DPR Monthly Bulletin – Vol. XV, No. 12 – CEIRPP, DPR bulletin (December 1992) – DPR publication

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December 1992

Volume XV, Bulletin No. 12

Contents

 

I.  ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF THE

   INALIENABLE RIGHTS OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE

On 17 December 1992, in a letter addressed to the Secretary-General (A/47/793 – S/24974), the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People stated the following:

"In my capacity as Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, I wish to draw your most urgent attention to the mass expulsion orders issued yesterday by the Israeli authorities, and to call for an immediate end to the policy of deportation by Israel, the occupying Power.

"According to a Reuters dispatch issued today, as well as to press releases by the Gaza Centre for Rights and Law and the Palestine Human Rights Information Centre, on l6 December the Government of Israel, in a closed ministerial session, took the unprecedented step of ordering the summary deportation of 418 Palestinians from the occupied territory for two years, apparently as punishment for the recent killing of a kidnapped Israeli soldier.  It is to be noted that the Palestinians, alleged to be activists with Islamic groups, have not been formally charged with any offence.  This move comes in the wake of mass arrests of approximately 2,000 Palestinians in the last three days, as well as the imposition of a total round-the-clock curfew on the Gaza Strip, and the sealing of the West Bank and Gaza Strip as closed military zones.  It is also reported that the International Committee of the Red Cross was not informed of the deportation decision, and that restrictions have been imposed on the ability of the deportees to appeal the orders against them.

"The same reports indicate that the 418 Palestinians, whose names have not been released, have been taken to the northern border of Israel in anticipation of their deportation into southern Lebanon, and are now waiting, blindfolded and handcuffed, in buses pending a court ruling in Jerusalem.

"In light of this very grave situation, the Committee addresses an urgent appeal to you, as well as to all those concerned, to take all necessary measures to induce Israel, the occupying Power, to desist forthwith from deporting the 418 Palestinians and to cease its policy of collective punishments against Palestinians in the occupied territory, in accordance with its obligations under the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Civilian Persons in Time of War, and numerous Security Council resolutions.

"The Committee considers that, in the absence of concrete progress in the peace process, tension and violence will continue to increase in the occupied Palestinian territory.  The Committee renews its call for international protection to be accorded Palestinians living under occupation and for an intensification of efforts by all concerned towards the achievement of a just and lasting settlement."

II.  CONSIDERATION OF THE QUESTION OF PALESTINE AT THE

    FORTY-SEVENTH SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

On 30 November 1992, the General Assembly took up consideration of the question of Palestine.

The agenda item was introduced by the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.  The Rapporteur of the Committee then introduced its annual report.  The full texts of both statements are presented below:  (see A/47/PV.74, pp. 14-30).

Statement by the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise

of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People

"Once again, the Palestinian people find themselves at a crucial moment in their history when they can, at one and the same time, expect the best and fear the worst.  Forty-five years have passed since the General Assembly decided, in its historic resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, to partition Palestine and to create two States, one Arab and one Jewish, joined in economic union, with special international status for Jerusalem. In keeping with the General Assembly's mandate, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People has today commemorated this anniversary with a special meeting, as it has done every year.

"Despite the conflicts that prevailed in the region, no one at that time could possibly have foreseen the tragedy that would follow.  Since then, five major wars have torn that small region of the world apart.  Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced into exile, many of them more than once.  They and their descendants are still in exile today – involuntary refugees, wards of the international community.  At the beginning of this year, our Committee commemorated the twenty-fifth anniversary of the occupation of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, an occupation which is maintained purely through military force because it has been rejected by all those living under it.

"For the Palestinians this translated into at least three generations that do not know what it means to live in peace – a peace defined not simply as the absence of war, but also as security of person and mind, as the right to choose one's occupation, to be with one's family, to enjoy the fruits of one's labour and one's property, to participate freely in the building of one's society.  Parts of Syria and Lebanon are also still under occupation.  For the Israelis, and the other peoples in the region, this constant state of war has caused insecurity and fear and the tremendous drain on resources resulting from the escalating arms race.

"History teaches us that the right of peoples to self-determination is a fundamental human aspiration.  That cannot be suppressed indefinitely without provoking revolt on the part of the oppressed.  For the Palestinian people, to whom the League of Nations had given the hope of existing as an independent nation and to whom the United Nations subsequently promised their own State, the history of this century is strewn with disappointments and betrayals.  This fundamental right has been denied for far too long.

"However, two threads have run consistently through all the approaches taken by the international community to achieving a solution to the conflict – that is, the inadmissibility of any acquisition of territory by force, and the recognition of the right of peoples to self-determination.  Now, some 75 years after President Wilson propounded those ideas, the time has surely come for the international community to apply them to the Palestinian people.

"With that objective in mind, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People joined the rest of the international community in welcoming the peace process launched last year in Madrid under the co-chairmanship of the United States and the former Soviet Union – a process based on those same guiding principles.  The Committee, therefore, can only deplore the fact that the talks have not yet achieved concrete results although the co-chairmen had initially envisaged a one-year time-frame for the first stage.

"In the Committee's view, the continued occupation, bolstered by armed force and by a policy of gradual de facto annexation of the Palestinian territories, and the continued refusal to recognize Palestinian national rights are the main obstacles to any progress on the road to peace.  Over the years, the Committee has constantly pointed out that Israel's intransigence on these fundamental questions can only increase tension and violence in the region and fuel the fire of opposing extremisms.  The occupation has a destructive effect not only on the occupied but also on the occupier.  A change of perspective and a new political will to solve problems through negotiation rather than through resort to force are indispensable if we wish to make progress towards genuine peace.

"The Committee believes that the Israeli people aspire to a just peace; indeed, they so pronounced in the recent elections. The Committee appeals once again to the present Israeli Government to respond positively to the peace initiative launched by the Palestinians in 1988 and to their subsequent proposals, and also to recognize the inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people, in particular their right to self-determination.

"The current situation presents new opportunities but also obvious dangers.  The increase in violence in the region in recent weeks is a stark reminder of the consequence of failure. It imposes on all the parties concerned an urgent obligation to redouble their efforts to achieve progress in the negotiations before the window that has been opened closes once again and the situation spins out of control.

"The Committee believes that the proposal made by the General Assembly as long ago as 1983 for the holding of an international peace conference under the auspices of the United Nations presented the most comprehensive and practical framework for peace and that the convening of such a conference will, in the final analysis, be necessary to give international approval to all the agreements reached during the various negotiations and discussions.  The United Nations must shoulder its responsibilities with respect to the Palestinian question until the question, in all its aspects, is solved in a satisfactory manner in conformity with international principles and United Nations resolutions.  Any final settlement must be based on the principles for a comprehensive peace spelled out by the General Assembly in its relevant resolutions and reaffirmed most recently in resolution 46/75 of 11 December 1991.

"In this regard, the Committee unreservedly supports the position taken by the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries at its Summit Conference in Jakarta in September 1992 as well as the position taken by the Organization of the Islamic Conference at its ministerial meeting, also held in September.  After all, these years of determined struggle by the Palestinian people in extremely difficult conditions, it is abundantly clear that only the acceptance and implementation of these principles will lead to a true and lasting peace in the region.

"While the diplomats move ahead cautiously, but necessarily slowly, in their work, it is indispensable for Israel, the occupying Power, to take a number of measures to restore basic freedoms and to satisfy  the fundamental needs of the Palestinians living under occupation.  By respecting the provisions of humanitarian law and human rights instruments, Israel not only would fulfil its binding obligation as a party to those instruments but would contribute to defusing tensions and show that the peace negotiations could achieve meaningful results.

"The Committee notes with concern reports from various sources that the initial statements and measures of goodwill by the new Israeli Government have not improved the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and have been followed by increased repression, particularly during the prisoner hunger strike in October 1992, and by the current unsettled situation.

"The Committee calls on the Israeli Government to intervene immediately to put an end to non-judicial executions, to cease all land confiscation and settlement activities, to free political prisoners, to put an end to deportations, to administrative detention, to the mistreatment and torture of prisoners, to restore freedom of movement and other civil liberties, and to repeal the military orders through which it exercises control over every aspect of Palestinian daily life. The Committee calls on Israel once again to recognize the applicability of the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War to the occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and to implement its provisions and those of the various human rights instruments to which it is a party.  The Committee considers that the fact that a peace process is under way does not detract in any way from Israel's obligations in this regard.

"Pending progress towards a political settlement, the Committee considers it is of the utmost urgency that all necessary measures be taken to protect the Palestinian people living under occupation, in accordance with the provisions of the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, and with numerous resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly.  The Committee considers that today more than ever the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention and the entire United Nations system must, without delay, take measures to ensure that Israel abides by its obligations as the occupying Power, in accordance with Security Council resolution 681 (1990) of 20 December 1990.

"Before concluding, I should like to inform the Assembly that, in the year that is just ending, the Committee, in accordance with its mandate, has continued to do its best to promote a meaningful peace process based on United Nations principles and resolutions, and to put an end to Israeli policies and practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem.  In its programme of work for 1992, the Committee decided to intensify its efforts, as the United Nations organ primarily responsible for promoting the exercise by the Palestinian people of their inalienable rights, and to focus its activities on a number of priority issues:  on the need to end human rights violations and to ensure the protection of Palestinians in conformity with the Fourth Geneva Convention; on the adverse impact of settlements on the exercise of the rights of the Palestinian people; on the need for development assistance, and the promotion of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions.

"In 1992, the Committee, in cooperation with the Division for Palestinian Rights of the United Nations Secretariat, held an Asian regional seminar and non-governmental organization symposium in Cyprus, for which I should like once again to express my most sincere thanks to the Government and people of that country.  The Committee also held a seminar for the North American region, which it devoted entirely to the need for enforcing the Fourth Geneva Convention and ensuring the protection of Palestinians living under occupation.  In this regard, I should like to stress the usefulness of the recommendations made by the experts participating in that seminar.  The Committee also held a seminar for the European region in Malta, and I should like once again to express the Committee's gratitude to the Government and people of that country for having hosted that important event.  In addition, symposia for non-governmental organizations were held for the North American and European regions, as well as an international meeting of non-governmental organizations.  The Committee is of the view that these activities continue to be very useful, not only for mobilizing international public support for a just settlement of the question of Palestine, but also to give an opportunity to representatives of Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, together with experts, parliamentarians, opinion-makers and others, to analyse the situation, establish contacts and study together strategies for the future.

"The Committee has also continued to follow closely the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and to report on it regularly to the General Assembly and to the President of the Security Council.  Studies and publications have been issued by the Division for Palestinian Rights on various aspects of the question of Palestine in order better to inform and mobilize international public opinion.

"The Committee considers that the programme of research, studies and publications of the Division for Palestinian Rights is an essential resource for information, analysis and promotion of international action, and calls for its strengthening through the establishment of an adequately staffed and equipped computerized system.

"The question of Palestine is now at a more delicate stage than ever before and the Committee trusts, as I do, that the current hopes will finally bear fruit and that the necessary decisions will be taken very soon by those concerned.  Our Committee, established to promote the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, will continue to do its utmost to ensure that that goal is finally realized through the triumph of reason and law so that justice can be done to the Palestinians and the entire world can live in peace and security.  Our Committee is resolved, within the context of the mandate given it by the General Assembly, to contribute towards the establishment in the Middle East of a just peace which will benefit all the peoples of the region."

Statement by the Rapporteur of the Committee on the Exercise

of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People

"It is an honour for me, in my capacity as Rapporteur, to present to the General Assembly the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People covering its work during the past year (A/47/35).

"In 1992 the Committee, under the able guidance of its Chairman, Ambassador Kéba Birane Cissé, carried out its mandate in conformity with the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly.

"In the introduction to the report, the Committee stresses that, with the fundamental changes in the international political scene, the shift from confrontation to cooperation in international affairs and the renewed determination to work towards the resolution of long-standing regional conflicts, it is of the utmost importance to intensify efforts to bring about a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

"The Committee also welcomed the convening, under the sponsorship of the United States and the former Soviet Union, of the peace conference on the Middle East as a significant step towards the achievement of peace in the region.

"Chapters II and III of the report are procedural and summarize the respective mandates of the Committee, the Division for Palestinian Rights and the Department of Public Information. They also give information on the organization of the work of the Committee.

"The action taken by the Committee in 1992 is described in Chapter IV of the report.  The Committee has monitored the situation in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, on an ongoing basis through the media and reports of the United Nations organs and agencies, as well as through information collected by Governments, non-governmental organizations, individual experts, including Israelis and Palestinians who participated in meetings held under the auspices of the Committee, and other sources.

"The Committee, in a special meeting held in June 1992, reviewed the effects of the Israeli occupation on the Palestinian people in the 25 years since the 1967 war.  The Committee notes with deep concern that the Palestinian people have paid dearly for the occupation, with loss of life, loss of land and natural resources and severe restrictions on their political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights.

"The Committee also notes with great concern that the Israeli armed forces continued to use unjustified force in suppressing the intifadah and exerting control over the Palestinian population living under occupation.  The report contains a number of specific details regarding the effects of occupation on Palestinians and the continuing violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

"The Committee notes that in October 1991 Israel ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and it calls on the relevant supervisory bodies to take all measures in their power to ensure that Israel abides by its obligations under those treaties.

"As the General Assembly is aware, the Committee is mandated to report and make suggestions to the Assembly and the Security Council, on an ongoing basis, with regard to developments relating to the question of Palestine.  In several letters, which have been issued as documents of the General Assembly and of the Security Council and which are listed in the report, the Chairman drew the attention of those concerned to serious and urgent events, and made recommendations for action by the United Nations, particularly with regard to ensuring the protection of Palestinians living under occupation and the observance of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Civilian Persons in Time of War.

"These concerns of the Committee for the promotion of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region, based on internationally recognized principles and United Nations resolutions, and for the implementation by the occupying Power of the provisions of humanitarian law and human-rights instruments are reflected in the programme of work undertaken by the Committee in 1992.

"The Committee, in cooperation with the Division for Palestinian Rights, organized a number of regional seminars and meetings of non-governmental organizations.  The Committee was encouraged by the active participation in these activities of prominent political personalities, parliamentarians, policy-makers and other experts, including Israelis and Palestinians, and of committed and knowledgeable representatives of non-governmental organizations.  The Committee believes that these meetings make a positive contribution to peace efforts by providing a forum for a balanced and constructive discussion of all the issues.

"The Committee notes that non-governmental organizations have further intensified their activities to assist the Palestinian people and to promote a just and comprehensive peace.

"Finally, the report also gives information on the activities of the Division for Palestinian Rights in the field of publications and information and on the commemoration of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, as well as on the continuing development of a computer-based information system that will strengthen the research and data-collection capabilities of the Division.

"Chapter V of the report covers the work of the Department of Public Information, which includes the publications and audio-visual activities of the Department, encounters for journalists and news missions to the area.

"In its recommendations, which are contained in the final chapter, the Committee draws attention to the fact that the year 1992 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the occupation by Israel of the Palestinian and other Arab territories, including Jerusalem.  It welcomes the peace process and draws the international community's attention to the fact that the occupation continues.  It expresses support for the intifadah – the Palestinian struggle to end the Israeli occupation and implement the proclamation of independence of November 1988.

"The Committee also recalls that the Peace Conference on the Middle East, convened under the co-sponsorship of the United States and the former Soviet Union, has for its frame of reference Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and the principle of land for peace.  It stresses the need for an active role for the United Nations, the Security Council and the Secretary-General if the peace process is to have a successful outcome.

"It reaffirms that the responsibility of the United Nations with respect to the question of Palestine will continue until the question is solved in all its aspects.

"The Committee also recalls that an international consensus on the essential principles for a solution of the question of Palestine has gradually been reached.  It recalls the original recommendations of the Committee, which are annexed to the report, and the Declaration and programme of action adopted by the International Conference of Palestine in 1983.

"The Committee considers that in recent elections a majority of the Israeli public voted for peace, and the Committee expresses the hope that the new Israeli Government would recognize and respect the national aspirations and rights of the Palestinian people – in particular, the right to self-determination – and will institute radical changes in Israel's policies in favour of peace.  The Committee also calls on the Israeli Government to end human-rights violations and to abide by the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention.  It draws attention, in this regard, to the relevant recommendations made by the North American Seminar – organized by the Committee in 1992 – on the enforcement of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

"The Committee also states that, pending progress towards a political settlement, it is of the utmost urgency that all necessary measures be taken by the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention and by the United Nations system as a whole to protect Palestinian people in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem.

"The Committee also reaffirms the duty and responsibility of the United Nations to render all assistance necessary to the promotion of the social and economic development of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem. It has decided to devote its 1993 European regional seminar to this question, in response to Economic and Social Council resolution 1992/58.

"The Committee notes with satisfaction the increased international support, in the year under review, for the attainment of a comprehensive, just and lasting solution of the question of Palestine – a process in which its programme of regional seminars, meetings of non-governmental organizations and other, informal activities has played a valuable role.  The Committee will continue and intensify its efforts to achieve maximum effectiveness in the implementation of its mandate, and it calls on all Governments to participate in its work and activities.

"The Committee trusts that the Assembly will endorse its recommendations and support its work, as has happened every year since the Committee's establishment."

III. ADOPTION BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF RESOLUTIONS

 ON THE QUESTION OF PALESTINE

The following resolutions on the question of Palestine were adopted by the General Assembly at its 84th plenary meeting on 11 December 1992:

"47/64.  Question of Palestine

       "A

"The General Assembly,

"Recalling its resolutions 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3375 (XXX) and 3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, 31/20 of 24 November 1976, 32/40 of 2 December 1977, 33/28 of 7 December 1978, 34/65 A and B of 29 November 1979 and 34/65 C and D of 12 December 1979, ES-7/2 of 29 July 1980, 35/169 of l5 December 1980, 36/120 of 10 December 1981, ES-7/4 of 28 April 1982, 35/58 A of 13 December 1983, 39/49 A of 11 December 1984, 40/96 A of 12 December 1985, 41/43 A of 2 December 1986, 42/66 A of 2 December 1987, 43/175 A and B of 15 December 1988, 44/41 A of 6 December 1989, 45/67 A of 6 December 1990 and 46/74 A of 11 December 1991,

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

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

"1. Expresses its appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly;

"2. Endorses the recommendations of the Committee contained in paragraphs 85 to 94 of its report and draws the attention of the Security Council to the fact that action on the recommendations of the Committee, as repeatedly endorsed by the General Assembly at its thirty-first session and subsequently, is still awaited;

"3. Requests the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation relating to the question of Palestine as well as the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Achievement of Palestinian Rights 2/ and to report and make suggestions to the General Assembly or the Security Council, as appropriate;

"4. Authorizes the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to promote the implementation of its recommendations, including representation at conferences and meetings and the sending of delegations, to make such adjustments in its approved programme of work as it may consider appropriate and necessary, to give special emphasis to the need to mobilize public opinion in Europe and North America, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session and thereafter;

"5. Also requests the Committee to continue to extend its cooperation to non-governmental organizations in their contribution towards heightening international awareness of the facts relating to the question of Palestine and creating a more favourable atmosphere for the full implementation of the recommendations of the Committee, and to take the necessary steps to expand its contacts with those organizations;

"6. Requests the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine, established under General assembly resolution l94 (III), as well as other United Nations bodies associated with the question of Palestine, to continue to cooperate fully with the Committee and to make available to it, at its request, the relevant information and documentation which they have at their disposal;

"7. Decides to circulate the report of the Committee to all the competent bodies of the United Nations and urges them to take the necessary action, as appropriate, in accordance with the programme of implementation of the Committee;

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

_____________

1/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Forth-seventh Session, Supplement No. 35 (A/47/35).

2/ Report of the International Conference on the Question of Palestine,_Geneva, 29 August – 7 September 1983 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.83.I.21), chap. I, sect. B.

"B

"The General Assembly,

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

"Taking note, in particular, of the relevant information contained in paragraphs 41 to 65 of that report,

"Recalling its resolution 32/40 B of 2 December 1977, 33/28 C of 7 December 1978, 34/65 D of 12 December 1979, 35/169 D of 15 December 1980, 36/120 B of 10 December 1981, 37/86 B of 10 December 1982, 38/58 B of 13 December 1983, 39/49 B of 11 December 1984, 40/96 B of 12 December 1985, 41/43 B of 2 December 1986, 42/66 B of 2 December 1987, 43/175 B of 15 December 1988, 44/41 B of 6 December 1989, 45/67 B of 6 December 1990 and 46/74 B of 11 December 1991,

"1. Takes note with appreciation of the action taken by the Secretary-General in compliance with its resolution 46/74 B;

"2. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat with the necessary resources, to strengthen its programme of research, studies and publications through the establishment of an adequately staffed and equipped computer-based information system on the question of Palestine, and to ensure that it continues to discharge the tasks detailed in paragraph 1 of resolution 32/40 B, paragraph 2 (b) of resolution 34/65 D, paragraph 3 of resolution 36/120 B, paragraph 3 of resolution 38/58 B, paragraph 3 of resolution 40/96 B, paragraph 2 of resolution 42/66 B, paragraph 2 of resolution 44/41 B, and paragraph 2 of resolution 46/74 B, in consultation with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and under its guidance;

"3. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure the continued cooperation of the Department of Public Information and other units of the Secretariat in enabling the Division for Palestinian Rights to perform its tasks and in covering adequately the various aspects of the question of Palestine;

"4. Invites all Governments and organizations to lend their cooperation to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights in the performance of their tasks;

"5. Takes note with appreciation of the action taken by Member States to observe annually on 29 November the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People and requests them to continue to give the widest possible publicity to the observance."

__________________

1/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-seventh Session, No. 35 (A/47/35).

"C

"The General Assembly,

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

"Taking note, in particular, of the information contained in paragraphs 66 to 84 of that report,

"Recalling its resolutions 46/74 C and 46/75 of 11 December 1991,

"Convinced that the world-wide dissemination of accurate and comprehensive information and the role of non-governmental organizations and institutions remain of vital importance in heightening awareness of and support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,

"1. Takes note with appreciation of the action taken by the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat in compliance with General Assembly resolution 46/74 C;

"Requests 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 1992-1993, with particular emphasis on public opinion in Europe and North America and, in particular:

"(a) To disseminate information on all activities of the United Nations system relating to the question of Palestine, including reports of the work carried out by the relevant United Nations organs;

"(b) To continue to issue and update publications on the various aspects of the question of Palestine, including Israeli violations of the human rights of the Palestinian people and other Arab inhabitants of the occupied territories as reported by the relevant United Nations organs;

"(c) To expand its audiovisual material on the question of Palestine, including the production of such material;

"(d) To organize and promote fact-finding news missions for journalists to the area, including the occupied territories;

"(e) To organize international, regional and national encounters for journalists."

_____________

1/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-seventh Session, No. 35 (A/47/35).

"D

"The General Assembly,

"Recalling its resolutions 43/176, 44/42, 45/68 and 46/75,

"Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of 27 November 1992,1/

"Having heard the statement made on 30 November 1992 by the Chairman of the observer delegation of Palestine,2/

"Stressing that achieving a comprehensive settlement of the Middle East conflict, the core of which is the question of Palestine, will constitute a significant contribution to international peace and security,

"Noting the convening at Madrid, on 30 October 1991, of the Peace Conference on the Middle East and the subsequent bilateral negotiations, as well as meetings of the multilateral working groups,

"Noting also that the United Nations has participated as a full, extra-regional participant in the multilateral working groups,

"Preoccupied by the increasingly serious situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, as a result of persistent policies and practices of Israel, the occupying Power,

"1. Reaffirms the urgent need to achieve a just and comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the core of which is the question of Palestine;

"2. Welcomes the ongoing peace process which started in Madrid, and expresses hopes that it will lead to the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region;

"3. Expresses the need for the United Nations to play a more active and expanded role in the current peace process;

"4. Considers that the convening, at a certain stage, of an International Peace Conference in the Middle East, under the auspices of the United Nations, with the participation of all parties to the conflict, including the Palestine Liberation Organization, on an equal footing, and the five permanent members of the Security Council, based on Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973 and the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination, would contribute to the promotion of peace in the region;

"5. Reaffirms the following principles for the achievement of comprehensive peace:

"(a) The withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and from the other occupied Arab territories;

"(b) Guaranteeing arrangements for peace and security of all States in the region, including those named in resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, within secure and internationally recognized boundaries;

"(c) Resolving the problem of the Palestine refugees in conformity with General Assembly resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, and subsequent relevant resolutions;

"(d) Dismantling the Israeli settlements in the territories occupied since 1967;

"(e) Guaranteeing freedom of access to Holy Places, religious buildings and sites;

"6. Notes the expressed desire and endeavours to place the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, under the supervision of the United Nations for a transitional period, or alternatively, to provide international protection for the Palestinian people there, as part of the peace process;

"7. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts with the parties concerned, and in consultation with the Security Council, for the promotion of peace in the region, and to submit progress reports on developments in this matter."

______________

1/ A/47/716-S/24845.

2/ See Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-seventh Session, Plenary Meetings, 74th meeting (A/47/PV.74).

"E

"The General Assembly,

"Aware of the uprising (intifadah) of the Palestinian people since 9 December 1987 against Israeli occupation, which has received significant attention and sympathy from world public opinion,

"Deeply concerned about the alarming situation in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, as a result of the continued occupation by Israel, the occupying Power, and of its persistent policies and practices against the Palestinian people,

"Reaffirming that the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,1/ is applicable to the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem, and to the other occupied Arab territories,

"Expressing its profound shock at the continued measures by Israel, the occupying Power, including the killing and wounding of Palestinian civilians, and at the acts of violence committed by the Israeli security forces, which took place on 8 October 1990 at the Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem, resulting in injuries and loss of human lives, and on 29 December 1990 at Rafah,

"Stressing the need to promote international protection to the Palestinian civilians in the Palestinian territory,

"Recognizing the need for increased support to, and aid for and solidarity with, the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation,

"Having considered the recommendations contained in the reports of the Secretary-General  of 21 January 1988 2/ 31 October 1990 3/ and 9 April 1991, 4/

"Recalling its relevant resolutions as well as the relevant Security Council resolutions, in particular Council resolution 681 (1990) of 20 December 1990, in paragraph 6 of which the Council requested "the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross, to develop further the idea, expressed in his report, of convening a meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the said Convention to discuss possible measures that might be taken by them under the Convention and, for this purpose, to invite the Parties to submit their views on how the idea could contribute to the goals of the Convention, as well as on other relevant matters, and to report thereon to the Council",

"1. Condemns those policies and practices of Israel, the occupying Power, which violate the human rights of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and, in particular, such acts as the opening of fire by the Israeli army and settlers that result in the killing and wounding of defenceless Palestinian civilians, the beating and breaking of bones, the deportation of Palestinian civilians, the imposition of restrictive economic measures, the demolition of houses, the ransacking of real or personal property belonging individually or collectively to private persons, collective punishment and detentions, and so forth;

"2. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, abide scrupulously by the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, and desist immediately from those policies and practices which are in violation of the provisions of the Convention;

"3. Calls upon all the High Contracting Parties to the Convention to ensure respect by Israel, the occupying Power, for the Convention in all circumstances, in conformity with their obligation under article 1 thereof;

"4. Strongly deplores the continuing disregard by Israel, the occupying Power, of the relevant decisions of the Security Council;

"5. Reaffirms that the occupation by Israel of the Palestinian territory since 1967, including Jerusalem, and of the other Arab territories in no way changes the legal status of those territories;

"6. Requests the Security Council to examine with urgency the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory with a view to considering measures needed to provide international protection to the Palestinian civilians in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem;

"7. Invites Member States, the organizations of the United Nations system, governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and the mass communications media to continue and enhance their support for the Palestinian people;

"8. Requests the Secretary-General to examine the present situation in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, by all means available to him and to submit periodic reports thereon, the first such report as soon as possible."

________________

1/ United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.

2/ S/19443; see Official Records of the Security Council, Forty-third Year,Supplement for January, February and March 1988, document S/19443.

3/ S/21919 and Corr.1; see Official Records of the Security Council, Forty- fifth Year, Supplement for October, November and December 1990, document S/21919.

4/ S/22472; see Official Records of the Security Council, Forty-sixth Year,Supplement for April, May and June 1991, document S/22472.

IV.  GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS RESOLUTIONS ON SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

At its 84th plenary meeting, which was held on 11 December 1992, the General Assembly adopted the following resolutions:

"47/63.  The situation in the Middle East

        "A

"The General Assembly,

"Having considered the item entitled "The situation in the Middle East",

"Taking note of  the report of the Secretary-General of 25 November 1992,1/

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

"Recalling its relevant resolutions, the last of which is 45/83 B of 13 December 1990,

"Recalling its resolution 3314 (XXIX) of 14 December 1974, in which it defined an act of aggression inter alia, as "the invasion of attack by the armed forces of a State of the territory of another State, or any military occupation, however, temporary, resulting from such invasion or attack, or any annexation by the use of force of the territory of another State or part thereof" and provided that "no consideration of whatever nature, whether political, economic, military or otherwise, may serve as a justification for aggression",

"Reaffirming the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force,

"Reaffirming once more the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, 2/ to the occupied Syrian Golan and the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and the other occupied Arab territories,

"Noting that Israel has refused, in violation of Article 25 of the Charter of the United Nations, to accept and carry out the numerous relevant resolutions of the Security Council, in particular resolution 497 (1981),

"Deeply concerned that Israel has not withdrawn from the Syrian Golan, which is under occupation since 1967, contrary to the relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions,

"Taking note with satisfaction of the convening of the Madrid Peace Conference on the Middle East on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), regretting, however, that the desired substantial results have not been achieved,

"1. Declares that Israel has failed so far to comply with Security Council resolution 497 (1981) and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly;

"2. Declares once more that Israel's decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan is illegal and therefore null and void and has no validity whatsoever;

"3. Declares that the Knesset decision of 11 November 1991 annexing the occupied Syrian Golan constitutes a grave violation of Security Council resolution 497 (1981) and therefore is null and void and has no validity whatsoever;

"4. Declares all Israeli policies and practices of, or aimed at, annexation of the occupied Arab territories and the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and occupied Syrian Golan to be illegal and in violation of international law and of the relevant United Nations resolutions;

"5. Determines once more that all actions taken by Israel to give effect to its decisions relating to the occupied Syrian Golan are illegal and invalid and shall not be recognized;

"6. Reaffirms its determination that all relevant provisions of the Regulations annexed to the Hague Convention IV of 1907,3/ and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, continue to apply to the Syrian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, and calls upon the parties thereto to respect and ensure respect for their obligations under these instruments in all circumstances;

"7. Determines once more that the continued occupation of the Syrian Golan since 1967 and its de facto annexation by Israel on 14 December 1981, following Israel's decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on that territory, constitute a continuing threat to peace and security in the region;

"8. Firmly emphasizes once more its demand that Israel, the occupying Power, rescind forthwith its illegal decision of 14 December 1981 to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Syrian Golan, and its decisions of 11 November 1991, which resulted in the effective annexation of that territory;

"9. Demands once more that Israel withdraw from the occupied Syrian Golan in implementation of the relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions;

"10. Calls upon the international community to urge Israel to withdraw from the occupied Syrian Golan and other occupied Arab territories for the establishment of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region;

"11. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution."

______________

1/ A/47/673.

2/ United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.

3/ See Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1899 and 1907 (New York, Oxford University Press, 1915).

"B

"The General Assembly,

"Recalling its resolutions 36/120 E of 10 December 1981, 37/123 C of 16 December 1982, 38/180 C of 19 December 1983, 39/146 C of 14 December 1984, 40/168 C of 16 December 1985, 41/162 C of 4 December 1986, 42/209 D of 11 December 1987, 43/54 C of 6 December 1988, 44/40 C of 4 December 1989, 45/83 C of 13 December 1990 and 46/82 B of 16 December 1991, in which it determined that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, which had altered or purported to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, in particular the so-called "Basic Law" on Jerusalem and the Proclamation of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, were null and void and must be rescinded forthwith,

"Recalling Security Council resolution 478 (1980) of 20 August 1980, in which the Council, inter alia, decided not to recognize the "Basic Law" and called upon those States that had established diplomatic missions at Jerusalem to withdraw such missions from the Holy City,

"Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of 25 November 1992,1/

"1. Determines that Israel's decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem is illegal and therefore null and void and has no validity whatsoever;

"2. Deplores the transfer by some States of their diplomatic missions to Jerusalem in violation of Security Council resolution 478 (1980), and their refusal to comply with the provisions of that resolution;

"3. Calls once more upon those States to abide by the provisions of the relevant United Nations resolutions, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations;

"4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution."

______________

1/ A/47/673.

V.  GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS RESOLUTIONS ON ISRAELI PRACTICES

      IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES

At its 85th plenary meeting, which was held on 14 December 1992, the General Assembly adopted the following resolutions:

"47/70.  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

"The General Assembly,

"Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and by the principles and provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,1/

"Aware of the uprising (intifadah) of the Palestinian people since 9 December 1987 against Israeli occupation, which has received significant attention and sympathy from world public opinion,

"Deeply concerned about the alarming situation in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, as well as in the other occupied Arab territories, as a result of their continued occupation by Israel, the occupying Power, and of its persistent policies against the Palestinian people,

"Bearing in mind the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,2/ as well as of other relevant conventions and regulations,

"Taking into account the need to consider measures for the impartial protection of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation,

"Recalling the relevant resolutions of the Security Council,

"Recalling specifically Security Council resolution 681 (1990) of 20 December 1990, in paragraph 6 of which the Council requested 'the Secretary-General, in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross, to develop further the idea, expressed in his report, of convening a meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the said Convention to discuss possible measures that might be taken by them under the Convention and, for this purpose, to invite the Parties to submit their views on how the idea could contribute to the goals of the Convention, as well as on other relevant matters, and to report thereon to the Council,'

"Recalling also all its resolutions on the subject, the last of which was resolution 46/47 A of 9 December 1991,

"Recalling further the relevant resolutions adopted by the Commission on Human Rights, including its resolutions 1992/1, 1992/2 A and B, 1992/3 and 1992/4 of 14 February 1992 and 1992/70 of 4 March 1992,3/

"Having considered 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,4/ which contain, inter alia, self-incriminating public statements made by officials of Israel, the occupying Power,

"Having also considered the reports of the Secretary-General of 21 January 1988,5/ 31 October 1990,6/ 9 April 1991,7/ and 23 October 1992,8/

"1. Commends the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories for its efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly and for its impartiality;

"2. Deplores the continued refusal by Israel to allow the Special Committee access to the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, and demands that Israel allow the Special Committee access to those territories;

"3. Reaffirms the fact that occupation itself constitutes a grave violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967;

"4. Condemns the continued and persistent violation by Israel of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,2/ and other applicable international instruments, and condemns in particular those violations which the Convention designates as "grave breaches" thereof;

"5. Reaffirms, in accordance with the Convention, that the Israeli military occupation of the Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories is of a temporary nature, thus giving no right whatsoever to the occupying Power over the territorial integrity of the occupied territories;

"6. Condemns, in particular, the Israeli policies and practices of collective punishment, destruction and demolition of houses, use of undercover units as death squads and ill-treatment and torture of prisoners;

"7. Strongly condemns the imposition of Israeli laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan, which has resulted in the effective annexation of that territory;

"8. Condemns the Israeli repression against and closing of the educational institutions in the occupied Syrian Golan, particularly prohibiting Syrian textbooks and the Syrian educational system, preventing Syrian students from pursuing their higher education in Syrian universities, denying the right of return to Syrian students receiving their higher education in the Syrian Arab Republic, forcing Hebrew on Syrian students, imposing courses that promote hatred, prejudice and religious intolerance and dismissing teachers, all in clear violation of the Convention;2/

"9. Strongly condemns the arming of Israeli settlers in the occupied territories to perpetrate and commit acts of violence against Palestinians and other Arabs, causing deaths and injuries;

"10. Urges the Security Council to consider the current situation in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, taking into account the recommendations contained in the reports of the Secretary-General, with a view to securing international protection for the defenceless Palestinian people until the withdrawal of Israel, the occupying Power, from the occupied Palestinian territory;

"11. Reaffirms that Israel's policy of settling parts of its population and new immigrants in the occupied territories constitutes a flagrant violation of the Convention and of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations;

"12. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to allow the reopening of the Roman Catholic Medical Facility Hospice at Jerusalem in order to continue to provide needed health and medical services to the Palestinians in the city;

"13. Also calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to take immediate steps for the return of all displaced Arab and Palestinian inhabitants to their homes or former places of residence in the territories occupied by Israel since 1967, in implementation of Security Council resolution 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967;

"14. Urges international organizations, including the specialized agencies, in particular the International Labour Organisation, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the World Health Organization, to continue to examine the educational and health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967;

"15. Reiterates its call upon all States, in particular those States parties to the Convention, in accordance with article 1 thereof, and upon international organizations, including the specialized agencies, not to recognize any changes carried out by Israel, the occupying Power, in the occupied territories and to avoid actions, including those in the field of aid, that might be used by Israel in its pursuit of the policies of annexation and colonization of any of the other policies and practices referred to in the present resolution;

"16. Requests the Special Committee, pending early termination of the Israeli occupation, to continue to investigate Israeli policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, to consult, as appropriate, with the International Committee of the Red Cross according to its regulations in order to ensure that the welfare and human rights of the peoples of the occupied territories are safeguarded and to report to the Secretary-General as soon as possible and whenever the need arises thereafter;

"17. Also requests the Special Committee to submit regularly to the Secretary-General periodic reports on the present situation in the occupied Palestinian territory;

"18. Further requests the Special Committee to continue to investigate the treatment of prisoners in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967;

"19. Condemns Israel's refusal to permit persons from the occupied Palestinian territory to appear as witnesses before the Special Committee and to participate in conferences and meetings held outside the occupied Palestinian territory;

"20. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, return immediately all documents and papers that were taken away from the Sharia Islamic Court in occupied Jerusalem, to the officials of the said Court;

"21. Requests the Secretary-General:

(a) To provide all necessary facilities to the Special Committee, including those required for its visits to the occupied territories, so that it may investigate the Israeli policies and practices referred to in the present resolution;

(b) To continue to make available such additional staff as may be necessary to assist the Special Committee in the performance of its tasks;

"(c)  To circulate regularly and periodically the reports mentioned in paragraph 17 above to Member States;

"(d) To ensure the widest circulation of the reports of the Special Committee and of information regarding its activities and findings, by all means available, through the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat and, where necessary, to reprint those reports of the Special Committee that are no longer available;

"(e) To report to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session on the tasks entrusted to him in the present resolution;

"22. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-eighth session the item entitled "Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories".

"B

"The General Assembly,

"Recalling Security Council resolution 465 (1980) of l March 1980, in which, inter alia, the Council affirmed that the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,2/ is applicable to the Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem,

"Recalling also Security Council resolutions 672 (1990) of 12 October 1990, 673 (1990) of 24 October 1990 and 681 (1990) of 20 December 1990,

"Recalling further its resolutions 3092 A (XXVIII) of 7 December 1973, 3240 B (XXIX) of 29 November 1974, 3525 B (XXX) of 15 December 1975, 31/106 B of 16 December 1976, 32/91 A of 13 December 1977, 33/113 A of 18 December 1978, 34/90 B of 12 December 1979, 35/122 A of 11 December 1980, 36/147 A of 16 December 1981, 37/88 A of 10 December 1982, 38/79 B of 15 December 1983, 39/95 B of l4 December 1984, 40/161 B of 16 December 1985,41/63 B of 3 December 1986, 42/160 B of 8 December 1987, 43/58 B of 6 December 1988, 44/48 B of 8 December 1989, 45/74 B of 11 December 1990 and 46/47 B of 9 December 1991,

"Recalling the reports of the Secretary-General of 21 January 1988 5/ and 31 October 1990, 6/ and taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General of 9 April 1991 7/ and 23 October 1992, 9/

"Considering that the promotion of respect for the obligations arising from the Charter of the United Nations and other instruments and rules of international law is among the basic purposes and principles of the United Nations,

"Bearing in mind the provisions of the Convention,2/

"Noting that Israel and the concerned Arab States whose territories have been occupied by Israel since June 1967 are parties to that Convention,

"Taking into account that States parties to the Convention undertake, in accordance with article 1 thereof, not only to respect but also to ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances,

"1. Reaffirms that the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, is applicable to the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967;

"2. Condemns once again the failure of Israel, the occupying Power, to acknowledge the applicability of the Convention to the territories it has occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem;

"3. Strongly demands that Israel accept the de jure applicability of the Convention and comply with its provisions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967;

"4. Urgently calls upon all States parties to the Convention to exert all efforts in order to ensure respect for and compliance with its provisions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967;

"5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its forth-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution."

"C

"The General Assembly,

"Recalling Security Council resolutions 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980, 605 (1987) of 22 December 1987, 672 (1990) of 12 October 1990, 673 (1990) of 24 October 1990, 681 (1990) of 20 December 1990 and 726 (1992) of 6 January 1992,

"Recalling also its resolutions 32/5 of 28 October l977, 33/113 B of l8 December 1978, 34/90 of 12 December 1979, 35/122 B of ll December 1980, 36/147 B of 16 December 1981, 37/88 B of 10 December 1982, 38/79 C of 15 December 1983, 39/95 C of 14 December 1984, 40/161 C of 16 December 1985, 41/63 C of 3 December 1986, 42/160 C of 8 December 1987, 43/58 C of 6 December 1988, 44/48 C of 8 December 1989, 45/74 C of 11 December 1990 and 46/47 C of 9 December 1991,

"Expressing grave anxiety and concern about the serious situation prevailing in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, as a result of the continued Israeli occupation and the measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, designed to change the legal status, geographical nature and demographic composition of those territories,

"Recalling the reports of the Secretary-General of 21 January 1988 5/ and 31 October 1990,6/ and taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General of 9 April 1991 7/ and 23 October 1992,10/

"Confirming that the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,2/ is applicable to all occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967,

"1. Determines that all such measures and actions taken by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967 are in violation of the relevant provisions of the Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, constitute a serious obstacle to the efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East and therefore have no legal validity;

"2. Strongly deplores the persistence of Israel in carrying out such measures, in particular the establishment of settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967;

"3. Demands that Israel comply strictly with its international obligations in accordance with the principles of international law and provisions of the said Convention;2/

"4. Demands once more that Israel, the occupying Power, desist forthwith from taking any action that would result in changing the legal status, geographical nature or demographic composition of the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967;

"5. Urgently calls upon all States parties to the Convention to respect and to exert all efforts in order to ensure respect for and compliance with its provisions in all occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967;

"6. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution."

"D

"The General Assembly,

"Recalling Security Council resolution 605 (1987) of 22 December 1987,

"Recalling also its resolutions 38/79 A of 15 December 1983, 39/95 A of 14 December 1984, 40/161 A of 16 December 1985, 41/63 A of 3 December 1986, 42/160 A of 8 December 1987, 43/21 of 3 November 1988, 43/58 D of 6 December 1988, 44/2 of 6 October 1989, 44/48 D of 8 December 1989, 45/74 D of 11 December 1990 and 46/47 D of 9 December 1991,

"Taking note 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,4/

"Recalling the reports of the Secretary-General of 21 January 1988 5/ and 31 October 1990,6/ and taking note of the report of the Secretary-General of 23 October 1992,11/

"1. Deplores the arbitrary detention of imprisonment by Israel of thousands of Palestinians as a result of their resistance to occupation in order to attain self-determination;

"2. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to release all Palestinians and other Arabs arbitrarily detained or imprisoned;

"3. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General assembly as soon as possible, but not later than the beginning of its forty-eighth session, on the implementation of the present resolution."

"E

"The General Assembly,

"Recalling Security Council resolutions 605 (1987) of 22 December 1987, 607 (1988) of 5 January 1988, 608 (1988) of 14 January 1988, 636 (1989) of 6 July 1989, 641 (1989) of 30 August 1989, 672 (1990) of 12 October 1990, 673 (1990) of 24 October 1990, 681 (1990) of 20 December 1990, 694 (1991) of 24 May 1991 and 726 (1992) of 6 January 1992,

"Recalling also the reports of the Secretary-General of 21 January 1988 5/ and 31 October 1990,6/ and taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General of 9 April 1991 7/ and 23 October 1992,12/

"Recalling further the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,2/ in particular article 1 and the first paragraph of article 49, which read as follows:

"Article 1

"The High Contracting Parties undertake to respect and to ensure respect for the present Convention in all circumstances."

"Article 49

"Individual or mass forcible transfers, as well as deportations of protected persons from occupied territory to the territory of the occupied Power or to that of any other country, occupied or not, are prohibited, regardless of their motive …",

"Reaffirming the applicability of the Convention to the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967,

"1. Strongly deplores the continued disregard by Israel, the occupying Power, of the relevant resolutions and decisions of the Security Council and resolutions of the General Assembly;

"2. Demands that the Government of Israel, the occupying Power, rescind the illegal measures taken by its authorities in deporting Palestinians and that it facilitate their immediate return;

"3. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to cease forthwith the deportation of Palestinians and to abide scrupulously by the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949;

"4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly as soon as possible, but not later than the beginning of its forty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution."

"F

"The General Assembly,

"Deeply concerned that the Arab territories occupied since 1967 have been under continued Israeli military occupation,

"Recalling Security Council resolution 497 (1981) of l7 December 1981,

"Recalling also its resolutions 36/226 B of 17 December 1981, ES-9/1 of 5 February 1982, 37/88 E of 10 December 1982, 38/79 F of l5 December 1983, 39/95 F of l4 December 1984, 40/l6l F of l6 December 1985, 41/63 F of 3 December 1986; 42/160 F of 8 December 1987, 43/21 of 3 November 1988, 43/58 F of 6 December 1988, 44/2 of 6 October 1989, 44/48 F of 8 December 1989, 45/74 of 11 December 1990 and 46/47 F of 9 December 1991,

"Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of 23 October 1992,13/

"Recalling its previous resolutions, in particular resolutions 3414 (XXX) of 5 December 1975, 31/61 of 9 December 1976, 32/20 of 25 November 1977, 33/28 and 33/29 of 7 December 1978, 34/70 of 6 December 1979 and 35/122 E of 11 December 1980, in which, inter alia, it called upon Israel to put an end to its occupation of the Arab territories and to withdraw from all those territories,

"Reaffirming once more the illegality of Israel's decision of l4 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 Charter of the United Nations and that all territories thus occupied by Israel must be returned,

"Recalling the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,2/

"Reaffirming the applicability of that Convention to the occupied Syrian Golan,

"Bearing in mind Security Council resolution 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967,

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

"2. Condemns the persistence of Israel in changing the physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan;

"3. 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;

"4. Strongly condemns Israel for its attempts forcibly to impose Israeli citizenship and Israeli identity cards on the Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan, and calls upon it to desist from its repressive measures against the population of the occupied Syrian Golan;

"5. Deplores the violations by Israel of the Convention;

"6. Calls once again upon Member States not to recognize any of the legislative or administrative measures and actions referred to above;

"7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution."

"G

"The General Assembly,

"Bearing in mind the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,2/

"Deeply concerned about the continued and intensified harassment by Israel, the occupying Power, directed against educational institutions in the occupied Palestinian territory,

"Recalling Security Council resolutions 605 (1987) of 22 December 1987, 672 (1990) of 12 October 1990, 673 (1990) of 24 October 1990 and 681 (1990) of 20 December 1990,

"Recalling also its resolutions 38/79 G of l5 December l983, 39/95 G of 14 December 1984, 40/161 G of 16 December 1985, 4l/63 G of 3 December 1986, 42/160 G of 8 December 1987, 43/21 of 3 November 1988, 43/58 G of 6 December 1988, 44/2 of 6 October 1989, 44/48 G of 8 December 1989, 45/74 G of 11 December 1990 and 46/47 G of 9 December 1991,

"Recalling further the reports of the Secretary-General of 21 January 1988 5/ and 31 October 1990,6/ and taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General of 9 April 1991,7/ and 23 October 1992, 14/

"Taking note of the relevant decisions adopted by the Executi-ve Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization concerning the educational and cultural situation in the occupied Palestinian territory,

"1. Reaffirms the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, to the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967;

"2. Condemns Israeli policies and practices against Palestinian students and faculty members in schools, universities and other educational institutions in the occupied Palestinian territory, especially the opening of fire on defenceless students, causing many casualties;

"3. Also condemns the systematic Israeli campaign of repression against and closing of universities, schools and other educational and vocational institutions in the occupied Palestinian territory, in large numbers and for prolonged periods, restricting and impeding the academic activities of Palestinian universities by subjecting the selection of courses, textbooks and educational programmes, the admission of students and the appointment of faculty members to the control and supervision of the military occupation authorities, in flagrant contravention of the Convention;

"4. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, comply with the provisions of that Convention, rescind all actions and measures taken against all educational institutions, ensure the freedom of those institutions and refrain forthwith from hindering the effective operation of the universities, schools and other educational institutions;

"5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly as soon as possible, but not later than the beginning of the forty-eighth session, on the implementation of the present resolution."

_______________

1/ Resolution 217 A (III).

2/ United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.

3/ See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1992, Supplement No. 2 (E/1992/22), chap. II, sect. A.

4/ A/47/76, A/47/262 and A/47/509.

5/ S/19443; see Official Records of the Security Council, Forty-third Year,Supplement for January, February and March 1988, document S/19443.

6/ S/21919 and Corr.1; see Official Records of the Security Council, Forty-fifth Year, Supplement for October, November and December 1990, document S/21919.

7/ S/22472; see Official Records of the Security Council, Forty-sixth Year,Supplement for April, May and June 1991, document S/22472.

8/ A/47/545.

9/ A/47/546.

10/ A/47/547.

11/ A/47/548.

12/ A/47/549.

13/ A/47/550.

14/ A/47/551.

VI.  SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES ISRAEL TO RESCIND ORDER

     TO DEPORT PALESTINIANS TO SOUTHERN LEBANON

On 17 December 1992, the following statement was issued by the Spokesman for the Secretary-General, Boutros Boutros-Ghali:

"The Secretary-General has learned with grave concern of the decision by Israel to deport to southern Lebanon several hundred Palestinians from the occupied territories.  He notes that the Security Council has repeatedly reaffirmed the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949 to the territories occupied by Israel, and recalls that Security Council resolution 726 (1992), unanimously adopted on 6 January, specifically requested Israel to refrain from such action.  He calls on the Israeli authorities to rescind the deportation orders and to permit the safe and immediate return of those expelled.

"The Secretary-General is disturbed by the recent escalation of violence in the occupied territories, which has resulted in Israeli and Palestinian casualties.  The Secretary-General condemns the violence and urges all sides to avoid steps which might lead to a worsening of the situation and could hamper the peace process aimed at achieving a comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict.  (see SG/SM/4883-PAL/1785)

VII.  SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS ISRAEL'S MASS DEPORTATION

      OF PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS FROM OCCUPIED TERRITORIES,

     DEMANDS ISRAEL ENSURE THEIR SAFE RETURN

On 18 December 1992, the Security Council, at its 3151st meeting, unanimously adopted the following resolution: [see S/RES/799 (1992)]

"The Security Council,

"Recalling the obligations of Member States under the United Nations Charter,

"Reaffirming its resolutions 607 (1988), 608 (1988), 636 (1989), 641 (1989), 681 (1990), 694 (1991) and 726 (1992),

"Having learned with deep concern that Israel, the occupying Power, in contravention of its obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, deported to Lebanon on 17 December 1992, hundreds of Palestinian civilians from the territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem,

"1. Strongly condemns the action taken by Israel, the occupying Power, to deport hundreds of Palestinian civilians, and expresses its firm opposition to any such deportation by Israel;

"2. Reaffirms the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949 to all the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem, and affirms that deportation of civilians constitutes a contravention of its obligations under the Convention;

"3. Reaffirms also the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon;

"4. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, ensure the safe and immediate return to the occupied territories of all those deported;

"5. Requests the Secretary-General to consider dispatching a representative to the area to follow up with the Israeli Government with regard to this serious situation and to report to the Security Council;

"6. Decides to keep the matter actively under review."

VIII.  SECRETARY-GENERAL DISPATCHES REPRESENTATIVE TO

    FOLLOW UP WITH ISRAELI GOVERNMENT DEPORTATION OF PALESTINIANS

On 22 December 1992, the following statement was issued by the Spokesman for the Secretary-General, Boutros Boutros-Ghali:

"The Secretary-General this morning telephoned Foreign Minister Shimon Peres of Israel in order to discuss the subject of the deportation of Palestinian civilians.  The Secretary-General informed the Foreign Minister of his intention to dispatch Under-Secretary-General James O.C. Jonah to the area to follow up with the Israeli Government with regard to this situation which has arisen in this connection in the hope that it will be possible to find a solution.

"The Secretary-General has received a request from the Security Council to this effect in resolution 799 (1992)."  (see SG/SM/4886-GA/PAL/596)

IX.  STATEMENT ON THE SITUATION IN ISRAEL AND THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES,

 ISSUED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND ITS MEMBER STATES ON 18 DECEMBER 1992

"The European Community and its member States firmly condemn the Israeli decision to deport more than 400 Palestinians.  They regret that the Israeli authorities failed to respond to the Presidency's appeal not to pursue the policy of deportations, which is a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and, in this case, an infringement of the sovereignty of Lebanon.  They urge the Israeli authorities to allow the deportees to return immediately.  Recent events underline the fact that the peace process is the only way to resolve the problems of the region. The European Community and its member States call upon all parties to redouble their efforts to negotiate a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement."  (see A/47/841 – S/25005)

X.  FINAL DECLARATION OF THE ARAB COORDINATION MEETING

     HELD AT CAIRO ON 24 DECEMBER 1992

"At the request of the Lebanese Republic and the Palestine Liberation Organization, and in response to the invitation extended by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Egypt to the Arab countries participating in the bilateral peace negotiations, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Syrian Arab Republic, the Lebanese Republic and Palestine met at Cairo on 24 December 1992 to consider Israel's decision to deport more than 400 Palestinians from occupied Palestinian territory to occupied Lebanese territory, as well as developments in the Middle East peace process and the impact of Israel's decision on that process.  Also in attendance were some of the members of the Arab delegations taking part in the bilateral peace negotiations.

"His Excellency the President of Palestine, Mr. Yasser Arafat, attended part of the meeting.  He described the impact which the decision to carry out a collective deportation by force would have on the peace process and thanked participating States, particularly Lebanon, for the courageous and judicious measures they had taken in respect of the deportees.

"The ministers considered the recent decision by the Government of Israel to drive more than 400 Palestinians from the occupied Arab territories by force and vigorously condemned those fanatical measures and Israel's recourse to collective sanctions against the Palestinians of the occupied territories, which constitutes a grave violation of international instruments and custom, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention, article 49, paragraph 1, of which prohibits the deportation of persons living in an occupied territory to any other territory for any reason.

"The ministers urged Israel to respect international law and implement the Fourth Geneva Convention in the Palestinian and Arab territories occupied since 5 June 1967, including Jerusalem. They also affirmed that Israel must implement Security Council resolution 799 (1992) of 18 December 1992, which demands that Israel ensure the complete and immediate return of the deportees to their homes in occupied Palestinian territory, held Israel liable for any attacks on the physical or moral integrity of the deportees who were forcibly driven into occupied Lebanese territory outside the area of Lebanese sovereignty, and affirmed their support for the decision taken by the Lebanese Government in this connection to prevent Israel from continuing such odious measures.

"The ministers also called upon the international community to shoulder its responsibilities in the face of Israel's intransigence and its refusal to implement Security Council resolution 799 (1992), which have dangerous consequences for the peace process; they urged the Security Council to take prompt action to implement its resolution, to set up a mechanism and a timetable for the repatriation of the deportees and, should Israel fail to comply, to meet again with a view to taking the measures provided for in the Charter of the United Nations in the event of a refusal to implement a Council resolution; and they requested the Secretary-General to maintain his envoy in the occupied territories to supervise the repatriation of the deportees."  (see S/25018)

XI.  STATEMENT ADOPTED BY THE COMMITTEE ON PALESTINE OF THE

     ORGANIZATION OF THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE ON 30 DECEMBER 1992

"The Committee on Palestine of the Organization of the Islamic Conference met in New York on 30 December 1992 to consider the grave and dangerous situation that has ensued as a result of the Israeli Government's illegal mass deportation of over four hundred Palestinian civilians from the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, on l7 December 1992. The Committee strongly condemned these deportations, which constitute a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949, violate the relevant Security Council resolutions and clearly jeopardize the peace process currently under way.

"While welcoming the adoption of Security Council resolution 799 (1992) and appreciating the steps taken by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in this regard, the Committee on Palestine stressed the need for the prompt and full implementation of the resolution to secure the safe and immediate return of all those deported.  The Committee also noted that the extreme suffering and the dire conditions of the deportees necessitate that even more rapid action be taken by the international community to implement resolution 799 in order to bring to an end this tragic situation and to prevent any similar illegal action by the Israeli Government in the future.

"The Committee on Palestine decided to remain seized of the matter and to closely observe any developments in this regard, including the impending report of the Secretary-General and the subsequent action of the Security Council in response to that report.  The Committee also noted, with appreciation, the actions taken by the Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Dr. Hamid Algabid, in relation to the issue of deportations of the Palestinian civilians."(see A/47/850-S/25043)

XII.  DECLARATION ON THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS MADE BY THE

      COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES AT ITS

      MEETING IN EDINBURGH ON 11 AND 12 DECEMBER 1992

"The European Council reiterates its full support for the Middle East Peace Process in both its bilateral and multilateral aspects, and the role of the co-sponsors.  It welcomes the commitment to the peace process of the incoming administration in the United States.  The European Community will continue to play an active and constructive part in the process in accordance with its positions of principle on the basis for a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement.

"The European Council is convinced that such a settlement is in the interests of Israel and its neighbours, of the Palestinians, and the Middle East region as a whole.  The current peace process represents a great opportunity which must be seized if dangers to the stability of the region are to be avoided.  The European Council calls on all parties concerned to press ahead with the negotiations constructively.

"The European Council stresses the importance of assuring respect for human rights and of implementing confidence-building measures as a means of increasing the level of trust between the parties and taking the negotiations forward."  (see A/47/790-S/24968)

XIII.  UNRWA DEPLORES MASS DEPORTATION OF PALESTINIANS

The following press release was issued by UNRWA on 18 December 1992: (see PAL/1786)

"The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) today deplored the Israeli authorities' summary deportation to Lebanon of about 400 Palestinians living in the occupied territories.  Commissioner-General Ilter Turkmen said that first reports indicated that the deportees, from the West Bank and Gaza Strip, included many Palestine refugees registered with UNRWA and at least one UNRWA staff member.

"On several occasions in the recent past, UNRWA had had reason, he said, to protest that practice, which regretfully had now been resumed on a greatly increased scale.  As it had had to do on previous occasions, the Agency strongly protested the deportation as a "serious violation" of the 1949 Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.  In addition, UNRWA considers the deportation of its staff members to be inconsistent with the Charter.

"The UNRWA also expressed its regret at the hasty procedures used in carrying out the deportations, which demonstrated inadequate attention to the due process of law.  The identities of those to be deported had not been made known by the Israeli authorities in a timely manner.  As a result, efforts to safeguard the legal rights of those targeted for deportation had been further impeded.

"A particular cause for deep concern are the humanitarian aspects of the deportations which affect a large number of families.  With the onset of winter, this will result in considerable hardship for families in the occupied territories already experiencing increasing economic difficulties.  In an attempt to assist the persons subject to this summary deportation, UNRWA, in agreement with the Lebanese authorities, is making every effort to provide immediate assistance in the form of food and warm clothing and whatever temporary shelter it can arrange.  Two trucks carrying assistance have already been dispatched.

"The UNRWA is urging the Israeli Government to agree to the immediate return of the deportees."

XIV.  SIXTH EXTRAORDINARY SESSION OF THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE

OF FOREIGN MINISTERS, HELD AT JEDDAH ON

1 AND 2 DECEMBER 1992, ADOPTS RESOLUTION

ON THE CAUSE OF PALESTINE

"2/6 – EX.  The cause of Palestine, Al-Quds Al-Sharif

and the Arab-Israeli Conflict

"The Sixth Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, held in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on 7-8 Jumadul Thani 1413H, corresponding to 1-2 December 1992,

"Having considered with appreciation the Report of the Secretary-General on the cause of Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif, and the Arab-Israeli Conflict in Document No. EX-ICFM/6-92/D.2,

"Proceeding from the principles and objectives of the Charter of the organization of the Islamic Conference,

"Pursuant to the resolutions of Islamic Summit and Foreign Ministers Conferences on the cause of Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif, and the Arab-Israeli Conflict,

"Considering that Israel's continued occupation of Palestinian and Arab territories, its annexation of Al-Quds Al-Sharif and the Syrian Golan, its denial of the inalienable national and political rights of the Palestinian people, constitute a flagrant violation of international legality, the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter and relevant United Nations resolutions,

"Recalling the resolutions adopted by the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Security Council on the situation in the occupied Palestinian and Other Arab territories including Al-Quds Al-Sharif,

"Proceeding from the United Nations resolutions and particularly Security Council Resolution 681 which confirms the applicability of all provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians in times of war, concluded on 12 August 1949, to the Palestinian people in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including Al-Quds Al-Sharif,

"Expressing deep concern over the dangerous situation in the Palestinian territories, which results from continued Israeli occupation; arbitrary practices and repressive measures as well as from Israel's continued confiscation of land and properties, establishment of colonialist settlements; escalation of the policy of deportation of Palestinians, destruction of houses, uprooting of trees, imposition of collective punishment on local populations, blockade of Palestinian cities, villages and camps, and desecration of Islamic and Christian Holy Shrines,

"Expressing deep concern over the ongoing transfer of Jews to the occupied territories and their settlement there, and over Israel's continuing establishment and expansion of colonialist settlements in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories,

"Also expressing deep concern over the continued Israeli acts of aggression in Southern Lebanon and affirming that Israeli expansionist policies, practices and designs are not only aimed at the Arab frontline states but also at destabilizing the Islamic countries which constitute a threat to international peace and security,

"Following with interest the ongoing peaceful efforts aimed at achieving a just and comprehensive solution of the Palestine Question and the Arab-Israeli conflict, based on Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, the formula of land for peace and the legitimate and inalienable national and political rights of the Palestinian people,

"Stressing the importance of the role of the United Nations in the efforts made to reach a just and comprehensive political settlement of the Palestine Question and the Arab-Israeli Conflict,

"1. Recalls all the resolutions of Islamic Conferences relating to the cause of Palestine and the Arab-Israeli conflict; expresses its pride in the blessed Intifadah of the Palestinian people, and calls upon all Member States to continue to enhance their solidarity with, and support of the just and legitimate struggle of the Palestinian people for putting an end to Israeli occupation and attaining all their objectives of freedom and independence;

"2. Reaffirms that the cause of Palestine and the Arab-Israeli conflict are an indivisible whole in terms of treatment and settlement; that the solution cannot be fragmented or made to favour only some parties to the conflict or cover some causes of the conflict, to the exclusion of others; and that peace cannot prevail in the region if it does not involve all parties concerned including the Palestinian party whose cause is the prime cause of all Muslims and the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict;

"3. Reaffirms the legitimacy of the struggle waged by the Palestinian people under the leadership of the PLO, their sole legitimate representative, to recover their land and exercise their inalienable national rights including their right to return, and their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian State, on their national soil, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital;

"4. Affirms that just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East Region can only be established through Israel's total and unconditional withdrawal from all the Palestinian and Arab territories occupied since 1967;

"5. Expresses its support for the efforts which led to the convening of the Peace Conference on the Middle East, in Madrid aimed at finding a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian Question and the Arab-Israeli conflict; calls upon the co-sponsors of the Conference to exert their efforts to achieve the success of the ongoing negotiations and overcome the obstacles put to them by Israel, as the failure of these negotiations would adversely affect international peace and security; and considers that the success of these negotiations hinges on the fulfilment of the following principles and elements:

"First: Their adherence to international legality and its resolutions and commitment to implement them, including Security Council resolutions 242 and 338, as well as to the international and Arab understanding of the two resolutions which is based on the inadmissibility of acquisition of other people's territories by force and secures total Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Palestinian and Arab territories including Al-Quds Al-Sharif, the Syrian Golan and the occupied Jordanian territories and is also based on the formula of land for peace and on the legitimate national and political rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination as a sine qua non condition for freedom and national independence.

"Second: Applicability of Security Council resolution 242 to all Arab territories occupied in 1967 including the occupied Palestinian territories.

"Third: Al-Quds Al-Sharif is the core of the cause of Palestine which in turn is the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict and thus cannot be excluded from the on-going peace negotiations and should be treated as an indivisible part of the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, and the same should apply to it like the rest of the occupied territories in implementation of the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and the General Assembly.

"Fourth: Cessation of the establishment of Jewish settlements in the Palestinian occupied territories including Al-Quds Al-Sharif, and the Syrian Golan and providing international guarantees to that effect and for the dismantling of existing settlements as they are illegal according to international resolutions including Security Council resolution 465.

"Fifth: Comprehensive solution so that it may cover all fronts including Palestinian Front, pursuant to international resolutions ensuring that the interim phase shall include the right of the Palestinian people to establish their control over all their land, water and other natural resources, as well as all political and economic affairs, according to the General Assembly resolution 135/37 and solve the Palestinian refugee problem in accordance with United Nations resolutions, in particular General Assembly resolution 194 and Security Council resolution 237.

"Sixth: Necessity of ensuring international protection for the Palestinian people in the occupied territories; implementing the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 as well as the Hague Accord of 1907 and of putting an end to all Israeli terrorist and repressive practices against the Palestinian people and Palestinian detainees in the occupied Palestinian territories; to the confiscation of Islamic and Christian property and Waqfs and attempts to alter their characteristics, to the continued violation of Holy Shrines; and to the excavations endangering these sacred monuments.

"6. Calls upon the United Nations to participate more effectively in the Middle East peace process; affirms the permanent and established responsibility of the United Nations to the cause of Palestine until a just and comprehensive solution to all its aspects is achieved and which ensures putting an end to occupation and which also provides for the exercise by the Palestinian people of their inalienable national rights, including their right to self-determination, to return and to establish their independent State.

"7. Draws the attention of international public opinion and the Security Council to the dangers of Israel's conduct as if it was exempted from abiding by international law and from adherence to the criteria of international legality and calls upon the international community to force Israel to put an end to its violations; to respect the principles of international legality, to implement the resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council without any delay, and to take the necessary measures for ensuring implementation.

"8. Decides to consider 1993 as the Year of Al-Quds and requests the Secretary-General to follow up implementation of the following activities during the year:

(1) To invite Member States which have not yet implemented twinning arrangements with Al-Quds Al-Sharif, capital of the State of Palestine, to expedite doing so and execute projects in Al-Quds Al-Sharif in support of the city and its steadfast citizens.

(2) To issue Al-Quds Al-Sharif Stamp.

(3) To organize the Second Al-Quds Al-Sharif Islamic Charity Fair in the capital of a Member State whose proceeds will go to the OIC Al-Quds Fund.

(4) To continue coordination on the subject of Al-Quds Al-Sharif with all regional and international organizations and fora and to organize two international symposia on Al-Quds Al-Sharif in collaboration with these regional and international organizations.

(5) To continue coordination with non-governmental organizations on Al-Quds Al-Sharif and organize a symposium on Al-Quds Al-Sharif in collaboration with them.

"9. Affirms the importance of the actual implementation of tasks entrusted to the United Nations by the General Assembly and the Security Council regarding the cause of Palestine, especially implementation of United Nations resolution 681 which calls on the high contracting parties which signed the Geneva Convention of 1949 to take the necessary procedures to provide international protection to the Palestinian people in the occupied territories;

"10. Strongly condemns repressive Israeli practices and measures against the Palestinian population and strongly condemns the Israeli expansionist settlement policy and considers all settlements established or to be established by Israel in Al-Quds Al-Sharif, in the other occupied Palestinian territories, and in the Syrian Golan as null and void by the standards of international legality; and appeals to all states to refrain from taking any measures aimed at facilitating settlement operations in the occupied territories;

"11. Calls upon all States to refrain from dealing with Israeli occupation authorities in a way that may be construed by them as a tacit recognition of the de facto situation imposed by Israel when it declared Al-Quds Al-Sharif its capital; recalls in this respect United Nations Security Council resolutions 465, 476 and 478 annulling Israeli measures pertaining to Al-Quds Al-Sharif; affirms that all legislative, administrative and settlement measures aimed at changing the legal status of the Holy City are null and void, have no legal implications whatsoever, and are contrary to international conventions, charters and norms;

"12. Invites the Member States to act within the context of the United Nations and international fora so as to force Israel to release detainees, return the deportees and stop the method of collective punishment and put an end to any action that endangers life and environment in the occupied Arab and Palestinian territories;

"13. Strongly condemns the policy of immigration and settlement of Jews in the occupied Palestinian and Arab territories, including Al-Quds Al-Sharif and the Syrian Golan, since 1967;

"14. Strongly condemns the continued Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon, Israel's continued aggressions and its repressive military action against the Lebanese population and Palestinian refugees in Lebanon; requests the United Nations Security Council to put an immediate end to these aggressions and demands immediate, total and unconditional Israeli withdrawal from the Lebanese territory; reaffirms its commitment to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon within its internationally recognized borders; also stresses the necessity of implementing United Nations Security Council resolutions on Lebanon, especially resolution 425 (1987); expresses its appreciation of the accomplishments of the Supreme Tripartite Arab Committee and calls on the international community to contribute to the International Fund for the Reconstruction of Lebanon;

"15. Strongly condemns Israel for its policy of non-compliance with Security Council Resolution 497 (1981); for imposing its jurisdiction, laws and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan, for pursuing policies and practices of annexation, of establishing settlements, confiscating land, diverting water resources and imposing Israeli nationality on Syrian citizens; and considers all these measures as null and void, and a violation of the norms and principles of International Law relating to occupation and war, especially the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949;

"16. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to continue and strengthen contacts and coordination between the OIC, and the League of Arab States, the Organization of African Unity, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the United Nations and its specialized agencies, on the cause of Palestine and the Arab-Israeli conflict;

"17. Calls upon the international community to put pressure on Israel to implement the relevant resolutions of the United nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which call for placing all nuclear installations under IAEA system of safeguards and to respond to current efforts and initiatives aimed at creating a nuclear and mass-destruction weapons-free zone in the Middle East region; calls upon Member States to continue their cooperation within the framework of the United Nations, the IAEA and related international fora with the aim of ensuring Israel's compliance with international resolutions, subjection of all its nuclear facilities to international inspection and presentation of a full report on its stockpile of nuclear materials to the Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency;

"18. Pays tribute to the continued efforts of Al-Quds Committee under the chairmanship of His Majesty King Hassan II, Sovereign of the Kingdom of Morocco, and reaffirms all the recommendations made by the Fourteenth Session of the Committee;

"19. Calls upon Member States to undertake to cover the approved budgets of both Al-Quds Fund and its Waqf set at one hundred million dollars each, and also calls on Member States to pay their contributions and to continue the campaign for the collection of donations at both popular and official levels in favour of Al-Quds Fund and its Waqf;

"20. Expresses its thanks to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for sponsoring the First Al-Quds Islamic Charity Fair which will be held in Jeddah on 9-14 Rajab 1413H, corresponding to 2-7 January 1993 and invites the Member States to participate in it;

"21. Expresses its appreciation to the States of the European Community, China, Japan, the Vatican, the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of African Unity, the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, and all the peoples and peace-loving forces for their support of the Palestinian cause in the international fora and their assistance to the struggle of the Palestinian people and their blessed Intifadah;

"22. Requests the Secretary-General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and to submit a report thereon to the next Islamic Conference."  (see A/47/765-S/24930)

XV.  EXCERPT FROM THE FINAL COMMUNIQUE OF THE THIRTEENTH SESSION

     OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE GULF CO-OPERATION COUNCIL,

   HELD AT ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES,

    FROM 21 TO 23 DECEMBER 1992

The present Arab situation

"The Council reviewed the peace process in the Middle East which aims at bringing the Arab-Israeli conflict to an end and at finding a just, comprehensive and permanent solution to the Palestinian question based on Security Council resolutions 242 and 338 and on the principle of land for peace.  It reaffirms its commitment to support the present peace initiatives and lauds the constructive role undertaken by the two patrons of the peace conference.  It expresses its hope for a comprehensive, just and permanent resolution of the Israeli-Arab conflict and of the Palestinian question which would ensure the withdrawal of Israel from all the occupied Arab territories including the Holy City of Jerusalem, and the guarantee of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, including its right to self-determination, thus establishing a solid foundation for the security and stability of the Middle East Region.

"The Council strongly condemns the continuation of Israeli acts of repression, violence and expansionism in the occupied Arab territories, and the recent steps taken by the occupation forces to expel Palestinian citizens from their homeland.  It reaffirms its conviction that the policy of mass expulsions, the construction of settlements, and the acts of brutality, murder and arbitrary arrests represent a total contravention of all the Charters, Laws and Conventions of the international community of nations as well as of the present peace process and are in discord with the climate of the New World Order.

"The Council registers its appreciation for Resolution 799 adopted by the Security Council which strongly condemned the mass expulsion by the Israeli occupation forces of hundreds of Palestinian civilians, reaffirmed the validity of the Fourth Geneva Convention to all occupied Palestinian territories including the Holy City of Jerusalem, and called on the Israeli authorities to ensure an immediate and safe return of all those expelled to the occupied territories.  The Supreme Council strongly condemns the arbitrary and unjust Israeli measures of expulsion as a contravention of human rights, a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and a threat to the peace process in the Middle East.

"It calls on the Security Council to do all that it deems necessary to enforce the full compliance by the Israeli occupation forces with international conventions and to ensure a speedy return of the expelled civilians to their homeland." (see A/47/845-S/25020)

XVI.  UNITED NATIONS SPONSORS FACT-FINDING NEWS MISSION

       FOR EUROPEAN JOURNALISTS TO THE MIDDLE EAST

As part of its special information programme on the question of Palestine, as mandated by General Assembly resolution 46/74 C of 11 December 1991, the Department of Public Information (DPI) of the United Nations Secretariat sponsored a news mission for European journalists to the Middle East from 3 to 15 December 1992.

Senior writers and editors representing major newspapers of 14 European nations visited Tunis, Amman, Damascus and Cairo.  In the course of the mission, they met senior government officials and members of the leadership of the Palestine Liberation Organization as well as Palestinian refugees.  Unfortunately, they were unable to visit the occupied territories.

While in Tunis, the journalists met with Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), and Mr. Ahmed Abderahman, spokesman for the PLO.  In addition, the mission was received by the Tunisian Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Information.

In Amman, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Hassan received the party as did the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Information, and, the Minister of Water and Irrigation.  Also, while in Jordan, the Director General of Palestinian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave an interview and arranged to have the journalists tour the Bekaa refugee camp.

In Damascus, the journalists met with the Vice President of the Syrian Arab Republic, the Foreign Minister, the Minister of Information, as well as the Director of Public Information and Foreign Media.  The mission also visited the Khan Dannour refugee camp.

In Cairo, the members of the mission met with Mr. Ahmad Sidki el-Dajani, a founding member of the PLO and currently Chairman of the PLO Council on Education, Science and Culture, while serving as a senior member of the Central Council and the Monetary Fund Council of the PLO.  Several key Egyptian parliamentarians gave interviews as did the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  The Secretary-General of the League of Arab States also received the mission.

The mission served to broaden the participants' under-standing of ideological and political attitudes in the Arab world while providing them with first-hand assessments of the current status of the question of Palestine.

XVII.  NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS:  ACTIVITIES AND INFORMATION

In the course of December, the following information was received by the Division for Palestinian Rights:

1. The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, December 1992. Available from:  P.O. Box 53062, Washington, D.C., 20009, USA.

2. The Other Front, weekly bulletin on developments in Israeli society, available from:  P.O. Box l9543, Jerusalem.

3. Middle East International, bi-weekly publication, available from:  P.O. Box 53365, Temple Heights Station, Washington, D.C., 20009, United States of America.

4. Newsletter of the Middle East Justice Network, available from:  P.O. Box 558, Cambridge, MA  02238, United States of America.

5. Israel and Palestine Political Report, available from: Magelan, Boite Postale 130, 75463 Paris CEDEX 10, France.

6. Palestine Solidarité, bi-weekly bulletin of l'Association Médicale Franco-Palestinienne, available from:  l4 rue de Nanteuil, 750l5 Paris, France.

7. Women for Women Political Prisoners, available from: P.O. Box 8537, Jerusalem 91083.

8. Another Viewpoint, commentary available from:  AVP, 604 Barbera Place, Davis, California 95616, United States of America.

9. Une Terre, Deux Peuples, publication of the Association pour l'Union entre les peuples juif et palestinien, available from: C.P. 43, l247 Anières, Geneva, Switzerland.

10. P.R.C.S. Newsletter, newsletter of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, available from:  Information Department, P.O. Box 5386, Nicosia, Cyprus.

11. ADC Times, news and opinions of the American-Arab Anti-discrimination Committee, available from:  4201 Connecticut Avenue N.W., Suite 500, Washington, D.C.  20008.

12. A.A.I. Issues, journal of the Arab-American Institute. Available from:  918 16th Street, N.W., Suite 601, Washington, D.C.  20006.

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