REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OFFICIAL RECORDS: THIRTY-EIGHTH SESSION SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/38/35) UNITED NATIONS New York, 1983 NOTE Symbols of United Nations documen ts are composed of capital letters combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document. [Original, Eng11sh) [12 OCtober 1983] CONTENTS LETTER OF TRANSMZTTAL · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ;· · · ,a;,_ · · · · · · · ·' · · · · · · · · · · · · · v 1 2 3 3 3 3 5 I. 11. I H'1'RODU:: TION ..............................................'. CatMITTEE 1- 5 6 MANDATE OF THE OR;ANIZA'l'ION ·.··...·..·..·..·. ~ , ,.~ . Ill. OF WORK ....................................... 7 - 15 7 8 A. Election of officers ..................·..·............· B. participation in the work of the Conunittee ············· Re-establishment of the Working Group ·················· COMMITTEE ······························ c. IV. 9 - 15 ACTION TAKEN BY THE A. Action taken in accordance with paragral,11s 3 and 4 of General Assembly resolution 37/86 A ···················· 1. Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine and efforts to implement the recommendations of the Committee ··················· Reaction to developments in the occupied terd tories (a) (b) (c) 16 - 85 5 16 - 30 31 - 54 31 - 34 35 - 41 5 2. 7 Emergency special session of the General Assembly ·················.···················· 7 COmmunications to the secretary-General and the President of the Security Council ·······.····· Action taken within the security Council ······ 8 9 42 - 5.4 3. 4. Attendance at Conferences ·························· ~t10n 55 - 58 11 taken by other organizations ················ 59 - 85 61 - 64 12 (a) (b) session of the Political Consultative Committee of the states parties to the Warsaw Treaty ···· seventh session of the AI-Quds (Jerusalem) Committee of the Organization of the Islamic Conf ere nee . 13 65 - 67 68 - 70 13 14 (c) Thirty-ninth session of the COmmission on Human Rights .··...··..·······..·...·.····..·.·..··.. -iii- CONTENTS (continued) paragraphs (d) (e) seventh Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries ··········· Meeting of Heads of State and Government of the Members of the European Community, convening as the European COunci 1 ·························· European parliament ··························· Page 71 - 78 15 79 - 83 84 - 85 16 (f) 17 17 18 18 B. Action taken in accordance with paragraph 2 of resolution 31/86 B ··.··...···...······.····.····.·· Action taken 1n accordance with paragraph 2 of resolution 36/120 C ··········.·····.··············· 86 - 91 c. ~. 92 - 93 RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE ··························· ANNEXES 94 - 98 :I. Recommendations of the Committee endorsed by the General Assembly at its thirty-first session................................................... Report of the Eighth united Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine, held at Jakarta from 9 to 13 May 1983 ······················· 20 23 x :r. -iv- LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 28 september 1983 Sir, I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the General Assembly in accordance with paragraph 4 of resolution 37/86 A. Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration. (Signed) Massamba SARRE Chairman of the o>mmittee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian ~ople Hi s Excellency Mr. Javier perez de Cuellar Secretary-General of the United Nations -v- I. INTRODUCTION 1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian Peoples y was established by General Assembly resolution 3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975. Its first report, 11 submitted to the Assembly at its thirtyfirst session, contained specific recommendations proposed by the Oommittee to enable the palestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights, as previously recognized and defined by the Assembly. The Committee's recommendations were first endorsed by the General Assembly at 2. its thirty-first session - seven sanguinary years ago - as a basis for the solution of the question of palestine. 3. In its reports to the General Assembly at each subsequent session, 11 the COmmittee retained its recommendations unchanged. on each occasion they were again endorsed by the Assembly with renewed emphasis. After a thorough discussion of the COmmittee's report and an appraisal of the situation in Palestine, the Assembly also reviewed and renewed the mandate of the Committee. 4. Despite repeated urgings by the COmmittee, however, its recommendations have not yet been acted upon by the Security COuncil, neither have they been implemented. Meanwhile, the situa tion in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories arising from Israeli practices remains extremely tense and last year erupted into massive violence and armed conflict, which caused tremendous loss of life and raised a storm of protest and resentment throughout the world. 'lbroughout this difficult period, the Palestinian people remain ...,1 th their rights arrogantly trampled upon, their legitimate aspirations unfulfilled, yet they maintain their hope in resolute international action to inspire a peaceful political solution. This year, after intensive ?reparations, an International COnference on the ~estion of palestine was held at Geneva from 29 August to 7 September 1983 to assess the present situation, and made recommendations accordingly. s. -1- II. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE 6. The latest mandate of the Committee was specified in paragraphs 3 and 4 of General Assembly resolution 37/86 A of 10 December 1982, paragraph 2 of resolution 37/86 B of 10 December 1982 and paragraPi 2 of resolution 36/120 C of 10 December 1981. By those paragraPls the Assemblya (a) Requested the Committee to keep the situation relating to the question of Palestine under review and to report and make suggestions to the Assembly or the Security council, as ap~o~iate, (b) Authorized the Committee to continue to exert all efforts to prolllOte the implementation of its recommendations, to send delegations or representatives to international conferences where such repcesentation would be considered by it to be appropriate, and to report tbereon to the Assembly at its thirty-eighth session and .thereafter, (c) Requested the SecretarY-General to ensure that the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat continued to discharge the tasks detailed in paragraPl 1 of Assembly resolution 32/40 B, paragraph 2 (b) of resolution 34/65 D and paragraph 3 of resolution 36/120 B, in consultation wi th the Cbmmittee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian people and under its guidance, (d) Authorized the Committee to act as the Preparatory COmmittee for the International COnference on the QUestion of palestine, to hold sessions particularly for this purpose and to make recommendations regarding, inter alia, the site, scheduling of and participation in the COnference, and the provisional agenda of the conference. -2- Ill. A. ORGANIZATION OF WORK Election of officers 7. At its 87th meeting, on 6 January 1983, which was opened by the secretarY-General, the COmmittee decided to re-elect the following officers: Chairman: Vice-Chairmen: Rapporteur: B. Mr. Massamba Sarre (senegal) Mr. Raul Fba-80uri (Cuba) Mr. Mohammed Farid Zarif (Afghanistan) Mr. Victor J. Gauci (Malta) Participation in the work of the Committee 8. The Committee reconfirmed that those states Members of the United Nations ana Permanent Observers to the united Nations that wished to participate in the work of the Committee as observers could do so, and during 1983 it again welcomed in that capacity Algeria, Czechoslovakia, Ecuador, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, the Syrian Arab Republic, the United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam, the League of Arab States, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Palestine Liberation Organization. These States and organizations continued throughout 1983 to participate in the work of the Committee. In answer to previous invitations, and at their request, Niger and Nicaragua also participated as observers from 22 OCtober 1982 and from 22 April 1983, respectively. C. Re-establishment of the Working Group 9. The Committee once again unanimously decided that the Working Group that it had established in 1971 should continue to function in order to facilitate the work of the Committee by: (a) keeping up to date with events that affected the work of the Committee and suggesting action that the Committee could usefully undertake and (b) assisting the Committee in any other specific assignment related to its work. 10. The Committee decided to reconfirm the present membership of the Working Group, Malta (Chairman), Afghanistan, Cuba, German Democratic Republic, Guinea,' Guyana, India, Pakistan, senegal, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukrainian SOviet SOCialist Republic and, as representative of the people directly concerned, the Palestine Liberation Organization. In view of its added responsibilities, the committee accepted the principle of enlargement of the Working Group, which became open to all members and observers. 11. At its 88th meeting, on 26 January, the Committee also decided that the representative of India should act as deputy for the Chairman of the Working Group during any unavoidable absence connected with other pressing and simultaneous engagements. 12. It was further decided that the three subgroups of the Working Group preViously established should be continued. -3- 13. The first of these subgroups, together with the Division for Palestinian Rights, monitors daily events in the occupied territories and, as appropriate, drafts letters for signature and transmittal by the Chairman to the secretaryGeneral, the President of the Security Council or the President of the General Assembly. 14. The second subgroup assists the Division in the detailed work of organizing seminars. 15. The third subgroup has the task ofl (a) periodically reviewing, with the assistance of the Division, progress made in the studies that already had been planned, and arrangements for reproducing those already published in languages other than the official languages of the united Nations, (b) updating studies and films produced by the Division, and (c) implementing the organization of the Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people. -4- IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE A. 1. Action taken in accordance with paragraphs 3 and 4 of General Assembly resolution 37/86 A Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine and efforts to implement the recommendations of the committee 16. 'll1e conunittee continued to follow closely developments in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories and, on several occasions, in response to events on the spot, authorized its Chairman to conanunicate to the Secretary-General and to the President of the Security COuncil its concern at the Israeli Government's practices and policies in those territories. 17. 'll1ese communications dealt mainly with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied territories, the annexation of vast areas of AI'ab-owned land, and other widespread violation by Israel of the rights of the Palestinian people. 18. Those practices, policies and violations by Israel led the Committee, in addition to its letters of protest, to urge that the commission established by the Security Council in its resolution 446 (1979) to examine the situation relating to Israeli settlements in the Arab and Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 should be re-activated as a matter of priority. It was recalled, in particular, that the Commission had unanimously adoptee its latest report as far back as 25 November 1980, but the report had not yet been considered by the Security Council, despite specific and persistent urging by the Cbmmittee that the report be considered immediately and its recommendations urgently acted upon (A/37/240-S/l5l20) · 19. The COnunittee draws the attention of the international community to the fact that, in the course of 1983, the GOvernment of Israel has pursued its relentless policy of establishing and enlarging settlements in the occupied territories despite the illegality of those actions, the censure of international opinion, the decisions of the United Nations, and even against pUblic and parliamentary questioning of that policy within Israel itself. 20. Those policies constitute a network of settlement programmes and several other administrative and economic procedures designed to force individual and mass transfers of the indigenous Arab population from the West Bank and Gaza in order to accomplish Israel's objective of evacuating the Arab inhabitants from those territories. 21. rt is the declared policy of Israel to place up to 400,000 non-indigenous, colonial settlers in the West Bank within the next five years and 1.4 million Jews over the next 30 years (see A/37/604-S/l5482). As a result, the total number of such settlers in the West Bank and East Jersusal~m has already increased from 91,000 in April 1979 to some 140,000 in 1982 (see A/38/282, para. 39 (d». 22. Approximately 153 illegal Israeli settlements are estimated to have been established in the West Bank and East Jerusalem by the end of 1982. This represents an area of some 2,453 km2 , which is equivalent to 44 per cent of the total west Bank territory, including East Jerusalem (see A/38/282, para. 39 (a) and (b»). In still further violation of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, !I and in -5- defiance of General Assembly and security COuncil resolutions, the Government of Israel approved, on 16 January 1983, the establishment of four more new settlements in the West Bank (see A/38/78-S/l5572) · 23. A close look at these Israeli settlement activities reveals that Israel's intention is to fragmentize the demographic, geographic, economic and social unity of the occupied Arab territories. 24. ~ucation has also been seriously affected by Israeli policy in the occupied territories. As a result of the application of military order number 854 of 8 July 1982, 28 professors of palestinian origin were expelled for refusing, as a matter of principle, to sign a -pledge- not to support any -territorist organization". Seven professors of foreign nationality were debarred for the same reason (see A/38/278, para. 116). 25. Frequent closing of universities and schools has seriously disrupted academic life. FOr example, between February 1982 and February 1983, 14 such institutions were closed temporarily. 26. Frequent eruption of violence and armed conflict has also had devastating effect on civilian life. It has been estimated that between 1967 and 1981 a total of 1,291 houses were demolished, often as a result of punitive action (see A/38/278, appendix I). OUring the period 1 september 1981 to 25 July 1982, no less than 453 violent incidents occurred, involving the civilian population and resulting in arrest, injury and even death (see A/37/485, para. 154). The violence subsequently assumed even graver dimensions. 27. 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. Democratically elected mayors and city councils have been summarily dismissed and replaced by Israeli administrators, the latest such incident having taken place at Hebron. The Israeli occupying authorities in that city have not only pursued a policy of establishing illegal settlements on the outskirts of the city, but have now started a new phase by placing settlements within the central city itself, surrounded by old, well established Arab neighbourhoods, causing widespread resentment and friction. 28. FUrthermore, Israeli settlement is draining the West Bank's own underground water resources and Palestinian farmers are kept short of essential water supplies. 29. It is no less disturbing that, since 1981, elections cannot be held in the West Bank, undoubtedly because the results would be unfavourable to Israel (see A/36/l77-S/l4430) · 30. In addition, widespread reports indicated that the Islamic and Christian religious sites had been subjected to several acts of desecration and sacrilegious acts by Israeli settlers. It was established that these acts had been carried out with the knowledge of the Israeli occupation authorities. -6- 2. (a) Reaction to developments in the occupied territories Emergency special session of the General Assembly 31. As a result of the aggravated tension in the area, the Committee, in terms of its mandate, recommended in 1980 the convening of an emergency special session of the General Assembly. The first meetings were held from 22 to 29 July 1980. Because of the subsequent grave developments in the region, it was found necessary to reconvene the seventh emergency special session in 1982 during the periods 20 to 28 April, 25 to 26 June and from 16 to 19 August. if 32. As a result of still further deterioration of the situation by the tragic events in Lebanon, and owing to the inability of the Security Council to take action, the seventh emergency special session was reconvened for the fourth time on 24 September 1982. 33. At that session, the General Assembly adopted, by a recorded vote of 147 to 2, with no abstentions, resolution ES-7/9 of 24 September 1982 in which it condemned the criminal massacre of Palestinian and other civilians in Beirut on 17 September 1982, urged the Security OOuncil to investigate, through the means available to it, the circumstances and extent of the massacre and to make pUblic the report on its findings as soon as possible [no such investigation has yet been reported], decided to support fully the provisions of COuncil resolutions 508 (1982) and 509 (1982), in which the Q)uncil,. inter alia, had demanded that (a) Israel withdraw all its military forces forthwith and unconditionally to the internationally recognized boundaries of Lebanon and (b) all parties to the conflict cease immedi~tely and simultaneously all military activities within Lebanon and acrosS the Lebanese-Israeli border, demanded that all Member states and other parties observe strict respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized boundaries, reaffirmed the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, resolved that, in conformity with its resolution 194 (111) and subsequent resolutions, the Palestinian refugees should be enabled to return to their homes and property, and demanded that Israel comply unconditionally and immediately with the resolution, urged the Council, in the event of continued failure by Israel to comply with the demands contained in resolutions 508 (1982) and 509 (1982) and resolution ES-7/9, to meet in order to consider practical ways and means in accordance with the Charter of the united Nations, called upon all States and international agencies and organizations to continue to provide the moat extensive humanitarian aid possible to the victims of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, and decided to adjourn the seventh emergency special session temporarily and to authorize the President of the latest regular session of the Assembly to resume its meetings upon request from Member States. 34. As at the three previous resumed sessions, the CDmmittee continued to play its customary role, including the drafting of resolution ES-7/9 for consideration by the General Assembly. '!be Committee nevertheless feels bound to observe that none of these resolutions has been implemented. -7- Cb) Communications to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council 35. In the course of the period under review, and in response to events on the spot, several letters wer~ sent to the President of the Council and to the Secretary-General as follows. 36. II1<6i's letter dated 29 october 1982 (A/37/587-S/l5476), the Chairman drew the attention of the Secretary-General and the president of the Security Council to press reports confirming the death of a Palestinian youth from the Balata refugee camp as a result of action taken by Israeli settlers. Following that incident, protest demonstrations had been organized in most of the towns and refugee camps in the occupied Palestinian territories. It had been reported that Israeli troops opened fire on the demonstrators and that the Israeli occupation authorities had threatened to close down all schools in the West Bank in order to prevent pupils from taking part in such demonstrations. In the light of those developments, the Chairman, expressing the view of the o:>mmittee, urged the Secretary-General to use his good offices in order that measures might be taken to protect the rights of Palestinians in the occupied territories. 37. an 8 November 1982 CA/37/604-S/l5482), the Chairman expressed the deep concern of the Committee regarding the persistence of the Israeli policy of establishing settlements in the occupied palestinian territories. He cited reports that the Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Minister of Israel had announced, on 3 November 1982, that another five settlements would be established in the West Bank..'Itle Chairman stressed that the continuation of that policy of changing the demograplic character of the occupied territories in violation of the Fourth Geneva COnvention of 12 August 1949 and in defiance of General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, could only aggravate the tense and explosive situation which already existed in the occupied Palestinian territories. 38. an 21 January 1983 (A/38/78-S/l5572), the Chairman again took up the matter of the Israeli policy of establishing non-indigenous colonial settlements in the occupied -Palestinian territory of the West Bank. He said it had been reliably reported that the Q:>vernment of Israel had approved, on 16 January 1983, the establishment of four new settlements in the occupied West Bank. Further referring to the repressive measures being taken against Palestinians in the occupied territories, he noted that the Committee had learned that the occupying authorities had adopted a policy of mass arrests, assembling trade-unionists, students, teachers, writers and journalists who were summoned for interrogation and, in many cases, imprisonment. Also, it had been reliably reported that persons who had been termed ·palestinians detained for security reasons" had started a hunger strike in protest against the inhumane conditions of detention in the prisons of Al-Khalil and Jenin. 39. In a letter dated 22 March 1983 (A/38/l22-S/l5653), the Chairman expressed the COmmittee's deep concern at further evidence of violation of legal and human rights on the part of the occupying Israeli authorities against the Palestinians on the West Bank. He referred to an occasion on 10 March 1983, when Israeli soldiers were discovered and prevented from detonating explosives intended for destruction of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. On a previous occasion, on 4 March, a time bomb had been discovered at that Mosque. In the same letter, the Chairman reported still further anti-Palestinian activities perpetrated by the occupying authorities. These included the wounding of a young Palestinian at Jerusalem on 12 March, and the SUbsequent beating of a Palestinian woman and her children who had come to -8- his aid. On the same day, Israeli troops had broken into the local school at the Shufat refugee camp, attacked students and beat them severely. Meanwhile, at Hebron, occupying authorities had ordered the closing of the Polytechnic Institute in retaliation for previous student participation in anti-occupation demonstrations. Al-KhaIil University and schools at Halhoul, Yatta, Deit Sahour and NabIus had also been ordered closed. At Yatta, on 16 March, it had been reported that Israeli settlers were continuing to terrorize the occupied population. Booby traps had been discovered at the gate of the Haifa High School in the town of Jenin, which were fortunately discovered and detonated. On 17 March, it had been reported that Israeli occupation troops had opened fire on Palestinian anti-occupation demonstrators at Beft Sahour. One school had been ordered closed until further notice, bringing to five the number of schools so closed in the Bethlehem area. At the same time, curfews remained on Palestinian refugee camps and particularly brutal measures had been taken against the Dheiseh Camp. 40. on 30 March 1983 (~38/l28-5/l5667), the Chairman drew attention to a particularly distressing event in the occupied territories of the West Bank concerning widely reported illness among Arab schoolgirls. Local residents had believed the illness to have been induced by some kind of poison, perhaps even gas poisoning, in the girls' classrooms. It had been variously reported that from 250 to some 1,000 young people had been so affected. The Chairman said he was aware that investigators from the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations had been called upon and, pendinq results of their investigations, he urged the Secretary-General to exert the full authority of his office to ascertain the extent, cause and perpetrators of that abhorrent event. This matter was subsequently taken up by the security Council in informal consultations on 4 April 1983 and a report on the subject (S/15756) was transmitted to the Council by the Secretary-General on 10 May. 41. On 18 July 1983 (A/38/306-S/l5880), the Chairman referred to reports that the Israeli Government intended to carry out its decision to ,restore an old quarter of Hebron and establish non-indigenous colonial settlers there, despite the local Arab resistance. He emphasized that this policy was exceptional in that the planned settlements would be situated in the very centre of the town of Hebron, not on the outskirts, and would be surrounded by long-established Arab quarters. The Chairman went on to point out that that policy had. exacerbated tensions and had given rise to numerous manifestations of violence and other related acts in the town. He referred to the burning of some 90 per cent of the Arab stalls in the town market and the dismissal of the acting mayor of the town, the latter action having been approved by the Israeli cabinet on 10 July 1983. In that connection, the Chairman quoted an official statement by the Israeli labour opposition party, which said that any attempt to create a mixed city in Hebron against the wishes of the Arab population would cause generations of grief. (c) Action taken within the Security Council 42. In addition to transmitting letters on matters of urgency to the SecretaryGeneral and the President of the security Council, the Committee, through its Chairman, participated in meetings of the Security Council called to consider the accelerating tension in the occupied Arab and Palestinian territories. Between 12 November 1982 and 2 August 1983, the Council devoted 10 meetings to consideration of current Israeli activities and policies. -9- 43. On 12 November 1982, the Security Council met at the request of the Arab Group and of the Organization of the Islamic Conference to consider the question of Israel's perseverance in its poli<¥ of establishing settlements in the occupied Arab and Palestinian territories. 44. In his statement to the Council on that occasion, the Chairman of the COmmittee expressed the fear that, under the cover of the tragic events in Lebanon, and profiting from the fact that the troubles it had created in that country were monopolizing world attention, Israel might be emboldened to put into effect its plans for the illegal annexation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to satisfy its ambitions based on alleged political security considerations. 45. In defiance of international public opinion and international law, Israel had not only continued to strengthen its existing settlements, but had indicated that several new settlements would be established by means of illegal confiscation of land at the expense of the Arab inhabitants. He stressed that the settlements were not mere agricultural co-operatives but rather urban centres, often at commuting distance from Israeli metropolitan zones, thus hindering a future solution. 46. Nearly every day there had been reports of repressive measures taken against the civilian population of the West Bank and Gaza. News representatives had spoken of demonstrations suppressed by force with, inevitably, loss of human life. Schools had been closed for reasons that were hardly convincing. FOreign teachers had been forced to sign political declarations under threat of deportation. Mayors and other elected officials had been relieved of their duties. 47. In response to further requests from the Arab Group, the Security Council resumed consideration of the situation in the occupied Arab territories on 11, 14 and 16 February and 20 May 1983. It was decided that the Council would meet again to consider the item at a future date. 48. ~e Security OOuncil also met in informal consultations on 4 April 1983, in order to consider the alleged poisoning of young girls in the occupied territories of the West Bank. In a statement made by the President of the Council on 4 April following the consultations (S/15680), the SecretarY-General was requested to conduct independent inquiries concerning the causes and effects of the serious problem of the reported cases of poisoning, and urgently to report On the findings. 49. Immediately upon receipt of that statement, the SecretarY-General, who had already been in touch with the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), requested that an independent inquiry be conducted by WHO in pursuance of the wishes of the Security COuncil. 50. On 10 May 1983, a report on this sUbject (S/15756) was accordingly transmitted to the security COuncil. The report concluded that the WHO inquiry had not been able to identify any specific cause or causes of the emergency. However, the initial medical records and interviews with cases in the first outbreak and with local health and other authorities suggested that an environmental agent could have provoked at least some cases in the first outbreak. 51. It was the reconunendation of the Director-General of WHO that, in view of the anxiety under which the population lived in the occupied territories, and given the susceptibility of girls during the stressful transitional period of adolescence, everything possible should be done to protect the local population from unnecessary -10- alarm. POr that purpose, the presence of WHO should be made available in the event of any suspected recrudescence of this ill-defined health emergency. Although it was considered unlikely that patients would suffer any significant sequelae, there should be pcovision for clinical follow-up by WHO, should any of the young people or their families so request. 52. In response to further requests from the Arab Group, in the light of recent attacks perpetrated against Arab civilians in the occupied Arab territories, and especially the killing and wounding of students at the Islamic COllege of the Arab city of Al-Rhalil on 26 JUly 1983, the Security Council met on 28 and 29 JUly and on 1 and 2 August 1983 in a series of five meetings. The Council had before it a draft resolution that would have condemned these attacks and would have reaffirmed its determination, in the event of non-compliance by Israel, to examine practical ways and means in accordance with the relevant pcovisions with the C2'1arter of the United Nations in order to secure full implementation of the resolution. 53. The security COuncil would also have determined that the policies and practices of Israel in establishing settlements in Palestine and other Arab territories occupied in 1967, including Jerusalem, had no legal validity, constituted a major and serious obstacle to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, and were in contravention of paragraph 49 (6) of the Geneva Convention Relative to the protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949. 54. OWing to the negative vote of one permanent member, the Security Council failed to adopt the resolution. 3. Attendance at conferences 55. In accordance with paragraph 4 of resolution 37/86 A of 10 December 1982, in which the General Assembly author ized the o:>mmittee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to send delegations or representatives to international conferences where such representation would be considered appropciate, the Conunittee accordingly accepted several such invitations in late 1982 and in 1983. 56. In late 1982, the Committee was represented at the Sixty-ninth InterParliamentary COnference on the QJestion of Palestine held in IDme from 12 to 23 September 1982. the Meeting of the Ministers for ~reign Affairs and Hea~s of Delegation of the Non-Aligned Cbunu ies, held in New York from 4 to 9 OCtober 1982, the Conference of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers on Palestine and Peace in the Middle East, held at Brussels from 23 to 24 OCtober 1982. the Thirty-ninth Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers and the Nineteenth Session of the Assembly of Heads of States and GOvernments of the Organization of African Unity, which were scheduled to be held at Tripoli from 15 to 21 November and 23 to 26 November 1982, respectively. In 1983, the Committee was represented at the sixteenth session of the Palestine National COuncil, held at Algiers from 14 to 18 February, the seventh Summit COnference of the Non-Aligned Countries, held at New Delhi from 7 to 11 March 1983 J the meeting of the Parliamentary Association for FAJro-Arab Co-operation, held at The Hague from 25 to 26 March 1983. the COnference on Namibia held at Paris from 25 to 29 April 1983, the International COnference on the 57. -11- Alliance between SOuth Africa and Israel, held at vienna from 11 to 13 July 1983, and the Second World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination, held at Geneva from 1 to 12 August 1983. 58. On each of those occasions, re~esentatives of the Committee took the opportunity to make known the work of the committee and its recommendations and to discuss ways and means of promoting their implementation. The Committee noted, vith appceciation and encouragement, conclusive evidence of considerable understanding of, and sympathy for, the problems of the Palestinian people as vell as interest in the work of the o:munittee. 4. Action taken by other organizations 59. The Committee continued to follow with great interest action taken by other organizations on matters relevant to its work. SUch action taken in 1982, after the Committee had submitted its report y to the thirty-seventh session of the General Assembly, was duly noted and appreciated. 'ltlis included the final conaauniqu4 of the Meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation of the Non-Aligned (»untr ies, held in New Yor k from 4 to 9 OCtober 1982 (A/37/540-S/l5454, annex), and the resolution on the question of Palestine adopted at the sixty-ninth Inter-parliamentary COnference, held at lURe from 12 to 23 September 1982. 60. In 1983, action relevant to the work of the Committee undertaken by other organizations included that of the Political Consultative Committee of the States Parties to the Warsaw Treaty, the Al.-QUds (Jerusal em) committee, the Comission on HUman Rights, the Seventh Conference of Heads of State or GOvernment of the Non-Aligned countries, the Heads of State and GOvernment of the Members of the European Community convening as the European COuncil, and the European Parliament (see paras, 62 to 85) · -12- (a) session of the Political COnsultative Committee of the States Parties to the Warsaw TreatI 61. The session of the Political Consultative Committee of the States Parties to the Warsaw Treaty was held a t Prague on 4 and 5 January 1983. 62. At that session, the Committee adopted a political declaration (A/38/67-S/l5556, annex) which, inter alia, attached particular importance to the solution of the conflict in the Middle East. The participants in the session sharply denounced Israel's invasion of Lebanon, the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples, and the bestial extermination of the civilian population of West Beirut. '!!'Iey held that, in its aggressive acts, Israel had been encouraged by those who granted it aid and support from outside. They demanded the immediate and complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon, and safeguards for the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of that country, 'Lbe participants were favourably disposed towards the principles for solving the problem of a Middle East settlement put forward at the Twelfth Arab Summit Conference, held at Fez, Morocco, from 6 to 9 September 1982, and voiced the conviction that a comprehensive settlement in the Middle East must provide for, complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from all Arab territories occupied since 1967, including the eastern part of Jerusal. em, recognition of the legitimate rights of the Arab people of Palestine, including the right to create its own independent State, safeguarding the right of all States in the area to secure and independent existence and development, termination of the state of war and installation of peace between the Arab States and Israel, and elaboration and adoption of international guarantees of a peaceful settlement. 63. 64. It was declared that the solution of these tasks necessitated the convening of an international conference with the participation of all interested parties, including the Palestine Liberation Organization, as the sole legitimate representative of the Arab people of Palestine. An important role could and must be played by the United Nations. (b) Seventh session of the Ai-QUds (Jerusal em) Committee of the Organization of the Islamic COnference 65. The seventh session of the AI-Quds (Jerusal. ern) Committee of the Organization of the Islamic COnference was held at Marrakech, Morocco, on 21 and 22 January 1983. 66. Having considered the results of the Arab Summit Meeting, held at Fez from 6 to 9 september 1982, the COmmittee decided to subscribe to the peace plan adopted at that meeting as a new basis for achieving a just and lasting settlement of the Middle Eastern question. 67. In its final declaration, the Al-QUds Committee called urgently for the setting up of a strategy to face the danger created by the continued Israeli settlements poliq{ at AI-Quds and its surroundings as well as in other parts of occupied Palestinian territories. FUrther, the Committee appealed to Islamic countries to implement its resolutions without delay, by creating national organizations entrusted with collecting donations to face Israel's continued settlement poliqr. The Coromi ttee also called for the promotion of contacts with -13- the vatican as well as with the World Council of Churches and other Christian institutions in order. to secure support for the Arab peace plan. (c) 'lhirty-ninth session of the Commission on Human Rights 68. At its thirty-ninth session, held from 31 January to 11 March 1983, the COmmission on Human Rights adopted four resolutions dealing with the situation in the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine (1983/1 A and B, 1983/2 and 1983/3). In resolution 1983/1 A, the Commission strongly condemned Israeli policies and practices, administrative and legislative measures to promote and expand the establishment of settler colonies as well as the following practices in the occupied Arab territories, including Jerusalem, R(a) The annexation of parts of the occupied territories including Jerusalem, "(b) The continuing establishment of new Israeli settlements and expansion of the existing settlements on private and public Arab lands, 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, and the perpetration of acts of violence by these armed settlers against individuals, causing injury and death and wide-scale damage of 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 expropr iation 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, "(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, and the inhuman conditions in prisons, "(h) The pillaging of archaeological and cultural property, "(i) The interference with religious freedoms and practices as well as with family rights and customsl "(j) The systematic Israeli repression against cultural and educational institutions, especially universities, in the occupied Palestinian territories, closing them or restricting and impeding their academic activities by SUbjecting selection of courses, textbooks and educational programmes, admission of students and appointment of faculty members to the control and supervision of the military occupation authorities and by the expulsion of numerous faculty members of several universities for refusing to sign statements containing political positions, in flagrant defiance and disregard of their right to academic freedom, -14- "(k) The illegal exploitation of the natural wealth, water and other resources and the population of the occupied territories, "(1) The dismantlement of the municipal services by dismissing the elected mayors as well as the municipal councils and forbidding Arab aid funds.In resolution 1983/1 B, the COmmission reaffirmed that the Geneva Convention relative to the protection of Civilian Persons 1n Time of War of 12 August 1949 was applicable to all the Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem, and condemned the failure of Israel to acknowledge the applicability of that Convention to the territories it had occupied since 1967. 69. 70. In resolution 1983/2, the Commission declared that Israel's decision of 14 December 1981 to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied syrian Galan Heights constituted an act of aggression under the provisions of Article 39 of the Charter of the United Nations and General Assembly resolution 3314 (XXIX), and called upon Israel to rescind its decision, and firmly emphasized the overriding necessity of total and unconditional withdrawal by Israel from all Palestinian and syr i an terr i tor ies occupied since 1967, including Jerusal em, which was an essential ~erequisite for the establishment of a comprehensive and just peace in the Middle East. In resolution 1983/3, the Commission condemned in the strongest terms the large-scale massacre of Palestinian civilians in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps for which the responsibility of the Israeli Government had been established, and reaffirmed the inalienable right of the Palestinians to return to their homes and property, from which they had been displaced and uprooted by Israel, and called for their return in the exercise of their right to self-determination. (d) Seventh Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries 71. The Seventh Conference of Heads of state or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, which was held at New Delhi from 7 to 12 March 1983, considered, inter alia, the questions of Palestine and Lebanon, as well as the situation in the Middle East, and adopted several paragraphs on these matters in a political declaration (see A/38/l32-S/l5675 and Corr.l). On the question of Palestine, the Conference decided to set up a Committee, at the level of Heads of State, to co-operate with the seven-member Arab Committee to support the rights of the Arab palestinian people in accordance wi th international law and the will of non-aligned countries and their peoples (A/38/132-S/l5675, annex, para. 98). 72. 73. The Conference strongly condemned Israel for its continued occupation of Palestinian and other Arab territories and for its persistent acts of repression against the Palestinian people, and demanded the united Nations security Council to invoke the powers vested in it with a view to imposing on Israel the relevant sanctions prescribed in the united Nations Charter until Israel complied fully with the relevant decisions of the COuncil concerning Palestine and the Middle East as well as those relating to Lebanon in council resolutions 508 (1982) and 509 (1982) (ibid., para. 87). -15- 74. The COnference considered it necessary, especially since Israel's aggression of 1967. to reaffirm all the principles and resolutions previously adopted by the Non-Aligned Movement in regard to the question of Palestine and the Middle East si tuation (ibid., para. 101). 75. The Conference expressed its support for and adopted the Arab Peace Plan proclaimed at the Twelfth Arab SUmmit COnference, held at Fez, Morocco, and emphasized that this Plan constituted a framework for establishing a just and durable peace in the Middle East (ibid., para. 102 Ca». 76. The Conference reaffirmed the principles on which it extended its solid support to the legitimate cause of the Palestinian people and rejected all plans, arrangements and agreements which did not conform to those principles (see ibid., para. 84). 77. The Heads of State or GOvernment welcomed the resolutions of the sixteenth session of the Palestinian National Council, held in Algeria from 12 to 22 February 1983, and affirmed their full solidarity with the Palestine Liberation Organization (ibid., para. 85). 78. The conference stressed the urgent need to undertake concrete action to achieve a jus t and comprehensive peace on the basis of the principles enunciated in its declaration (ibid, para. 86). (e) Meeting of Heads of State and Government of the Members of the European Community, convening as the European COuncil 79. At its meeting at Brussels on 22 March 1983, the European Council adopted several conclusions on the situation in the Middle East (A/38/l24-S/lS657). 80. The Council was convinced that all parties should work towards the achievement of withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanon and a resumption of negotiations aimed at a comprehensive peace settlement, and expressed support for the efforts of the United states of America to achieve this objective. 81. It was stressed that a lasting peace could only be built on the right to a secure existence for all states in the region, including Israel, and justice for all the peoples, including the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. These rights must be mutually recognized by the parties themselves. Negotiations will have to embrace all the parties concerned, including the Palestinian people, and the Palestine Liberation Organization will have to be associated with them. 82. The Council concluded that the initiative of the President of the United states of 1 september 1982 indicated a way to peace and the Arab summit meeting at Fez demonstrated a readiness for it. They added that the conclusions of the sixteenth session of the Palestine National COuncil could and should contribute to the peace process. 83. The Council stressed that the time had come for Israel to show that it stood ready for genuine negotiations on the basis of Security OOuncil resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), in the first place by refraining from enlarging existing settlements or creating new ones. These settlements were contrary to international law and a major and growing obstacle to peace efforts. -16- ef) European Parliament 84. At its meeting on 19 May 1983, the European Parliament adopted a resolution regarding the situation in the Middle East. The resolution called on the Fbreign Ministers of the European Community meeting in Luxembcurg 1n late May 1983 to take a decision reaffirming the Community's vital role in finding a solution to the political problems of the Middle East. The ~reign Ministers were called upon to use every available means in the context of their common foreign and external economic poliqj to urge Israel to call an immediate halt to its settlement policy in the West Bank and Gaza. 85. In addition, the Parliament urged the Community to take part in the International Conference on the Question of Palestine. B. Action taken in accordance with paragraph 2 of resolution 37/86 B 86. In paragraph 2 of resolution 37/86 B of 10 December 1982, the General. Assembly requested the secretary-General to ensure that the Division of Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat continued to discharge the tasks entrusted to it, in consultation wi th the Commi ttee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and under its guidance. 81. In accordance with that resolution, it had originally been intended that three seminars should be held in the course of 1983. However, in view of the rescheduling of the International COnference on the Question of Palestine and consequently of its preparatory meetings, it was decided that only one seminar could be held in 1983, on account of the heavier concentration of work. 'Ibe eighth seminar on palestinian rights accordingly took place at Jakarta from 9 to 13 May 1983. 'Ibe report of that seminar is annexed to the present document (see annex II) · 88. The Commi ttee continued to s tress the importance of semi nars and reconunended that the Division for Palestinian Rights should continue to expand its efforts in this regard on the basis of experience hitherto gained. Committee members attending those events again confirmed that the collective contributions of academicians, parliamentarians and other participating opinion makers had served to promote wider and more objective understanding of the Palestinlan question. 89. '!he Committee noted that, with the co-operation of the Department of Public Information and other offices of the Secretariat, the film on Palestinian rights had been updated, as had the photographic exhibit on Palestinian rights installed at United Nations Headquarters, which was available to United Nations information centres for wide distribution. 90. In addition, the Committee noted that the Division continued to pursue its obligation to prepare and distribute studies on matters relating to the Palestinian question and to have some of them translated into languages other than the official languages of the United Nations. 91. Regarding the International Day Committee observed with appreciation capitals in 1982. It was hoped that continue to observe the Day in their meaningful and effective manner. of Solidarity with the Palestinian people, the that this had been duly commemorated in many more and more Governments would not only customary manner but even to do so in a more -11- c. Action taken in accordance with paragraeh 2 of resolution 36/120 C 92. By paragraph 2 of General Assembly resolution 36/120 C of 10 December 1981, the Committee on the EXercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People was authorized to act as the Preparatory Commi ttee for the International Conference on the Question of palestine, scheduled to be held not later than 1984, in accordance with paragraph 1 of the same resolution. The date was subsequently advanced to 16 to 27 August 1983 and later changed to 29 August to 7 September 1983. Members of the Committee attended all the regional meetings held in connection with conference preparations. 93. A detailed report of activities concerning preparations for the Conference has been issued separately, so has the report of the COnference itself (A/ODNF.114/42). v. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE 94. The committee, after the intensive activities of the year under review, has abundant evidence that its original recommendations have now been clearly understood by nations and peoples in all geographic regions in the world and that those recommendations are seen to be fair, legally founded, and peaceful, and should therefore be lasting when implemented. 95. The Committee is also greatly encouraged by the positive outcome of the International COnference on the Question of Palestine and feels that a new impetus has now been given to modalities for the attainment of the rights of the Palestinian people as the prerequisite for an overall settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict. The recommendations of the Cornndttee are duly reflected in the Geneva Declaration on Palestine and the Programme of Action (see A/CONF.114/42) adequately covers the steps needed for implementation. 96. The COmmittee considers the final documents of the International Conference on the Question of Palestine to be of great value for a comprehensive, just and lasting political settlement of the q~estion of Palestine. While unanimously supporting the Geneva Declaration and the Programme of Action, the Cornrrnttee appeals to the General Assembly at its thirty-eighth session and to the Security Council to endorse those documents and to give full support for their implementation. 97. The Committee therefore recommends resolute action by all nations, particularly those in the region, through the Security Council, so that the present destructive momentum will be revised, conflict will cease and a steady course of action in the search for durable and comprehensive peace will be set in motion. 98. The Committee also recommends that concrete actions be undertaken in order to convene an international peace conference on the Middle East as it was proposed at the International Conference on the Question of Palestine and appeals to all parties concerned, as well as the united States of America and the union of soviet Socialist Republics to co-operate fully on this matter. Notes 1I The Committee is composed of the following members: Afghanistan, Cuba, Cyprus, German Democratic Republic, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukrainian SOviet Socialist Republic and Yugoslavia. 1I Official Records of the Genetal Assembly, Thirty-first Session, SUpplement No. 35 (A/31/35). 11 ~., Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 35