SPECIAL UNIT ON
PALESTINIAN RIGHTS
April/May 1981
VOLUME IV – BULLETIN No. 4 – 5
Contents
1. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People: Activities during April – May 1981.
2. Resolutions regarding Palestine adopted by the 37th Session of the Commission on Human Rights.
3. Text of the statement of the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to Palestine National Council, Damascus 11 April 1981.
4. Resolutions adopted by the Afro-Asian People's Solidarity Organization at its 13th Council Session.
5. Resolution regarding Palestine adopted by the Economic and Social Council.
6. Text of the statement of the Rapporteur of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People in the International Conference on Sanctions against South Africa, Paris, 26 May 1981.
1. Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People: Activities during April – May 1981
On 4 May the Committee elected His Excellency Mr. Massamba Sarré (Senegal) as Chairman, His Excellency Rafll Roa-Kouri (Cuba) as First Vice-Chairman, Mr. Farid Zarif (Afghanistan) as Second Vice-Chairman, and His Excellency Mr. Victor Gauci (Malta) as Rapporteur.
The Chairman of the Committee reporting on the meeting of the Palestine National Council held in Damascus from 11 to 15 April said that it had been the first time that the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People had participated in the Council's work. The text of the statement made by the Chairman of the Committee is reproduced below. The Committee was also represented by its Chairman and Rapporteur at the International Conference on Sanctions against South Africa in Paris, France in May 1981. The text of the statement made by the Rapporteur of the Committee at this Conference is reproduced below.
During this period the Committee decided to send a letter to the Secretary-General in connexion with Israeli Government's intention of building a canal across the Gaza Strip linking the Dead Sea to the Mediterranean. A letter was also addressed to the Secretary-General conveying to him the serious concern of the Committee at the situation created by the acts committed by Israel in Lebanon.
The full text of both letters is reproduced below.
Letter dated 7 April 1981 from the Acting Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People addressed to the Secretary-General
(Document S/14430) (A/36/177)
In my capacity as Acting Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, I have the honour to bring to your attention reports published recently in the press which show, once again, that the Israeli Government is determined to pursue a policy which can only heighten the tensions in the Middle East.
The most recent of these reports concerns the Israeli Government's announced intention of building a canal across the Gaza Strip linking the Dead Sea to the Mediterranean. This project, which is fraught with consequences for the future and the status of the Gaza Strip, constitutes a violation of United Nations resolutions and a flagrant challenge to world public opinion. It should perhaps be added that this time Israel does not even claim, as it often has in the past, to be undertaking this project for reasons of security.
No less disturbing is the report that elections cannot be held in the West Bank, undoubtedly because the results would be unfavourable to Israel.
It is clear that Israel intends to pursue a policy of colonization based on outmoded concepts and in violation of international law and United Nations resolutions. Israel's persistence in following such a policy can only stand in the way of a just and lasting solution of the problems of the Middle East and endanger international peace and security. That is a source of grave concern to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, which believes that measures should be taken as a matter of urgency to put an end to the illegal occupation of the Arab and Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem.
Letter dated 8 Hay 1981 from the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People addressed to the Secretary-General
(Document S/14477) (A/36/237)
In my capacity as Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, I have the honour to convey to you the serious concern of the Committee at the situation created by the acts committed by Israel in Lebanon.
The attacks perpetrated on several occasions by Israel against Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon have caused the death of several Palestinian civilians. It is to be feared that, if Israel continues its acts of violence and destruction, the victims of such brutal aggressions will soon engage in counteractions, which would bring about an escalation of the violence.
It seems obvious that – as, indeed, the Israeli leaders have expressly stated – the intention of the Israeli Government is to destroy the infrastructures of PLO, the organization which has been recognized by the United Nations as the representative of the Palestinian people.
The Committee is naturally deeply concerned at these recent events, which are exacerbating tensions and are all constituting obstacles to a peaceful settlement of the Middle East problem. It is vital to draw the attention of Israel to the dangers involved in the acts committed against the Palestinians in Lebanon.
2. Resolutions regarding Palestine adopted "by the 37th Session of the Commission on Human Rights.
The Commission adopted the following resolutions at its 37th Session held from 2 February to 13 March 1981, on the Question of the Violation of Human Rights in the occupied Arab territories including Palestine.
A*
The Commission on Human Rights,
Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations as veil as the principles and provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
Bearing in mind the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949 and of other relevant conventions and regulations,
Recalling its resolution I (XXXVI) of 13 February 1980 on the "Question of Violation of Human Rights in the Occupied Arab Territories, including Palestine", and previous resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights on this subject,
Recalling General Assembly resolution ES-7/2 of 29 July 1980, 35/75 of 5 December 1980 and resolution 35/122 of 11 December 1980 and all General Assembly resolutions on Israeli violations of the human rights of the populations of occupied territories,
Recalling, in particular, Security Council resolutions 237 (1967) of 14 June 1967, 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980, 468 (1980) of 8 May 1980, 469 (1980) of 20 May 1980, 471 (1980) of 5 June 1980, 476 (1980) of 30 June 1980, 478 (1980) of 20 August 1980 and 484 (1980) of 19 December 1980,
Bearing in mind resolution No. II, adopted on 24 June 1980 by the International Labour Conference at its sixty-sixth session, entitled "Resolution concerning the Implications of Israeli Settlements in Palestine and other Occupied Arab Territories in Connection with the Situation of Arab Workers",
Adopted at the 1595th meeting on 11 February 1981, by a roll-call vote of 31 to 3, with 8 abstentions.
Taking note of the reports and of the resolutions of the World Health Organization and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization concerning the health and educational conditions of the Arab population in the Palestinian and other occupied Arab territories since 1967, including Jerusalem.
Bearing in mind paragraph 5 of the Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace,
Taking into consideration that the General Assembly has adopted resolution 3314 (XXIX) of 14 December 1974, which defined as an act of aggression the invasion or 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,
1. Reaffirms the fact that occupation itself constitutes a fundamental violation of the human rights of the civilian population of the Palestinian and other Arab occupied territories;
2. Reiterates the alarm deeply expressed by the Special Committee to investigate Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the population of the occupied territories in its report submitted to the General Assembly at its thirty-fourth session that Israel's policy in the occupied territories is based on the so-called "Homeland" doctrine which envisages a mono-religious (Jewish) State that includes also territories occupied by Israel since June 1967;
3. Calls upon Israel to take immediate steps for the return of the displaced Arab inhabitants to their homes and property in Palestine and the other Arab territories occupied since June 1967;
4. Declares that Israel's grave breaches of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949 are war crimes and an affront to humanity;
5. Firmly rejects and condemns Israel's decision to annex Jerusalem, declare it as its "capital" and alter its physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure and status, and considers all these measures and their consequences null and void;
6. Shares the concern of the General Assembly expressed in resolution 35/122 E of 11 December 1980, concerning reports indicating the intention of the Israeli authorities to enact legislation embodying changes in the character and status of the occupied Syrian Arab Golan Heights and condemns the persistence of Israel in changing the physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure and legal status of the aforementioned area;
7. Condemns the following Israeli policies and practices:
(a) The annexation of parts of the occupied territories;
(b) The establishment of Israeli settlements therein and the transfer of an alien population thereto;
(c) The arming of settlers in the occupied territories to commit acts of violence against Arab civilians, the perpetration of acts of violence by these armed settlers against individuals, causing injury and death and wide scale damage to Arab property;
(d) The evacuation, deportation, expulsion, displacement and transfer of Arab inhabitants of the occupied territories, and the denial of their right to return;
(e) The confiscation and expropriation of Arab property in the occupied territories and all other transactions for the acquisition of land involving Israeli authorities, institutions or nationals on the one hand, and inhabitants or institutions of the occupied territories on the other and, most recently, the expropriation of the Arab electric company of Jerusalem;
(f) The destruction and demolition of Arab houses;
(g) Mass arrests, collective punishments, administrative detention and ill-treatment of the Arab population and the torture of persons under detention, the inhuman conditions in prisons, in particular in the Nafha prison;
(h) The pillaging of archaeological and cultural property;
(i) The interference with religious freedoms and practices as well as with family rights and customs;
(j) The systematic Israeli campaign of repression against universities in the occupied Palestinian territories, restricting and impeding academic activities of Palestinian universities by subjecting selections of courses, textbooks and educational programmes, admission of students and appointment of faculty members to the control and supervision of the military occupation authorities, in clear contravention of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War;
(k) The illegal exploitation of the natural wealth, resources and population of the occupied territories;
8. Condemns the assassination attempts on the life of Bassam Shaka'a, Mayor of Nablus, of Karim Khalaf, Mayor of Ramallah, and of Ibrahim Tawil, Mayor of El-Bireh;
9. Calls upon the Israeli authorities to implement forthwith Security Council resolution 484 (1980) of 19 December 1980 and previous resolutions calling for the immediate return of the expelled Mayors of Hebron and Halhul so that they can resume the functions for which they were elected and appointed;
10. Further condemns administrative and legislative measures by the Israeli authorities to encourage, promote and expand the establishment of settler colonies in the occupied territories, which further demonstrate Israel's determination to annex those territories, and strongly deplores the continuation and persistence of Israel in pursuing those policies and practices and calls upon the Government of Israel to rescind those measures, to dismantle the existing settlements and in particular to cease, on an urgent basis, the establishment, construction and planning of settlements in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967;
11. Reaffirms that all measures taken by Israel to chance the physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure or status of the occupied territories, or any part thereof, including Jerusalem, are null and void, and that Israel's policy of settling parts of its population and new settlers j.n the occupied territories constitutes a flagrant violation of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War and of the relevant United Nations resolutions;
12. Demands that Israel desist forthwith from the policies and practices referred to in paragraphs 5, 6, 7, 10 and 11 above;
13. Demands that Israel cease forthwith all acts of torture and ill-treatment of Arab detainees and prisoners;
14. Calls upon Israel to release all Arabs detained or imprisoned as a result of their struggle for self-determination and the liberation of their territories, and to accord to them, pending their release, the protection envisaged in the relevant provisions of the international instruments concerning the treatment of prisoners of war;
15. Renews its request to the Secretary-General to collect all relevant information concerning detainees, such as their number, identity, place and duration of detention, and to make this information available to the Commission at its thirty-eighth session;
16. Condemns once more the massive deliberate destruction of Quneitra perpetrated during Israeli occupation and prior to the withdrawal of Israeli forces from that city in 1974 and considers this act a grave breach of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War;
17. Reiterates its call upon all States, in particular the States parties to the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War in accordance with article 1 of that Convention, and upon international organizations and—specialized agencies, not to recognize any changes carried out by Israel in the occupied territories, including Jerusalem, and to avoid taking any action or extending any aid which might be used by Israel in its pursuit of the policies of annexation and colonization or any other policies and practices referred to in the present resolution;
18. Calls upon Israel, to report, through the Secretary-General, to the Commission at its thirty-eighth session on the implementation of paragraphs 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13 and 14 above;
19. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the Attention of all Governments, the competent United Nations organs, the specialized agencies and in particular the International Labour Organisation, the United Nations educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the World Health Organization, the regional intergovernmental organisations and the international humanitarian I organisations, and to give it the widest possible publicity, and to report to the Commission on Human Rights at its thirty-eighth session;
20. Decides to place on the provisional agenda of the thirty-eighth session as a matter of high priority, the item entitled "Question of violation of human rights in the Arab occupied territories, including Palestine", and requests the Secretary-General to bring to the attention of the Commission all United Nations reports appearing "between sessions of the Commission that deal with the situation of the civilians of those territories.
_____________
*Adopted at the 1595th meeting on 11 February 1981, by a roll-call vote of 31 to 3, with 8 abstentions.
B*
The Commission on Human Rights,
Recalling its resolution 1 B (XXXVI) of 13 February 1980 and General Assembly resolutions 3092 A (XXVIII) of 7 December 1973, 32/91 A of 13 December 1977, 33/113 A of 18 December 1978, resolution 34/90 B of 12 December 1979, and resolution 35/122 A of 11 December 1980,
Recalling Security Council resolutions 465 (1980) of 1 March 1980, 468 (1980) of 8 May 1980, 469 (1980) of 20 May 1980, 471 (1980) of 5 June 1980, 476 (1980) of 30 June 1980, 478 (1980) of 20 August 1980 and 484 (1980) of 19 December 1980,
Bearing in mind that the provisions of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 must be fully applied in all circumstances to all persons who are protected by those instruments, without any adverse distinction based on the nature or origin of the armed conflict or on the causes espoused by or attributed to the conflict,
Recognizing that the failure of Israel to apply the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949 creates a situation fraught with danger,
Taking into account that States parties to the Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949 undertake, in accordance with article 1 thereof, not only to respect but also to ensure respect for the Conventions in all circumstances,
1. Expresses its deep concern at the consequences of Israel's systematic refusal to apply the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949 in all its provisions to Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem;
2. Reaffirms that the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War is applicable to all the Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem;
3. Condemns the failure of Israel to acknowledge the applicability of that Convention to the territories it has occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem;
4. Calls upon Israel to abide by and respect the obligations arising from the Charter of the United Nations and other instruments and rules of international law, in particular the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, in Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem;
5. Urges once more all States parties to that Convention to exert all efforts in order to ensure respect for and compliance with the provisions thereof in all the Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967 including Jerusalem;
6. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the attention of all Governments, the competent United Nations organs, the specialized agencies, the regional intergovernmental organizations, the international humanitarian organizations and non-governmental organizations.
___________
* Adopted at the 1595th meeting, on 11 February 1981, by a roll-call vote of 41 to 1.
3. Text of the statement of the Chairman of the Committee
on the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to
Palestine National Council, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic
11 April 1981
It is a great honour for me today, and also a great Joy, to find myself again among the worthy representatives of the Palestinian people meeting in Council. This meeting is the symbol and at the sane time the striking evidence of the vitality of the Palestinian people, of its deep national conscience, of its thirst for Justice and of its legitimate aspiration to a dignified and free existence and to an independent and sovereign State.
The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, which I am representing today, is a United Nations Committee entrusted with the specific task of promoting and implementing the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, to national independence and to return to its homeland. Its work is comparable to that of the Committee on Decolonization and of the Anti-Apartheid Committee. Its origin is to be found in the history of the Palestinian question in the United Nations.
The question of Palestine has been on the agenda of the General Assembly and of the Security Council since the inception of the United Nations.
Attempts to find a fair and equitable solution to the problem have unfortunately often met with a lack of understanding which has merely delayed a long-awaited settlement. Despite the obstacles, certain States Members of the United Nations, to which a tribute is due, have spared no effort to achieve the restoration of the rights of the Palestinian people. Thanks to their open-mindedness and desire for dialogue, on 22 November 1974 the General Assembly adopted the historic resolution 3236 (XXIX), in which it defined the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. In paragraphs 1 and 2 of that resolution, the General Assembly (and I quote):
"1. Reaffirms the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people in Palestine, including:
2. Reaffirms also the inalienable right of the Palestinians to return to their homes and property from which they have been displaced and uprooted, and calls for their return."
In order to permit the exercise of these rights, on 10 November 1975 the General Assembly adopted resolution 3376 (XXX), by which it established a Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. This Committee has the following terms of reference – and I quote:
The Committee began to implement these terms of reference by formulating, in 1976, recommendations on ways and means of implementing the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
These recommendations are addressed particularly to the Security Council. They stress the rights of the Palestinian people as defined by General Assembly resolution 3236 (XXIX), namely:
– firstly, the right of return,
– and, secondly, the right to self-determination, independence and national sovereignty.
I should add that all the recommendations made by the Committee derive their basis from resolutions or decisions adopted by the United Nations General Assembly or Security Council.
During its work, the Committee devoted special attention to the Palestinians' right of return. This right of theirs was recognized by the General Assembly in its resolution 194 (III), by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, by Security Council resolution 237 (1967) and, lastly, by Israel itself, in resolution 273 (III) of 11 May 1949 admitting it to membership in the United Nations.
In resolution 194 (III), the General Assembly had established the principles for the solution of the refugee problem and resolved (I quote) "that the refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbours should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for the property of-those choosing not to return and for loss of or damage to property which, under principles of international law or in equity, should be made good by the Governments or authorities responsible." End of quotation. The Palestinian refugees' of return or right to compensation has also been reaffirmed subsequently in more than thirty other resolutions of the United Nations.
With regard to ways and means to be used in order to permit the exercise of the right of return, our Committee proposes two phases: phase one, involving the refugees of 1947, who should be returned immediately and unconditionally, in pursuance of Security Council resolution 237 of 14 June 1967. This resolution has binding force, as specified in Article 25 of the Charter of our Organization.
During this first phase, the United Nations, in co-operation with the States directly concerned and with the Palestine Liberation Organization, will make the necessary arrangements to ensure, during phase two, the return of the Palestinian refugees driven from their lands between 1948 and 1967.
In this connexion, we should stress that this division into two phases merely reflects a desire to be realistic and should not be interpreted as imposing any restriction whatsoever on the right of return which all the exiled Palestinians should enjoy.
As regards the Palestinians choosing to return, the Committee has specified, in accordance with resolution 194 (III) that they should be given fair and equitable compensation.
The second aspect of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people consists of the right to self-determination, independence and national sovereignty. While the purpose of implementing the right of return is to promote the return of the Palestinians to their homeland, this is by no means sufficient to ensure the exercise of their right to self-determination. For this purpose, it is necessary for the Palestinians to be able freely to express themselves as a sovereign people, and it is for this reason that the Committee is requesting the evacuation of the Arab territories illegally occupied by Israel, so that the Arab territorial entity envisaged in resolution 181 (II) may be established there in order to enable the Palestinian people to take control of its own destiny.
Such a decision is in accordance with the responsibilities already assumed by our Organization, when it solemnly proclaimed "the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war."
Our Committee, convinced that both the principle and the methods of the Israeli occupation of the Arab territories are abhorred by the international community and that, in addition, such occupation constitutes an obstacle to the exercise of the Arab Palestinian people's right to self-determination and national sovereignty, has proposed the adoption by the Security Council of the following measures designed to end this state of affairs:
1. Establishment of a time-table for the evacuation of the occupied zones, setting 1 June 1977 as the deadline.
2. Provision of temporary peace-keeping forces.
3. Setting-up of a temporary United Nations administration responsible for handing over the evacuated territories to the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Until such a time as the evacuation of the territories is completed, Israel should cease all violations of human rights in the occupied territories and desist from its policy of establishing Jewish settlements.
Mr. Chairman,
You will have realized that, whether dealing with the refugee question, the evacuation of the occupied Arab territories or the realization of the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, our Committee has based its activities solely on the relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions and decisions. Similarly, the measures which it advocates are all in accordance with the spirit and the letter of the United Nations Charter.
The implementation of this programme requires the active co-operation of the Security Council. Regrettably, the Council has so far been incapable of approving the programme, owing to the attitude of certain countries. I speak advisedly of "certain countries", since on four occasions between 1976 and 1980, when the recommendations, of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People came before the Council, a permanent member of the Security Council blocked any decision by suing its right of veto.
In the meantime, the General Assembly, in its resolutions 31/20, 32/40, 33/28 and 34/65, had reaffirmed the full validity of our Committee's recommendations. In its resolution 34/65, the General Assembly had once again urged the Security Council "to consider and take as soon as possible a decision on the recommendations endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolutions 31/20, 32/40 A and 33/28 A and in the present resolution".
On the same occasion, the Assembly had authorized and requested "the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, in the event of the Security Council failing to consider or to take a decision on those recommendations by 31 March 1980, to consider that situation and to make the suggestions it deems appropriate".
Following the use of the veto by a permanent member of the Security Council at the conclusion of the Council's debate on Palestine in March and April 1980, the Committee, through its Chairman, requested the convening of an emergency special session of the General Assembly on the question of Palestine.
That emergency session was well attended by the international community, and led to the adoption of important decisions. The Secretary-General was accordingly requested to take the necessary measures towards the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.
In the Committee's opinion, the recognition by the Security Council of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people cannot fail to be a positive contribution to all discussions aimed at finding a Just, lasting and comprehensive solution to the Middle East problem. We regard it as unrealistic to seek a solution for the Middle East conflict, to which the Palestinian problem is central, while disregarding the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian peoples wherever they may be.
Mr. Chairman, Your Excellencies,
Israel's attitude to the national rights of the Palestinian people has increased that State's isolation from the international community.
The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People has been encouraged in its efforts by the success that the Palestinian cause has had throughout the world. The countries of the EEC have recognized the Palestinian people's right to self-determination. The Seventeenth Summit Conference of the member States of the Organization of African Unity, reaffirmed the African countries' support for the struggle of the Palestinian people to recover its usurped national rights. At the last summit of non-aligned States in Havana, the cause of the Palestinian people gained the firm support of more than 90 countries. Recently, other countries in Europe stated their positions with respect to the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination. Such a development is striking proof of the broad consensus that is gradually emerging within the international community on the need to take into account the national rights of the Palestinian people in all peace efforts in that part of the world.
The growing isolation of Israel is reflected in the resolutions adopted in 1980, almost unanimously, by the Security Council on the subject of Israeli practices in the occupied Palestinian territories.
For example, resolution 465 (1980), adopted unanimously, the Security Council determined that all measures taken by Israel to change such aspects as the demographic composition and status of the Arab and Palestinian territories illegally occupied since 1967 have no legal validity.
In addition, the Council called on Israel to dismantle the existing settlements and in particular to cease, on an urgent basis, the establishment of new settlements in the occupied Arab territories, including Jerusalem. At the same time, the Council strongly deplored the policy of the Israeli Government aimed at establishing settlements and described it as a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, Just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
Subsequently, the Security Council was to adopt, again unanimously, several other resolutions, in particular resolution 476 (1980) in which it "reconfirms that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, which purport to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal validity and constitute a flagrant violation in Time of War and also constitute a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, Just and lasting peace in the Middle East".
Mr. Chairman, Your Excellencies,
The consensus which is emerging against the Israeli violations of international law was further illustrated following the adoption by the Israeli Parliament of law making Jerusalem the capital of Israel.
That law was rejected by the international community through the adoption of Security Council resolution 476 (1980) and General Assembly resolution 35/169. In addition, several countries of Europe and Latin America demonstrated their disapproval of the "Israeli law" by transferring their embassies from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv.
Our Committee, which abides by the international definition of the status of Jerusalem contained in General Assembly resolution 181 (II), will continue to work for the cessation of the Israeli occupation.
Mr. Chairman, Your Excellencies,
A number of attempts to settle the Middle East question have been made recently. Our Committee, which follows these attempts closely, is in principle in favour of efforts aimed at peacefully settling the Near East question. We believe, however, that such attempts, in order to obtain results satisfactory to all, must not only take into consideration the rights of all parties, as defined in the Charter and in all the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, but must also permit the participation of all interested parties, including the Palestine Liberation Organization, the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.
With respect more particularly to the settlement of the question of Palestine, the Committee believes that this settlement must be based on the following principles:
(a) The question of Palestine is at the heart of the Middle East problem and, consequently, no solution in that region can be envisaged which does not fully take into account the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
(b) The full implementation of the inalienable rights of the of the Palestinian people to return to their homes and property and to achieve self-determination, national independence and sovereignty will contribute decisively to a comprehensive and final settlement of the Middle East crisis.
(c) The inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force and the consequent obligation for Israel to evacuate completely and speedily any territory so occupied, in accordance with Security Council resolution 242 (1967).
(d) The participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, on an equal footing with the other parties, on the basis of General Assembly resolutions 3236 (XXIX) and 3375 (XXX) is indispensable in all efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Middle East which are held under the auspices of the United Nations.
As you are already aware, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People constantly keeps the Security Council informed of events in the occupied Palestinian territories. It also attempts to present the Palestinian question to world public opinion in its true light – in other words, as the case of a people unjustly deprived of its national rights.
This is the framework within which the seminars held on the Palestinian problem must be placed. The most recent took place at Arusha, in July 1960, and at Vienna in August.the same year. Two other seminars are scheduled for 1981, in Latin America and in Asia. It is in this same spirit that our Committee participates in the meetings of some international institutions: the Islamic Conference and the meeting of non-aligned countries.
In requesting the United Nations to adopt resolutions on the implementation of the rights of the Palestinian people, the Committee intends thus to draw international attention to the urgent and vital need to find a just and equitable solution to the Palestinian question, in the clearly understood interest of international peace and security.
Those results, while encouraging, are still insufficient. It is for that reason that the priority task of the Committee is to continue to work for the adoption of the Committee's recommendations by the Security Council. For the Security Council is the only United Nations body in a position to take decisions with binding force.
The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, because it works for a noble and Just cause in the service of international peace and security, has empowered me to inform you that it will continue to work with the same faith and the same determination for the implementation of the rights of the Palestinian people. Any difficulties which we have encountered will only strengthen our resolve to find a just and equitable solution to the Palestinian cause. We know that the cause of the Palestinian people, like that of all the oppressed, will eventually be understood and will therefore triumph.
Our Committee hopes to make its contribution, however modest, to this triumph, which will restore peace and stability in that region so dear to mankind.
4. Resolutions adopted by the Afro-Asian People's Solidarity Organization (AAPSO)
at its 13th Council session
The Afro-Asian People's Solidarity Organization adopted the following resolutions at its 13th Council Session celebrated in Adem, People's Democratic Republic of Yemen from 20 to 26 March 1981:*
Resolution on the Middle East
1. The Middle East issue was and is still the cause most explosive and most threatening to world peace due to the attempts made by U.S. imperialism and its Zionist and reactionary agents to deal a blow at the Arab national liberation movement and to impose unjust settlements in opposition to the Arab nations' aspirations and goals and to the U.N. resolutions and principles, overlooking the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people whose cause represents the crux of the Middle East conflict.
2. The U.S.A. is playing an extremely dangerous role through continuous effort to sow and increase inter-Arab dissentions, disunite the Arab ranks and divert the Arab nations attention away from its main adversary i.e. imperialism, Zionism and reaction in order to impair the Arab liberation movement and hold control over the region's natural resources and strategic posts.
3. The U.S.A. and other imperialist circles are striving to create an atmosphere of instability and intimidation to the Middle East region forging a so-called "external menace" so as to grant itself the right to interfere in the region's internal affairs. With this in mind, the U.S. has formed rapid deployment forces, concentrated mighty fleets, established several military bases and acquired tremendous facilities in some regional states. Furthermore, it attempts to set up military alliances and axes, a matter that was previously condemned and defeated by the Arab people.
4. The U.S.A. endeavours to create disorder and chaos in the world to mislead the world public opinion, by accusing the liberation movements of terrorism, these movements that launch a struggle, to which they are entitled by the UN Charter and resolutions, for their legitimate national rights and for their countries' breaking with racism, Zionism and colonialism; these imperialist attempts Just bring the world back to the line of reasoning of colonialism in its traditional form that has been made to collapse by the struggles of the struggling peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America.
5. The U.S.A. and Israel's endeavours to obliterate the Palestinian national identity, deny the Palestinian people's their legitimate national rights and to exclude the PLO, "being the sole legitimate representative of this people, through the Camp David Accords that the Arab peoples have rejected, condemned and considered as a separate settlement increasing tension in the Middle East and strengthening the U.S. presence in the region.
6. The attempts made "by the U.S. and other imperialist circles to use the reactionary and right-wing forces to jeopardise the stability and stead-fastness of the Arab member states of the Steadfastness and Confrontation Front.
________________
* These resolutions are included at the request of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.
Thereby the Council
1. Decides that just peace in the Middle East will not be attained until the full and unconditional withdrawal of Israel from all the occupied Palestinian and Arab lands, including Jerusalem, is achieved and the Palestinian people's legitimate national rights are ensured, especially their right to repatriation and to set up their independent national state on their soil in accordance with the UN resolutions on the Palestine issue;
2. That the PLO is the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, and that only the PLO is entitled to speak for and represent them as an independent party and on equal terms with other parties at any Conference or Meeting considering the Middle East issue;
3. That support should be given to the Arab masses, with their progressive and democratic forces, in their rejection of and resistance against the Camp David Accords and all their consequences and that all forms of struggle should be launched for protecting the Palestinian people's legitimate national rights and the Arab nation's anti-imperialist anti-Zionist targets;
4. Condemns the American military bases in Somalia and Oman, and the facilities in Egypt, and considers such bases and facilities a danger threatening the peoples of the Arab homeland and the entire region;
5. Condemns the policy pursued by the U.S.A. which provides the Israeli aggressor with all kinds of sophisticated weaponry, protects Israel on the political level to the extent of using its right of veto in the Security Council in Israel's favour thus enabling the latter to tighten its grip on the occupied territories, persist in its aggression on the Arab nation, and discard every Just and comprehensive solution to the Palestine cause and the Middle East problem;
5. The U.S.A. and Israel's endeavours to obliterate the Palestinian national identity, deny the Palestinian people's their legitimate national rights and to exclude the PLO, being the sole legitimate representative of this people, through the Camp David Accords that the Arab peoples have rejected, condemned and considered as a separate settlement increasing tension in the Middle East and strengthening the U.S. presence in the region.
6. The attempts made "by the U.S. and other imperialist circles to use the reactionary and right-wing forces to jeopardize the stability and steadfastness of the Arab member states of the Steadfastness and Confrontation Front.
Thereby the Council
1. Decided that a Just peace in the Middle East will not be attained until the full and unconditional Israeli withdrawal from all the occupied Palestinian and Arab lands, including Jerusalem, is achieved and the Palestinian people's legitimate national rights are ensured, especially their right to repatriation and to set up their independent national state on their soil in accordance with the UN resolutions on the Palestine issue;
2. That the PLO is the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, and that only the PLO is entitled to speak for and represent them as an independent party and on equal terms with other parties at any Conference or Meeting considering the Middle East issue;
3 That support should be given to the Arab masses, with their progressive and democratic forces, in their rejection of and resistance against the Camp David accords and all their consequences and that all forms of struggle should be launched for protecting the Palestinian people's legitimate national rights and the Arab nations anti-imperialist anti-Zionist targets;
4. Condemns the American military bases in Somalia and Oman, and the facilities in Egypt, and considers such bases and facilities a danger threatening the peoples of the Arab homeland and the entire region;
5. Condemns the policy pursued by the U.S.A. which provides the Israeli aggressor with all kinds of sophisticated weaponry, protects Israel on the political level to the extent of using its right of veto in the Security Council in Israel's favour thus enabling the latter to tighten its grip on the occupied territories, persist in its aggression on the Arab nation, and discard every Just and comprehensive solution to the Palestine cause and the Middle East problem;
6. Condemns Israel's policy of confiscating land, setting up settlements in the occupied Palestinian and Arab territories, demolishing houses, imprisoning thousands without trial, and changing the geographic and demographic features of the region;
7. Regards Zionism as a form of racism propped up by ethnic discrimination and introversion, and pursues a policy of expansion and aggression;
8. Condemns the cooperation and collusion between Israel and the racist regime in South Africa as reflected in the economic and military endeavours, particularly nuclear cooperation and the exchange of experts in the domains of suppressing and torturing militants;
9. Considers the Arab patriotic and progressive forces capable, through their unity and the establishment of a nationalist front based on equitable basis, and provided with an enhanced democratic climate, of repulsing and foiling the imperialist, Zionist reactionary assault against the region;
10. Hails the progressive regime in the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen and its great achievements, and emphasizes its firm support for it against any external attempt to interfere in its domestic affairs;
11. Hails Syria in its steadfastness against the imperialist Zionist – reactionary conspiracies and the Camp David conspiracy, and strongly condemns the internal subversive attempts instigated by the conspiracies to weaken Syria's steadfastness in the face of the imperialist and Zionist schemes in the Arab region;
12. Hails the progressive regime in the Libyan Jamahiriya and the positions it adopts in repulsing the imperialist, Zionist – reactionary assault, provocations and challenges;
13. Hails the progressive regime in Algeria and supports its stands in repulsing imperialist and reactionary provocations and challenges;
14. Hails the heroic cohesion between the Palestinian Revolution and the Lebanese National Movement, and their confrontation of Israel and the rightist isolationist forces which stepped up their aggression under the Camp David umbrella and the atmosphere of false peace advocated by its protagonists;
15. The Council asserts its high appreciation towards the unflinching stand adopted by the Soviet Union which was reaffirmed during the 26th Conference of the Soviet Communist Party concerning the fundamental role of the PLO in its contribution to a Just and global solution to the Palestinian and Middle East question and with reference to the complete and unconditional Israeli withdrawal from all the Arab and Palestinian occupied territories, the resolution of the inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people including their right to establish an independent State on their national homeland;
16. Having studied the circumstances through which the people of the western Sahara are passing in their heroic struggle to attain their right to freedom and independence, the Council notes with satisfaction the victories these people have scored on the internal and external levels;
17. The Council holds the view that the Arab Liberation Movement is called upon to increase its militant ties and relationship with the forces of progress and democracy in the world, particularly the socialist community led by the friendly Soviet Union, which always adopts a principled and unequivocal stand by the side of the Arab peoples' struggle.
Resolution on Palestine
The 13th Session of the AAPSO Council, held in Aden, capital of the F.D.R. of Yemen, from 20 to 26 March 1981, having studied the Palestinian cause, its developments, the struggle of the Palestinian people and the machinations and ruthless attempts hatched to liquidate its cause by imperialism, its base Israel and its reactionary proxies,
Decided that
1. The core and crux of the conflict in the Middle East has resulted from the creation of Israel in the heart of the Arab World by colonialism and Zionism, the expulsion of the Palestinian people from their homeland, denying their existence, and preventing them by armed force from exercising their national inalienable rights on their land Palestine.
2. The right of the Palestinian people is inalienable and indisputable, return to their homeland, self-determination, the establishment of their national independent state on the land of Palestine, the withdrawal of Israel from all the Arab occupied territories including Jerusalem, and dealing with the Palestinian cause as one of national liberation.
3. The PLO is the only legitimate representative of the people of Palestine. Alone, it has the right to represent the Palestinian people and speak in their name in all local and international fora. It should receive all sorts of support; and have access to freely act in all fronts, without interfering in its private affairs of imposing trusteeship upon it. No state has the right to allege the representation of the Palestinians or the involvement in negotiations on the cause of Palestine as regards its people, territory and rights. Any act which is contrary to his is null and void.
The PLO alone has the right to choose the Just and comprehensive solution which secures the rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people.
4. The only option to solve the Palestine problem is the Palestinian option. Hence the Council rejects and condemns the imperialist and Zionist options proposed for the Palestine cause and such as the Jordanian option or the autonomy project.
5. The full respect for the inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people and their achievement is the basis for the solution of the Palestinian cause. The UN Security Council Resolution 242 of November 1967 does not secure nor provide any just basis for the solution of this cause, and the Middle East crisis.
6. All partial agreements and isolated treaties pertaining to the Palestinian cause and the Arab-Israeli conflict pose a grave violation of the rights of the Palestinian people and the Arab nation, the principles of the UN Charter and its resolutions , and the international law. The PLO has the right to carry on the struggle in all military and political forms, and resort to all means for the liberation of the occupied Palestinian territories and the realization of the inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people. It has the right also to utilize all possible means to foil any solutions or settlements which undermine these rights.
7. The Council condemns and totally rejects the Camp David agreements and the Egyptian-Israeli treaty. These agreements have constituted a great diversion from the aims of the Arab struggle, and led to tilting the balance of the Arab-Zionist conflict in favour of imperialism and Zionism.
8. The Council supports the Palestinian people's rejection of and resistance to the autonomy project aims at the liquidation of the Palestinian cause, consecration of the Zionist occupation, the elimination of this people's national identity and the obliteration of their struggle.
9. The Council calls upon the European States to recognized the PLO, and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, confirmed by the UN resolutions.
10. The Council condemns and denounces the co-operation between the racist regime of South Africa and Israel in the economic, political and military spheres , and yarns against the endeavour of those racist States to get hold of nuclear armament which would Jeopardise the world peace and security.
11. The Council supports the UN General Assembly resolution which regards Zionism as a from of racism, and condemns all the fascist and expansionist practices of Israel in the occupied Arab and Palestinian territories, including the annexation of Jerusalem, Galilee, Negev and other occupied Palestinian territory, changing the demographic aspects of the Palestinian lands, setting up settlements and moving in settlers. It also condemns the confiscation of property, the evacuation of the country's legitimate citizens, the operations of deportation, eviction, physical liquidation, mass detention and torture, the violation of freedoms and religious beliefs and the illegitimate exploitation of the natural resources of the occupied Palestinian and Arab territories.
12. The Council denounces the racist terrorist barbarous policy exercised by Israel against the Palestinians in detention and the prisoners of war, calls for action to stop acts of arrests, imprisonment, detention and kidnapping exercised by Israel against the Palestinians, and calls for the release of those thousands who suffer from the worst types of oppression, suppression and torture in the prisons of the Zionist enemy.
13. The Council strongly condemns the antagonistic policy pursued by the USA against the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the PLO, and considers them as contravening the principles enshrined in the UN Charter. The Council also condemns American material, military and political aid to Israel, its fascist practices, and its political aid to Israel, its fascist practices, and its incessant use of the veto right in the Security Council in the interest of the Israeli aggression. The Council underlines that this illegal and non-ethical policy is antagonistic to all independence, freedom, Justice and peace-loving peoples. The Council considers the American support of Israel as a direct American participation in the aggression against the Palestinian people and the Arab nation, and poses a threat to peace and security in the Middle East and the world.
14. The Council hails the valiant struggle of the Palestinian people and their continuous resistance of the Israeli occupation of their homeland in order to realize their national inalienable rights, and calls for the extension of all forms of aid and support to them in their struggle.
15. Appreciates the efforts exerted by the UN Special Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and calls on the UN Security Council to adopt and implement its recommendation.
16. The Council affirms that Jerusalem is an indivisible part of the occupied Palestinian territories, a fact necessitating the complete and unconditional withdrawal of Israel from these territories and their restoration to Arab Palestinian sovereignty. The Council condemns the annexation of Jerusalem and its proclamation as the capital of Israel, considers the Israeli aggression on Jerusalem a violation of the rights of the Palestinian peoples, a defiance of the International Law and the UN Resolutions, and constitutes a provocation to all believers and poses a threat to international peace and security. The Council calls for the adoption of the necessary measures to eliminate the Israeli aggression on Jerusalem, including the imposition of sanctions against Israel in accordance with the provisions of Chanter 7 of the UN Charter. The Council also calls on all the countries of the world and its organisations to refuse to deal with Israel in any form implying recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
17. The Council calls on all the countries of the world to sever all diplomatic consular, cultural and economic relations with Israel, and urges the countries that have not severed these relations to do so.
18. The Council calls on the UN General Assembly and its specialized agencies to refuse to accept the credentials of the Israeli delegation because it represents a government that violates the international law and the UN resolutions, a government that annexed Jerusalem and declared it as its capital.
19. The Council stresses that the Palestine cause and the Middle East problem are an indivisible entity in terms of treatment and solution. The Council also underlines that a Just peace in Palestine and in the Middle East would only be achieved if Israel completely and unconditionally withdraws from all the occupied Palestinian and Arab territories, and the national inalienable rights of the Palestinian people were restored to them in accordance with all the UN Resolutions on Palestine.
20. The Council emphasizes that Israel's land, air and naval attacks against Palestinian refugees and Lebanese villages particularly in Southern Lebanon, constitute a genocide! crime against humanity.
21. The Council reaffirms all the AAPSO resolutions and recommendations on the Palestinian cause.
5. Resolution regarding human rights question adopted by the Economic and Social Council
The Economic and Social Council at its 19th meeting on 8 May 1981 adopted the following resolution:*/
The Economic and Social Council,
Recalling the United Nations Charter, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
Recalling General Assembly resolution 32/4 of 7 November 1977, which, inter alia, reaffirms the legitimacy of the struggle for independence, territorial integrity, national unity and liberation from colonial and foreign domination and alien subjugation by all available means,
Bearing in mind that the Government of Israel defiantly considers internationally recognized and legitimate resistance by the Palestinian population under illegal occupation as "common crimes" and that the Israeli authorities of occupation violates systematically the human rights of the Palestinian population under Israeli military occupation,
Noting that Mr. Ziad Abu Ain has been detained illegally in a United States prison for over a year pending his extradition to Israel,
Noting further that the sole basis for "probable cause" against Mr. Ziad Abu Ain is a Hebrew language statement made by a person who was under Israeli custody,
Noting that no United States court will sustain a trial of a person on the basis of such "evidence",
Appeals to the Government of the United States of America to release Mr. Ziad Abu Ain from the United States prison in which he is being detained.
*/ This resolution was adopted by 24 votes in favour to against, with 13 abstentions.
6. Text of the statement of the Rapporteur of the Committee
on the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
in the International Conference on Sanctions against
South Africa,
Paris, France, 26 May 1981.
Mr. President,
On behalf of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, I would first thank the organisers of this conference, the Special Committee Against Apartheid, and the Organisation of African Unity, for the kind invitation they have extended to the Committee to contribute to this important event.
The invitation itself symbolises the close relationship that exists between two of the major political questions that have exercised the best efforts of the United Nations for the last few decades, namely the question of the racial practices in South Africa, and the exclusivist administration in illegally-occupied Palestine. The invitation also symbolises the close ties that exist between the liberation movements of the black people of Southern Africa and the Arab people of Palestine, and the enormous odds that they face in securing their legitimate objective, for which they have sought international assistance and obtained international backing.
These issues share a significant characteristic which affects the very mechanics of their consideration by the United Nations. The experience of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, which is a relatively new body, closely parallels and follows that of the Special Committee Against Apartheid in its early years.
I am told that consideration of the question of Apartheid in the United Nations was beset by difficulties arbitrarily placed in the way even of the very discussion of the question.
When, after a long and difficult procedural struggle, the Special Committee Against Apartheid was established in 1962, it was boycotted by several member states. The Committee on Palestine suffered the same initial indifference, suspicion and hostility. History repeats itself. From the moment of its creation by the 30th session of the General Assembly it was and remains subjected to an insiduous campaign aimed at obstructing its work. Some member states have actually refused to recognise the Committee's existence, and one unequivocally declared it would do everything in its power to sabotage the Committee's work. I need hardly mention where this opposition comes from, nor need I mention that it is strongly abetted by the popular press. Both Committees in fact have had to start practically from scratch in striving to remove the distortion or omissions of the past perpetrated by the mass media.
However, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Bights of the Palestinian People has carried on its work undeterred, fully in keeping with the mandate entrusted to it, and free from outside pressure. Its membership spans the four continents. It has now reached the stage of maturity, progressing from the phase of overviewing the problem and making consequent recommendations, to the stage of advocating and promoting implementation. It is therefore in a position to make a positive contribution to the just cause of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, previously over-looked by the United Nations, or, more precisely, merely relegated to the status of a refugee problem.
I only recall here that, from the beginning, the Committee on Palestine set itself the task of impartially and objectively looking into the question of Palestine and its evolution. The Committee kept itself open to all sectors of opinion. Its only bias, arising from its mandate, was to restore equity by highlighting rights that had been overlooked in discussion and trampled on in practice. Working by consensus, the Committee adopted a report containing specific recommendations, founded on legality and morality, which were designed:
1. To facilitate in a graduated manner the exercise of the recognised rights of the Palestinian people, and to endorse the role of the PLO as their representatives;
2. To bring about a peaceful solution satisfactory to all states and peoples in the Middle East;
3. To utilise all the latent possibilities of the United Nations for promoting peace and guaranteeing security in over-seeing the recommended process of change and
4. To abide strictly by international law and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations.
No nation could ignore the fundamental equity of those recommendations, and in fact they were endorsed by the General Assembly at its 31st session, and at every subsequent session thereafter. However, implementation of those recommendations has been consistently blocked through procedural pretexts, but mainly because of the failure of the Security Council to take decisive action, due to the negative vote of a permanent member. Though the Committee rightly prefers to work through the Council, where all parties to the conflict can participate, the Council so far remains aloof.
But the Committee refuses to be discouraged. Even as we hold out and maintain the hope of a peaceful solution, – and that in itself is a positive contribution – we increasingly hear influential voices in practically every country now laying great stress on the central role of the Palestine issue within the grave Middle East situation. This long overdue recognition, sad in itself as a manifestation of previous indifference, is a factor of fundamental importance, because it now represents a quasi-universal consensus. The Committee has assumed a leading role in rousing this resounding concern which urgently calls for an equitable solution, before a new and unpredictable round of violence erupts, with potentially disastrous consequences for international peace and security.
There should now no longer be any hesitation that the Palestinian people too – intelligent, educated, hard-working but frustrated in their hopes – have a right to dignity in equality in their homeland, to statehood and to unfettered progress in a peaceful region. Within the agonisingly slow rate of progress of international conference diplomacy, the question of Palestine has become a principal subject for international concern, and has assumed its rightful place in the focus of world attention. In this it shares the spotlight with the question of Apartheid.
On both these issues – Apartheid and Palestinian rights – the inalienable rights of an oppressed people have gained recognition and an understanding by international public opinion, when not so long ago, a world community more limited in numbers and more blinkered in outlook, consistently ignored the real and urgent nature of the problems. The tide of public opinion has most certainly turned.
Through persistent efforts at the United Nations and other regional or global movements, therefore, often calling for tremendous sacrifices on the spot by the peoples concerned, the situation has improved. While the international community continues to be faced with the intransigence of the two regimes, the one in South Africa, the other in Israel, there has been considerable progress towards pointing out the imperative) and the parameters for the achievement of a solution to these problems. In spite of the negative attitude and close collaboration between the two regimes responsible for the problems they have created, one cannot but remain hopeful and insistent that justice will prevail, and that the force of world public opinion will restore to these peoples through peaceful means their inalienable rights. The cumulative gain from concentrated discussion cannot lightly be disregarded. The plans and the platform for action exist. What is now required is concerted action for peaceful co-operation to replace violent confrontation.
If tangible progress cannot be attained on the just foundation of these causes, then it "becomes appropriate to focus attention on the fact that the Non-Aligned movement, the Organisation of African Unity and the Islamic Conference, in dealing with the questions of apartheid and of Palestine, now have no other option but to propose action under Chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter. In both cases this action has become an element necessary for the restoration of justice and the achievement of the inalienable rights of the people concerned. This concern has now found expression in the General Assembly's resolutions 35/169 and 35/206 adopted by the General Assembly last December.
It is clear, therefore, that the approach of the inter-national community to both these problems bears a strong similarity. It is also natural that the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People follows with the keenest interest, and not only strongly supports but derives inspiration from, the important work that is being done by the Special Committee Against Apartheid. The Committee is as interested in seeing the termination of the inhuman system of Apartheid in South Africa as it is in restoring to the Palestinian people its inalienable rights.
On behalf of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People I would like to reiterate my Committee's continuing willingness to co-operate with the Special Committee Against Apartheid and all those who are committed to the termination of that pernicious policy.
That co-operation is fully extended today; it will remain a constant feature tomorrow, and for as long as is necessary until final victory is achieved.
Once more, Mr. President, on behalf of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, I would like to thank you for enabling our Committee to participate in this important conference, and to benefit from the experience gained. The task before us now is to ensure that this conference will be crowned with success, through pragmatic and timely recommendations backed by the combined strength of all those who have at heart the dignity of the human person, wherever he may be and whatever his station, and by recognition of the over-due necessity of promoting peaceful change, against the intransigence of entrenched, unacceptable practices in a sincere and co-ordinated effort to prevent conflict.
_____________
Document Type: Bulletin, Monthly Bulletin, Publication
Document Sources: Afro-Asian People's Solidarity Organization (AAPSO), Commission on Human Rights, Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP), Division for Palestinian Rights (DPR), Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Special Unit on Palestinian Rights (SUPR) (See also - CEIRPP > DPR)
Subject: Human rights and international humanitarian law, Inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, Palestine question, Refugee camps
Publication Date: 31/05/1981