Questions for the Arab & Israeli delegations re. proposals for an international regime for Jerusalem prepared by the Secretariat – UNCCP’s Cttee on Jerusalem 23rd mtg. (Lausanne) – Summary record

UNITED NATIONS CONCILIATION COMMISSION FOR PALESTINE

COMMITTEE ON JERUSALEM

SUMMARY RECORD OF THE TWENTY-SECOND MEETING

held Lausanne on 2 May 1949 11 a.m.

The Committee continued its discussion of the questions to be submitted to the Arab and Israeli delegations, taking as its basis proposals for an international regime for the Jerusalem area prepared by the Secretariat (Com.Jer/W.16).

The Committee had before it a list of questions drawn up by the French delegate and a tentative list of questions drawn up by the Committee at its 22nd meeting (see Com.Jer/SR.22).

It was generally agreed that in putting the questions to the delegations, it was important to avoid giving the impression that the Committee had already made hard and fast decisions on the matters under discussion; on the other hand, it was equally important that the delegations should not feel that decisions rested solely with themselves.

It was suggested that questions along the following lines should be put, to the delegations:

1. What kind of guarantees do you consider necessary to ensure the permanence and stability of an international regime for the Jerusalem area?

2. Do you consider that the Jerusalem area should constitute a territory under the sole sovereignty of the United Nations, to the exclusion of all other sovereignty?

3. Would you prefer that the area of Jerusalem be divided into two zones, a Jewish zone and an Arab zone, and that the international regime be based on restrictions to such sovereignty?

4. As an alternative to the proposals indicated under (2) and (3), would you approve an arrangement whereby the Jerusalem area would be divided into a Jewish zone, an Arab zone, and a small international area comprising certain sectors under dispute?

5. What kind of administrative body would you envisage for the administration of common public facilities and services in Jerusalem? How should such a body be composed?

6. What Tribunals should in your opinion be set up to deal with:-

(i) cases of jurisdictional conflicts between administrative organs and courts within the area of Jerusalem;

(ii) cases involving claims that laws, ordinances, regulations, administrative acts or court decisions are incompatible with the Statute;

(iii) cases in which the parties involved do not belong to the same zone?

7. Which are the Moslem (Jewish) Holy Places

(a) in the Jerusalem area;

(b) outside the Jerusalem area.

in respect of which United Nations guarantees should in your view be provided?

8. What measures of protection and what guarantees should in your opinion be provided by the United Nations in respect of Moslem (Jewish) Holy Places

(a) in the Jerusalem area;

(b) outside the Jerusalem area?

9. What measures is your Government prepared to take with a view to ensuring the protection of and free access to the Holy Places

(a) in the Jerusalem area;

(b) outside the Jerusalem area?

10. Does your Government have any objection to the complete demilitarisation and neutralisation of the Arab (Jewish) zone of Jerusalem and to the prohibition within its boundaries of all military or para-military formations, exercises and activities?

11. Is your Government prepared to give formal assurances with respect to the demilitarisation of the Arab (Jewish) zone of Jerusalem and to the inviolability of the demarcation line between the Arab and Jewish zones?

12. What are your views concerning the desirability and possibility of establishing the Jerusalem area as an economic free zone?