ECOSOC discusses SG Report on economic and social repercussions of Israeli occupation on living conditions in OPT and Golan – ECOSOC meeting – Press release (excerpts)

ECOSOC ADOPTS TEXTS ON NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND REGIONAL COOPERATION

Discusses Economic and Social Consequences of Israeli Occupation of Palestinian Territories and Syrian Golan in Context of Non-Self Governing Territories

25 July 2011

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) today adopted texts on ECOSOC consultative status for non-governmental organizations and the work of the United Nations regional commissions, and held a discussion on the economic and social consequences of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and the Syrian Golan under its agenda sub-item on non-self governing territories.

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In the discussion on the economic and social consequences of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and the Syrian Golan, speakers said that Israel had changed the demographic nature of the Syrian occupied Golan. It had sought to Judaize and Israelize the territory, in flagrant violation of international conventions, such as The Hague Convention and the Geneva Conventions. Israeli authorities were resorting to aggressive campaigns against farmers, students and workers in the Syrian Occupied Golan. Workers were refused work permits and students were not allowed to return to their homes after completing their studies. This was all taken in flagrant violation of international legitimacy. Speakers noted that the Council continued to examine the negative economic and social impacts on the population in the occupied territories, rather than ways of improving their living conditions. Israel was resorting to collective punishment, undermining the Palestinian economy and leading to the deteriorating humanitarian conditions.

Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Venezuela, Morocco, Indonesia and Argentina spoke in the discussion.  …

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Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples; Economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan

Documentation

The rl-Report of the Secretary-General on the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation on the living conditions of the Palestinian people on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan (E/2011/13), notes that the occupation of Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, by Israel continues to constrain the existence and successful functioning of institutions of the Palestinian Authority and contribute to the economic and social hardship of Palestinians. This includes the Israeli army’s continued resort to arbitrary detention, disproportionate use of force, settlement expansion, property destruction, home demolitions, mobility restrictions, restriction of building permits and closure policies. Occupation and the tightly closed crossing into the Syrian Arab Republic constitute the most important barriers to economic development and the normalization of the social fabric in the occupied Syrian Golan. Syrian citizens who wish to maintain their Syrian Arab identity face hardship and severely restricted prospects with regard to income generation.
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AMIR NOUR, Director of the Regional Commissions Office in New York, said that the Israeli occupation persisted, with human rights violations and negative repercussions to the lives and economy of Palestinian people. While the report concerned the period comprised between March 2010 and March 2011, the pattern of collective punishment and disposition of Palestinians had continued beyond, such as house demolitions. The magnitude and systematic nature of these policies were evident in East Jerusalem and the ever expanding settlements in Arab occupied land. There had been a 4 per cent increase a year, increasing the territory of Israel. There were human rights violations, including mobility restrictions, the construction of a wall, and Palestinians who wished to move within the West Bank found obstacles deemed illegal by the International Court of Justice. The impact on livelihood had significant implications, particularly on services, access to and quality of water, restricted access to natural resources and adverse environmental impact, depletion of resources and degradation. The deteriorating situation particularly affected Palestinian children. Numerous children had been injured by private guards hired by Israel to protect settlements. Notwithstanding the loss of life, children had also suffered imprisonment and cases of torture had been documented. The dire policy of systematic blockade in Gaza deeply affected society, and constituted a violation of the Geneva Conventions. Despite Israel’s announcement that it would ease the blockade, it remained in place. Palestinians had been prevented from accessing an important part of the Gaza Strip including arable land. Throughout last year 98 Palestinians were killed and several hundreds were injured by Israeli actions within the buffer zone. Thousands of people remained homeless, unemployment rates were high and there were fears of environmental and public health catastrophes caused by the degradation of access to water. The entry and occupation of the Syrian Golan, in violation of Security Council resolution 497, affected the population of the occupied territory. Similar wider patterns had been observed during the last decade, including dispossession and settlement expansion. Abuses of human rights and violations to international law had to come to an end.

Discussion

FAYSAL KHABBAS HAMOUI (Syria) said that Israel had refused all international calls to withdraw from the Syrian occupied territories, which would ensure people could return to their homes. Many people had been displaced and were waiting to return to their homeland. One day they would return. On 5 June 1967, the Israeli occupying authorities perpetrated one of the worst atrocities in modern history, killing 45 protestors and injuring hundreds. The Palestinian people would continue to pursue the exercise of their international human rights. Israel had demolished more than 150 villages in the Golan occupied territory. Israel had changed the demographic nature of the Syrian occupied Golan. It had sought to Judaize and Israelize the territory, in flagrant violation of international conventions, such as The Hague Convention and the Geneva Conventions. The number of Syrian prisoners increased daily. The occupied authorities were resorting to aggressive campaigns against farmers, students and workers in the Syrian Occupied Golan. Workers were refused work permits and students were not allowed to return to their homes after completing their studies. This was all taken in flagrant violation of international legitimacy. The credibility of the United Nations was put in doubt, due to the failure of the international community to force Israel to respect international resolutions and due to the role of certain countries in helping Israel to evade sanctions. Israel was held above the law. Syria stressed that international resolutions and the Arab peace initiative would be the principal reference for settling peace.

YASSER HASSAN IBRAHIM (Egypt) said that the Council continued to examine the negative economic and social impacts on the population in the occupied territories, rather than ways of improving their living conditions. Israeli policies continued to violate international law and practices such as the demolition of the Palestinian economy, the blockade, seizing territories, and building of settlements, and these policies reduced the opportunities for the Palestinian people. These practices were reflected in the report of the Secretary-General. Half a million Palestinians lived in refugee camps, 2.4 million remained below the poverty line compared to other inhabitants, and the unemployment rate was at 50 per cent. Israel continued to establish blockades and checkpoints, infringing on families continuity, and establishing restrictions on freedom of movement between the West Bank and Jerusalem. Palestinians suffered from limited access to jobs, cancellation of residency permits and faced problems crossing checkpoints in East Jerusalem. Expropriation of Palestinian territories had increased since 2009. Hundreds of inhabitants had been detained and suffered from social and psychological effects which further diminishing their livelihoods. The report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees indicated that urban construction plans in Jerusalem were expanding Jewish presence at the cost of Palestinian inhabitants. Egypt had opened the Gaza crossing with the intention of alleviating suffering, but it was not sufficient. The blockade and other policies that were against international law and the Geneva Conventions should also end. Living conditions in the Syrian Golan were similar, along with policies of expropriation, specially the more prosperous land; this was impinging on economic and social livelihoods. Inhabitants in the Syrian Golan were surrounded by military barracks. Finally Egypt called for the establishment of peace on the basis of economic prosperity for all inhabitants.

AHMED SULEIMAN IBRAHIM ALAQUIL (Saudi Arabia) said the report regarding the economic and social impact of the occupation of the Palestinian territories contained information on the suffering of the Palestinian people. The negative impact of Israel’s efforts to restrict movements and prevent the delivery of human assistance to the people was highlighted in the report. Israel was resorting to collective punishment, undermining the Palestinian economy and leading to the deteriorating humanitarian conditions. Despite the efforts undertaken by United Nations agencies, deterioration continued and there was a dire need for assistance to the Palestinian people. The Secretary-General had said that the occupation that started in 1967 had to end. Saudi Arabia re-affirmed that the Israeli occupation was one of the greatest violations of human rights in the world today. The living conditions of people in the occupied territories had deteriorated. Saudi Arabia was concerned that since the Oslo peace process in 1992, the number of settlements had increased. The policy of changing the demographic nature of the areas was continuing. This was counter to international legitimacy and international conventions and led to further violations of human rights. Saudi Arabia expressed pleasure with the report of the Secretary-General and concern for its content. Saudi Arabia called for an end to the violation of human rights, including economic and social rights, in the occupied Palestinian territories.

MOUSSA BOCAR LY (Senegal) said Senegal warmly welcomed the accord reached between Fatah and Hamas, which took place under the auspices of Egypt last May. This underlined the need for the continued role of the Quartet. The reports of the Secretary-General revealed the difficult living conditions in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. In addition to the ongoing building of settlements and evictions, long-term prospects for economic recovery continued to be of concern. This called for diversification of the economy including water, health, food, education, energy security and the lifting of various limitations on access to trade and certain territories. The report did not deal with some very important aspects, including what happened in 2005 under the World Food Programme. The construction of a barrier wall ran counter to international law and the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. Senegal noted that the report dealt with the issue of water, but the role that the United Nations should play in this regard was not identified. The deterioration of the environment was an issue of human rights. The report discussed the many unmet needs of the Palestinian Authority and indicated the Palestinian budget deficit and funding requirements. The Israeli occupation, the excessive use of force, settlement building, demolition of homes, restrictions on freedom of movement, and the ongoing blockade continued to be obstacles to the Palestinian Government and the economic development of the Palestinian people. Senegal called for the establishment of a sovereign and independent Palestinian State, with East Jeruselum as its capital, existing in peace with the State of Israel.

EDGARDO TORO CARRENO (Venezuela) said the report of the Secretary-General reiterated the lack of cooperation of the Israeli Government, including the arbitrary use of force, expansion of settlements, destruction of homes, and the imposition of restrictions on mobility. It was important to respect international law. There had been significant numbers of injuries and deaths, including of small children. Syrians in the occupied Golan who wished to keep their identity and suffered from diminished life prospects and opportunities. The blockade in Gaza had been accompanied by serious and systematic violations of human rights and international law. In East Jerusalem, dispossessed Palestinians had been expelled and settlements continued to expand. It was necessary to put an end to the occupation and to establish a Palestinian State. The international community should take measures to ensure that Israel complied with its international obligations and put an end to impunity.

OMAR HILALE (Morocco) said Israel had marginalized Palestine’s access to international markets and had in place policies with a significant impact on the Palestinian people, their economic situation and their living standards. Despite reducing the severity of the blockade in Gaza in June 2010, this would not lead to economic improvement in Palestine. The complete and total lifting of the blockade and ending the closure of the West Bank were necessary for the reconstruction of Palestine; providing for improved living conditions; and meeting daily requirements of the Palestinian people. The goal was the establishment of an independent Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital. The Palestinian economy evidenced the need for reconstruction. This would require improved effectiveness of assistance to development of trade and productive capacity, development abilities, through joint activities, and the provision of technical activities through trade. The current changes in the region required that the Council address the need for upholding the basic and just rights of the Palestinian people, including an independent State, which was necessary for living in peace and security. The proposal to move forward on the basis of 1967 frontiers could serve as a starting point for negotiations taking into account the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

YUSRA KHAN (Indonesia) … The report on the economic and social repercussions of the Israeli occupation demonstrated the disturbing fact that Israel repeatedly violated international laws and United Nations resolutions and the Palestinians and the Arab population in the occupied territories continued to face economic and social hardship Indonesia would join the call for countries to give recognition to the State of Palestine and encouraged the international community to continue to support the rehabilitation and development of Palestinian institutions. As long as the main obstacle to development, namely occupation, was in place, the economic situation would not improve. Indonesia would continue to support United Nations initiatives aimed at establishing the State of Palestine.

MARCELO SUAREZ SALVIA (Argentina) informed the Council that the Group of 77 had submitted a resolution regarding the impact of the Israeli occupation on the economic and social rights of the Palestinian people, which would be made available to Member States shortly.

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For use of the information media; not an official record

ECOSOC11/024E