Bank which culminated in a programme which was presented to the regional parties in October 1994. Part of this programme is the Arava Valley project, which was initiated by the interim secretariat of the Convention to Combat Desertification and is to be implemented by the Drylands Ecosystems and Desertification Control Programme of UNEP.
"The Arava Valley was the site of the historic signing of the peace agreement between Jordan and Israel on 23 October 1994. It is entirely appropriate, therefore, that it should be one of the first tripartite projects to be implemented in the desertification initiative.
"(b) Desalination
"At the Muscat meeting of the Multilateral Working Group on Water Resources in 1993, a proposal was made by the Government of Oman to establish a regional centre for desalination research. This proposal found overwhelming support among the regional and extra-regional parties. Desalination is seen not only as a potentially clean technology which can release the pressure from many overstressed water sources in the Middle East, but also as a future competitor with conventional water production systems, if the costs can be reduced by technological improvements.
"Five years ago, desalination costs worldwide were of the order of $5 per cubic metre of processed water. Now, costs of less than $2 are reported, with even lower costs in the case of brackish water.
"From an environmental point of view, UNEP views the establishment of the desalination research centre as an important and timely initiative to combat increasing stress in arid lands and a possible factor in solving the increasing competition for natural resources which is at the heart of the Middle East peace process.
"UNEP has promised support to the Government of Oman in accelerating the process of establishing the centre. This activity is undertaken in concert with the catalytic and coordinating efforts of the United States State Department.
"(c) Training in environmental impact assessment
"As part of the programme on regional training coordinated by the European Union, UNEP will organize the second training course on environmental impact assessment in the second half of 1995. The training course will draw participants from the whole Middle East region with priority given to Palestinian candidates.
"(d) Report on environmental problems in the Middle East region
"A report on environmental problems in the Middle East region and the possible contribution of UNEP to their solution was presented to the Multilateral Working Group on the Environment, which met in Tokyo, Japan on 24 and 25 May 1993. This brief report identified desertification and soil degradation as being a major problem in the Middle East and suggested capacity-building measures which could be taken and in which UNEP could play an important role. The report also detailed UNEP activities in the Middle East region."
__________________________
1Gaza Environmental Profile, part one: Inventory of Resources, Palestinian Environmental Protection Authority/Euroconsult/International Water Consultants (IWACO). The Benevolent Society for the Gaza Strip, Gaza, June 1994, 60 pp.
At its meeting on 26 May 1995, the Governing Council of UNEP adopted decision 18/11 on the environmental situation in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories. The text is reproduced below.
"18/11. The environmental situation in the
occupied Palestinian and
other Arab territories
"The Governing Council,
"Recalling its decisions on the environmental situation in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories, and the relevant resolutions and decisions of the Security Council, the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council,
"Recalling also the results of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, particularly principle 23 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development,
"Taking note of the Executive Director's report on the environmental situation in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories (UNEP/GC.18/18 and Corr.1),
"1. Welcomes the activities which the United Nations Environment Programme is undertaking within the framework of the search for a just and durable peace in the Middle East, and requests the Executive Director to continue to intensify such support;
"2. Expresses its concern over the continued degradation of the environmental conditions in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories, including those in the Palestinian National Authority, and urges the United Nations Environment Programme to take a prominent role in the activities of the Secretary-General's Special Coordinator in the Occupied Territories in order to ensure that environmental concerns are given due priority in all the cooperative programmes under the jurisdiction of his office;
"3. Requests the Executive Director to update the report on the environmental situation in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories in keeping with Governing Council decision 17/31 of 21 May 1993;
"4. Requests the Executive Director to note and implement Governing Council decision 17/13 by which she has been requested to provide technical assistance in Palestinian institutional and self-capacity-building in the field of the environment, including training in the relevant necessary fields."
V. TEXT OF LETTER ADDRESSED TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL FROM THE
ISLAMIC GROUP AT THE UNITED NATIONS ON
The following is the text of a letter dated 8 May 1994 addressed to the President of the Security Council from the Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations, in his capacity as current Chairman of the Islamic Group at the United Nations (S/1995/367).
"In my capacity as current Chairman of the Islamic Group at the United Nations, I have the honour to convey to you the Islamic Group's position towards the latest action taken recently by the Israeli Government with regard to Al-Quds al-Sharif (Holy Jerusalem) namely, its decision to confiscate 53 hectares of Palestinian land situated in the area of East Jerusalem and its announcement that such land is to be allocated for the purpose of continuing to build Israeli settlements, thus contravening the rules of international law as well as the relevant Security Council resolutions.
"The Islamic Group expresses its strong condemnation of the aforesaid Israeli action as a flagrant violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and the relevant Security Council resolutions. That action moreover undermines the Middle East peace process arrangements and severely threatens its progress as well as the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements, signed on 13 September 1993 by the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization.
"The Islamic Group therefore officially requests the Security Council to take urgent steps to deal with this extremely serious situation and to put an end to the numerous Israeli violations, particularly in East Jerusalem, as well as to take the necessary measures for revocation of the Israeli confiscation orders.
"The Islamic Group will continue to follow the developments in this regard in the light of the action to be taken by the Security Council, and in this context, the Group, in its meeting held on Thursday, 4 May 1995 at the ambassadorial level, convened at the request of the Permanent Observer of Palestine, decided to request an urgent meeting of the Security Council to discuss this recent grave situation concerning Jerusalem."
VI. EXCERPTS FROM FINAL COMMUNIQUÉ AND DECLARATION
ADOPTED AT THE SEVENTH ISLAMIC SUMMIT CONFERENCE
HELD AT CASABLANCA, MOROCCO, FROM 13 TO 15 DECEMBER 1994
The Seventh Islamic Summit Conference (Session of Fraternity and Revival), which was hosted by His Majesty Hassan II, King of Morocco, was held in Casablanca, Morocco from 13 to 15 December 1994. The Conference coincided with the commemoration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the founding of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. Below are excerpts from the final Communiqué and the Casablanca Declaration adopted at the Summit (A/50/85-S/1995/152).
"Question of Palestine and Al-Quds al-Sharif
"The Conference reaffirmed that the question of Palestine and Al-Quds al-Sharif is the prime cause of all Muslims, and expressed its solidarity with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in its just struggle for removing the effects of Israeli occupation and building the Palestinian national institutions on the land of Palestine. It called upon Member States to continue supporting the PLO and its positions in the forthcoming negotiations for the transfer of all powers and responsibilities in the occupied Palestinian territories including Al-Quds al-Sharif, to the Palestinian National Authority, and to emphasize the return of the Holy City to Palestinian sovereignty. It affirmed that a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East region can only be achieved through complete and unconditional Israeli withdrawal from all the Palestinian and Arab territories occupied since 1967, including the city of Al-Quds al-Sharif, the Syrian Golan and the occupied Lebanese territories.
"It expressed its support for the peace process in the Middle East, and welcomed the agreements concluded in its framework and noted that the success of the peace process hinges on the implementation of resolutions of international legitimacy, including Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 and 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978, on the basis of Arab and international understanding of these resolutions, and the "land for peace" formula and the need to enable the Palestinian people to exercise their national and political rights.
"It stressed that Al-Quds al-Sharif is an integral part of the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967 and to it apply all the provisions applicable to the other occupied territories and reiterated the necessity of its return to Palestinian sovereignty as capital of the State of Palestine. It invited all States in the world to refrain from having any dealings with the Israeli occupation authorities which might be interpreted in any way by those authorities as an implicit recognition of the fait accompli imposed by the proclamation of Al-Quds as the capital of Israel. It called for compliance with Security Council resolution 478 (1980) of 20 August 1980 which invites Member States not to transfer their diplomatic missions to the city of Al-Quds al-Sharif. It called on Member States to face up to the serious developments ensuring from the continued Israeli expansionist policy in Al-Quds al-Sharif, to confront this policy to provide material resources for the preservation of Islamic shrines, and to support the steadfastness of the city's inhabitants. It invited the international community, and in particular the two co-sponsors of the Peace Conference, to compel Israel not to effect any geographical or demographical changes in the city of Al-Quds al-Sharif during the transitional period, that might affect the outcome of the negotiations on the final status of the city.
"It expressed its strong condemnation of the decision taken by the Israeli Supreme Court to consider the Blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque as part of the territory of the State of Israel.
"It called upon Member States to honour their commitment to cover the budgets of the Al-Quds fund and its Waqf.
"It called for the dismantling of the settlements already established since they are unlawful, and to halt further Jewish settlements in occupied Palestinian and Arab territories including Al-Quds al-Sharif and Syrian Golan, as required under the relevant resolutions of international legitimacy.
"It stressed the need to secure international protection for the Palestinian people in the occupied territories; and to halt all Israel's terrorist and repressive practices against the Palestinian people. It invited Member States to work for compelling Israel to release the detainees, bring back the deportees, put an end to the method of collective punishment, and desist from any works that may endanger life and the environment in the occupied Palestinian and Arab territories.
"It called for the support of the international programme of economic, social and cultural development in the occupied Palestinian areas, and for the support of the Palestinian National Authority so that it can establish its control and start the process of reconstruction and development of the occupied territories.
"It strongly condemned the aggressive Israeli scheme to partition the Ibrahimi enclosure in the city of Al-Khalil, and called on Member States to continue their coordination and intensive efforts to prevent the implementation of this scheme and preserve the Ibrahimi enclosure as a mosque solely for Muslims as it has been through the ages.
"It called on the international community and the Security Council to compel Israel to comply with United Nations resolutions, particularly Security Council resolution 487 (1981) of 19 June 1981, to accede to the treaty of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, to implement the resolutions of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) calling for the subjection of all Israeli atomic facilities to the IAEA comprehensive safeguards system, to proclaim Israel's report on its stockpile of nuclear weapons and materials to the Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency as those steps are essential for the establishment of a just and comprehensive peace in the region.
"The Conference commended the steadfastness of the Arab-Syrian citizens in the Golan against Israeli occupation, strongly condemned Israel for not complying with Security Council resolution 497 (1981) of 17 December 1981, and affirmed that Israel's decision to impose its jurisdiction, its law and its administration on the occupied Syrian Golan is null and void. It also declared that the Knesset resolution of 11 November 1991 confirming the annexation of the occupied Syrian Golan is null and void and without legal effect and constitutes a flagrant violation of Security Council resolution 497 (1981). It expressed strong condemnation of Israel for continuing to alter the legal status and demographic set-up of the occupied Syrian Golan. It affirmed that Israel's continuing occupation of the Syrian Golan constitutes a permanent threat to peace and security in the region. It demanded that Israel withdraw totally from Lebanon to the lines of 4 June 1967.
"The Conference saluted the heroism and steadfastness of the Lebanese people against Israeli occupation and strongly condemned Israel's continuing occupation of Lebanese territories, and its persistence in deporting Lebanese citizens from their villages and lands, as well as all the inhuman practices of the Israeli enemy in those areas. It called for efforts to prevent Israel from continuing those practices and compel it to release Lebanese detainees. It also called for action to force Israel to implement the United Nations resolutions, in particular Security Council resolution 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978 which calls for immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Lebanese territory, and for helping the legitimate authorities to establish their control over all Lebanese territories. It invited all countries to increase their assistance to Lebanon in order to consolidate the political gains of the National Reconciliation Government."
"Casablanca Declaration
"And noting with satisfaction the ongoing peace process and the new developments in the Middle East Region, we believe that the progress achieved must be promptly followed by crucial steps forward on both the Syrian and Lebanese tracks with a view to establishing a just and comprehensive peace, on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967, 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 and 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978 and the principle of land for peace, and the restitution of all occupied Arab and Palestinian territories, including the city of Al-Quds al-Sharif, the Syrian Golan and South Lebanon and the guaranteeing of the Palestinian people's sovereignty over their homeland and their right to return, to self-determination and the setting up of their independent States with Al-Quds al-Sharif as its capital. In this respect, we draw attention of the sponsors of the peace conference and international community to the danger of Israel's continued procrastination and dilatory attitude aimed at eluding the implementation of the resolutions of international legality."
VII. NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS: ACTIVITIES AND INFORMATION
At its 215th meeting, on 17 May 1995, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People adopted the following programmes for two NGO meetings: the United Nations North American NGO Symposium on the Question of Palestine and the United Nations International NGO Meeting/European NGO Symposium on the Question of Palestine. The proposed programmes, which are reproduced below, were recommended by preparatory meetings held in New York from 27 to 28 February 1995.
UNITED NATIONS NORTH AMERICAN NGO SYMPOSIUM
ON THE QUESTION OF PALESTINE
United Nations Headquarters
Theme: The United Nations on its 50th Anniversary and the Question of Palestine
9.00 a.m. – 10.00 a.m. Registration
10.00 a.m. – 11.00 a.m. OPENING SESSION
The Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
The Representative of Palestine
The Chairman of the North American Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine
11.00 a.m. – 11.30 a.m. Introductory Overview
"Meeting UN Responsibilities for Palestine"
11.30 a.m. – 1.00 p.m. PLENARY I
"Challenges to Peace: Obstacles and Opportunities"
1. Jerusalem and settlements
2. The situation of the refugees
3. Securing respect for international humanitarian law
1.00 p.m. – 3.00 p.m. LUNCH
3.00 p.m. – 6.00 p.m. Concurrent workshops:
1. Refugees and the displaced
2. Settlements
3. The status of Jerusalem
4. Securing respect for international humanitarian law
9.30 a.m. – 11.00 a.m. Reports from Workshop Chairs
11.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m PLENARY II
"Working towards self-determination, promoting civil society"
1. Building civil society
2. Advancing women's concerns
3. Promoting social development
3.00 p.m. – 6.00 p.m. Concurrent workshops
1. Palestinian women mobilize
2. Promoting civil society
3. Development: putting people first
4. Labour in transition
1. Interfaith coordination
2. Special skills workshops
"Strengthening our NGO ties: the use of electronic network"
9.00 a.m. – 10.00 a.m. Workshop reports and NACC business
10.00 a.m. – 10.30 a.m. Elections
10.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. PLENARY III
"Continuing commitment of NGOs on the question of Palestine"
12.30 p.m. CLOSING SESSION
UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL NGO MEETING/
ON THE QUESTION OF PALESTINE
29 August to 1 September 1995
Vienna International Centre, Vienna
Theme: The 50th Anniversary of the United Nations _
Palestine, NGOs and the Implementation of
United Nations Resolutions
8.00 a.m. – 10.00 a.m. Registration
Video presentations in the lobby
10.00 a.m. – 11.00 a.m. OPENING SESSION
The Representative of the Secretary-General
The Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
The Representative of Palestine
The Chairman, International Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine
The Chairman, European Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine
11.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m. PLENARY SESSION
"United Nations 50th Anniversary and the Question of Palestine"
1.00 p.m. – 3.00 p.m. LUNCH
3.00 p.m. – 6.00 p.m. "Palestine update"
Briefings on economic, social and political conditions facing the Palestinians on the ground
-Labour and unemployment conditions
-Palestinians inside Israel
10.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m. PLENARY SESSION
To be followed by workshops on:
3. Violation of human rights under occupation
4. Palestinians in the diaspora
1.00 p.m. – 3.00 p.m. LUNCH
3.00 p.m. – 6.00 p.m. PLENARY SESSION
"Obstacles to peace: Recommendations for action"
1. Jerusalem and settlements
2. Right to return – refugees
4. Israel's violation of its commitments under the Declaration of Principles
10.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m. Building the NGO network – encouraging NGO participation
1. Palestinian/Israeli NGO cooperation
2. Interaction of national and international NGOs and the role of the NGO coordinating committees
3. NGO relations with United Nations organs
1.00 p.m. – 3.00 p.m. LUNCH
4. NGOs and shaping public opinion
5. Using the "Information super highway" (set-up of information laboratory)
10.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m. PLENARY SESSION
"NGO strategies for action"
1.00 p.m. – 3.00 p.m. LUNCH
International Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine – Elections
European Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine – Elections
Conference statements and recommendations
CLOSING SESSION
B. Information received from NGOs
1. Middle East International, a biweekly publication, is available from P.O. Box 53365, Temple Heights Station, Washington, D.C. 20009, United States. Issue No. 500 of 12 May 1995 includes articles on Israeli land confiscation in Arab Jerusalem, reactions from Palestinians, Arab League, United States Government and significance with regard to the peace process; Yassir Arafat's rejection of a draft national reconciliation treaty with other Palestinian political groups due to the failure to include a commitment on a halt to attacks against Israel from inside the Gaza Strip; Yitzak Rabin's reactions to United States Senator Bob Dole's initiative to move the United States embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem; "moderate" Arab States' relationship with the United States in view of the perception that American evenhandedness with regard to Arab-Israeli issues is fading; Abd al-Samad Huraizat's death under Shabak custody; and the new tripartite pact between the Palestinian Authority, Israel and donor countries signed in Paris on 24 April. The issue also includes an analysis of the Declaration of Principles and the author's view of the apparent imbalances of the agreement which places the Palestinians at a serious disadvantage; the Palestinians' need for long-term aid; and "The Third Way", a modified version of the Allon plan as a basis for an Israeli settlements policy.
2. The Other Israel, a newsletter of the Council for Israeli-Palestinian Peace, available from P.O. Box 2542, Holon, Israel 58125. Issue No. 66 of May 1995 includes an article entitled "New Lebanons" wherein the author likens the Gaza Strip to South Lebanon in the sense that Rabin's failure to decide on complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from both places contributes to an untenable situation. Such a situation, in the author's view, could set the stage for a similar condition in the West Bank. It also has an article on the predicament of the Israeli government's "Dovish" wing, whose policies vis-à-vis the peace process have led, in the author's view, to a general feeling of demobilization within the peace movement. This issue also has information on the activities of various Israeli non-governmental organizations. Also included is an obituary of Matti Peled (1923-1995), Israeli general, peace activist and scholar, as well as a series of articles written as a tribute to Peled's life.
3. News From Within, a newsletter of the Alternative Information Centre, in available from P.O. Box 31417, Jerusalem (Fax 9722 253151). Issue No. 5 of May 1995 includes an analysis entitled "Dead End Leading to Explosion" by Tikva Honig-Parnass, concerning the possibility of a form of Palestinian civil war or a new type of intifadah. "Reflections from Gaza-April, 1995" by Maja are personal reflections based on the diary of a freelance journalist from the Netherlands who was based in the occupied territories for five years. The article entitled "From Leninist to NGO-style Organizations" by Adel Samara was written to initiate a debate concerning the reasons underlying the deterioration of the Palestinian left, in both the organizational and theoretical dimensions, as well as in its level of militancy. In "Neither a Samson Nor a Masada", Azmi Bishara refutes the assertion made that the phenomenon of suicide bombing is inherent in Palestinian culture.
4. Report on Israeli Settlement in the Occupied Territories, a bimonthly publication of the Foundation for Middle East Peace, is available from 555 13th Street, NW, Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20004-1109 (Fax 202 637 5910). Issue No. 3 of May 1995 includes articles on recent developments in the occupied territories and its implications on the "final status" talks; the construction of a system of bypass roads throughout the occupied territories which, in the author's view, would be critical to the expansion and consolidation of Israel's military and civilian presence in the territories; United States Senator Jesse Helms' contention that Israeli settlements are permissible under the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, and on the continued oppression of Palestinians in Hebron. A section entitled "Settlement Snapshots" presents excerpts from news publications and pronouncements by various political figures on the settlement question. This issue also includes excerpts from statements made at the United Nations Security Council debate on settlement issues held on 28 February 1995.
5. The Association of Israeli-Palestinian Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) has released the following publications which are available from PHR, P.O. Box 10235, Tel Aviv 61101, Israel (Fax 972 3 566 2527). The publication entitled "Review of the Oncology and Hermatology Services in the Gaza Strip" compares the medical services for cancer patients in hospitals in Israel and the condition of similar services in the Gaza Strip, showing the dependence of such health services in Gaza on Israeli medical services; "The Health Budget for the Gaza Strip: A Precarious Situation", summarizes the actual health care budget needed to build and maintain medical care in Gaza and the problems encountered in obtaining financing which makes Gaza continually dependent on Israeli health care facilities; and "The Child Medical Care Fund" issues an urgent appeal for a number of critical medical cases involving children. PHR also issued an update on its activities during 1994-1995.
6. The Other Front, a weekly bulletin on developments in Israeli society, is available from P.O. Box 19543, Jerusalem. Issue No. 320 of 3 May 1995 includes excerpts from a recent article in Ha'aretz (20-4-95) which attacks the "new values" of Israeli society and the Zionist left; an article on the death of Abed Samad Harizat during his interrogation by the General Security Services (Shabak); an interview with IDF Commander Gabi Ophir on Israeli settlers; and on activities of Israeli non-governmental organizations. Issue No. 321 of 10 May 1995 includes articles on the Israeli Government's planned expropriation of land in East Jerusalem to build housing and the response from Arab leaders; excerpts from Haim Baram's column in Kol Ha'ir demanding the resignation of Deputy Minister Walid Tzadek (Meretz), highest ranking Palestinian Israeli in the Rabin government, for his support for Rabin's policies on settlements; activities on Israeli non-governmental organizations; proposals for a law that would guarantee compensation to encourage settlers to leave the occupied territories and move back "within the borders of the green line"; proposed new settlements; the proposal that settlers who committed military offences be tried in military courts instead of civilian courts in Israel; and plans to eliminate some interrogation methods used by the Shabak. Issue No. 322 of 17 May 1995 includes articles on Israeli left-wing criticism of the government's plan to expropriate land in East Jerusalem; speculation about Israel's existing nuclear capability; the emergence of a new independent organization – "The Third Way", which claims to be between the extremes of the left and the right; and on activities of Israeli non-governmental organizations.
7. Kav La'Oved, Workers' Hotline for the Protection of Workers' Rights, is a newsletter, which is available from 78 Allenby St., Tel Aviv, Israel (Fax 03-5173081). The May 1995 issue includes a graph illustrating quotas on Palestinian work permits; a report on the security procedures to which Palestinian workers are subjected; the effects of the Gaza-Jericho Agreement on Palestinian labour; the status of Palestinian social rights lawsuit initiated by Kav La'Oved; migrant workers and work accidents; and gas station workers' exposure to carcinogens.
8. Newsletter, published by the Center for Policy Analysis on Palestine, is available from The Jerusalem Fund, 2435 Virginia Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037, (Fax 202 333 7742). Issue No. 3 of May 1995 includes articles on the Center's conference on an appraisal of the Palestinian Authority (PA), including a critique on its legal framework, Palestinian perceptions, dilemmas of the PA; the structure and operation of the PA in Gaza; results of a Palestinian public opinion poll on the Declaration of Principles, relations with Jordan, armed struggle, elections; briefing on Palestinian elections conducted by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems; Palestinian Christians and the need to link with other religions; as well as a list of the Center's publications.
