REPORT OF THE COI\iMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OFFICIAL RECORDS: FORTY-THIRD SESSION SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/43/35) UNITED NATIONS New York, "/988 NOTE Symbols of Unitcd Nations documcnts arc composcd of capitallclters combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicatcs a refcrence to a United Nations documcnt. [Oriqinall Enqlish] (27 October 1988] CONTENTS Paragraphs LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL I. I I. III · b9.e. v 1 3 4 4 4 ...... '" . 1-7 8 - 10 11 - 16 11 - 13 INTRODUCTION ·············································· MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE ·································· ORGANI ZATI ON OF WORK ······································ A. B. Election of officers ······ t ··························· Participation in the work of the Committee ············ Re-establishment of the Workinq Group ················· 14 - 15 c. IV. A. 16 17 - 128 17 - 95 4 5 ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE ····························· Action taken in accordance with General Assembly resulution 42/66 A of 2 December 1987 ················· 1. Review of the situation relating to the question of Palestine and efforts to implement the recommendations of the Committee ·················· Reactions to developments affectinq the inalienable riqhts of the Palestinian people ·················· Action taken by the Committee to promote the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East in accordance with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C of 13 December 1983 Atteddance at international conferences and meetings . 5 17 - 31 32 - 86 5 2. 3. 8 ... 87 - 93 94 21 23 4. 5. Action taken by other United Nations bodies, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries and intergovernmental organizations ··················· 95 24 B. Action taken by the Committee in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 42/66 A and B of 2 December 1987 ······································· 96 - 128 96 - 112 113 - 121:) 26 26 29 1. 2. Co-operation with non-governmental organizations.. Semiraars. .···. ... ··. .··.. . .. . . .. . .. ·· ·.· · ... ..· · .. 3. Other activities . -iii- . 126 - 128 31 CONTENTS (continued) Paragraphs V. VI. ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT or PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 42/66 C...... RECOMMENDATIONS 129 - 140 141 - 148 EA9A 33 36 or THE COMMITTEE ························· Annexes I. 11. Recommendations of the Committee endorsed by the General Assembly at its thirty-first session ············································· Geneva Declaration on Palestine and the Programme of Action for the Achievement of Palestinian Rights ······························ ~..... Conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Eighteenth United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine, Havaua, Cuba, 15 to 17 December 1987 · ., ·············· 0 ································ 39 42 Ill. ··· 52 IV. Conclusions and recommendations adopted by the NinetGenth United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine, Berlin, German Democratic Republic, 25 to 29 April 1988 ····························· Conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Twentieth United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine, New York, 27 to 28 June 1988 ········· )............................................... 57 V. 83 VI. Declaration a~opted by the United Nations North American Regional NOO Symposium on the Question of Palestine, New York, 29 June to 1 July 1988 ············.············.··.······.··...······.····..···· 68 VII. VIII. Declaration adopted by the United Nations European Regional NGO Symposium on the Question of Palestine, Geneva, 29 to 30 August 1988. Declaration adopted by the International NOO Meeting on the Que.tion of Palestine, Geneva, 31 August to 2 September 1988 ·················· 72 75 -iv- LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 25 October 1988 Excellency, I have the honour to enclose herewith the report of thp Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for submission to the General Assembly in accordance with p~ragraph 4 of resolution 42/66 A of a December 19a7. Accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. (Signed) Absa Claude DIALLO Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People His Excellency Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar Secretary-General of the United Nations -v- t. INTRODUCTION 1. The Con~ittee on the Exercise of the Inal~enable Rights of the Palestinian People, established by Gendral Assembly resolution 3376 (XXX) of 10 November 1975, is currently composed of 23 Member States as tolloW8Z Afghanistan, Cuba, Cyprus, German Democratic Republic, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Ma~agascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and Yugoslavia. 2. In its first report, 1/ the Committee made a number of recommendations specifically designed to enable the Palystinian people to attain and exercise its inalienable rights in Palestine as previously recognized e~~ defined by the General Asse~bly. Those recommendationH were first endorsed by the Assembly in its resolution 31/20 of 24 November 1976 as a basis for the solution of the question of Palestine. 3. In itB subsequent reports to the General Assembly, 1/ the Committee reaffirmed its original recommendations and called for their implementation. On each occasion they have br9n endorsed overwhelmingly by the Assembly, which has also contlnued to renew and, as necessary, expand the mandate of the Committee. 4. However, despite the increasing urgency of the appealR by the Committee, the Security Council has not yet been able to act on or implement the ~ecommendations of the Committee. The Committee remains convinced that positive consideration and action by the Security Council on the recommendations of the Committee would advance prospects for the attainmYnt of a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Arab-Israflli conflict, the core of whicu is the question of Palestine. 5. The Cmr-lttee's efforts to promote SUCh a solutio~ acquired particular urgency in light of the grave deterioration of the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories in tho year under review as a Qonsequence of the repressive policies and practices of Israel, the occupying Power, in its effortE to quell the Palestinian uprising (intifadeb) against the occupation, which began in December 1987. Despite the intern~tional outcry over repeated violations of human rights in the occupied territories and the adoption by the Security Counr.il of several resolutions requesting the occupying PQwer to abide by the relevant international instruments and United Nations resolutions, Israel ~Qntinued to resort to military force against the Palestinian population resisting the occupation, and to engage in armed attacks against the integrity and sovereignty of countries in the region. The ~ommittee expressed the greatest concern at the mounting casualties and suffering inflicted on the Palestinian people and warned that the intransigence of Israel would further exacerbate the situation, jeopardizp international ~[forts towards a just and lasting settlement, and further endanger international peace and security. The Committee reasserted that no solution could be achieved as long as the Palestinian people was denied its inalienable rights in Palestine, including those to self-determination without exturnal interference, to national independence and sovereignty, to return to its homes and property, and to establish its own independent sovereign State, and as long as the Palestinian and other Arab terril0ries remained occupied. 6. Thn IIryuDl:Y of taking measures to protect the Po.l1esliniall people under Occupation, to gUi.u8utefl the safely and security and the lflgal and hwn81l rights of -1- the Palestinian refugees in all the territories under Israeli occupation and to alleviate their suffering and the imperative necessity of breaking out of the current stalem~te and advancing towards a peaceful settlelnent of this longstandinq question were paramount concerns in the Committee's programme of work during the year under review. 7. The Committee accordingly repeatedly appealed to the Security Council to take appropriate action to secure United Nations o~jectives on the question of Palestine, and again accorded utmost priority to the early convening of the propQsed International Peace Conference on the Middle East in conformity with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C of 3 December 1983. The Committee remains couvinced that the Conference woul~ make a practical and positive contribution to efforts to promote 3 just and lasting peace in the Middle East and continues to stress the urgent need for additional concrete and constructive efforts by all Governments in order to convene the Conference without further delay. -2- 11. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE 8. The Committee's mandate for the year 1988 i~ contained in paragraphs 3 to 5 of General Asse~')ly resolution 42/66 A of 2 December 1987 by which the Assemblyl (a) Requested the Committee to continue to keep under review the situation relating to the q\lestion of Palestine as well as the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Achievement of Palestinian Rights 1/ adopted by the International Conference on the Question of Palestine, and tc report and make suggestions to the GeLeral Assembly or the Security Council, as appropriatel (b) Authorized the Committee to continue to ~~~ert all effortG to promote th& implementation of its recommendations, including representation at conferences and meetings and the sending of delegations, to make such adjustments in its approved programme of seminars and of symposia and meetings for non-governmental organizations as it may consider necessary, and to report thereon to the ~eneral Ass~mbly at its forty-third session ond thereafterl (c) Requested the Committee to continue to extend its co-operation to non-governmental organizations in their contribution towards heightening international awareness of the facts relating to the question of Palestine and in creating a more favourable atmosphere for the full implementation of the Committee's recommendations, and to take the necessary steps to expand its contacts with those organizations. 9. By its resolution 42/66 B of 2 December 1987, the General Assembly also requested the Secretary-General, inter alia, to provide the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat with the necessary resources and to ensure that it continues to discharge the tasks d~tailed in earlier resolutions, in consultation with the Committee and under its guidance. 10. By its resolution 42/66 C of 2 December 1987, the General Assembly requested the Department of Public Information, in full co-operation and co-ordination with the Committee, to continue its special information programme on the question of Palestine. -3- III. ORGANIZI\:rION C. WORK A. ElegtiQn Qf Qffigers 11. At its 149th meeting, on 14 January 1988, the Committee decided tQ re-elect the following officers: ChairmAn: H.E. Mr. Mass&~ba Sarre (SenegAl) Y~ce-Chairmenl H.E. Mr. Oscar Oromas-Oliva (Cuba) H.E. Mr. Shah Mohammad Dost (Af~hanistan) ia~~Qrteurl BE. Mr. Alexander 80rg Olivier (Malta) 12. ~t its 15Sth meeting, on 23 Augu~t 1988, the CQmmittee elected H.E. Mrs. Absa Claude Diallo (Senegal) as Chairman in place of H.E. Mr. Ma~~amba Sarre (Senegal) who had left New York on anQther assignment fQr his country. 13. At its 150th meeting, Qn 10 MLrch 1988, the CQmmittee BdQpted its prQgramme of wQrk fQr 198~ (A/AC.183/1988/CRP.1/Rl'V.l) in implementatiQn Qf its mandate. 8. fAr~iMi~atiQn in the wQrk Qf the Committee 14. As in previous le8~'s, the Committee reconfirmed that all States Members of the United Nations and Pe~manent Observers to the United Nations desiring to participate in the ,.,ork of the C"mmittee as observe1.'s were welcome to do so. Accordingly, in a ~etter dated 3~ March 1988, ~he Chairman of the Committee so informed the Secretary-General, who subsequently transmitted the letter, on 20 April 1988, to States Members of the United Nations and members of the specialized agencies, and to intergovernmental regional organizations. The CommIttee also decided to invite the Palestine Liberation Or.ganizution (PLO) to ~articipate in the work of the Committee a8 an observer, to attend all its meetings and to make observations and proposals for the consideration of the Committee. 1~. During 1988 the Committee again welcomed as observel'~ all the States And organizations that had participated in its work in the preceding year. il C. Fe-establisbment Qf the Working Group 16. At its 149th meeting, the Committee re-established its Working Group to assist in the preparation and expedition of the work of the Committee. The Working Grou~ waG constituted nn before under the chairmanship of Mr. Alexandvr 80rg Olivier (Malta), on the understanding that any Committee member or observer could participate in its proceedings. SI Mr. Pramathesh Rath (India) was I'e-elected Vice-Chairman uf th~ Working G.oup. -4- LV. A. 1. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE Action taken in accordance with General Assembly ~olutiQn 42/66 A Qf 2 December 1987 Review of the situ~tion relating to the ~uestion oI-falestine Awlefforts tQ implement the recQmmendatiQns of the Committee 17. In accorda.,ce with its mandate, in the year under review, the Committee continued to follow developments relatin9 tQ the questiQn Qf Palestine and to exert all efforts to prQmote the im,llementation of its recommendations aL; repeatedly endQrsed by the General Assembly. 18. In response to events in the re9ion affecting the inalienable ri9hts of the Palestinian peQple, the Chairman of the Committee, on repeated occasions, whenever urgent action was required, brou9ht such developments to the attention of the Secretary-Genel'al and the President of the Security Council, and called for appropriate measures in accordance with United Nations resolutions (see sect. A.2 (a) below). 19. The CQmmittee was alarmed at the serious deterioration of the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories as a result of the increasin9 resort by Israel to armed force and other draconian measures in an effort to suppress the popular uprisin9' which began in early December 1987, a9ainst the continued occupation an~ gradual annexation of the occupied Palestinian territories and a9ainst the Israeli policies and practices violating the rights of the Palestinian people. 20. The Committee monitored the situation Qn an on90ing basis through the media, the reports of missions dispatched to the area by United Nations or9ans and agencies as well as by non-governmental organizations, the reports of individual experts and persons from the occupied territories who participated in meetings held under the auspices of the Committee, information collected by Governments, and other sources. 21. According to this information, the number of Palestinians shot to death by Israeli armod forces since early December 1987 had reached a total of 248 identified cases by 27 Septembdr 1988. Another 126 Palestinians had died from beatings, tear 9~s inhalation, and other causes related to actions by Israeli armed forces and Isra~l; GPttlers. Thousands of Palestinians had been wounded or had suffered crushed hOlies in beatings administered elt random by Israeli soldiers in implementation of tile pol i ey of "might, force and beatings" to suppress the upn'3ing, announced by th,~ Israeli Defence Minister in January 1988. The Committee was alarmed at the high pt'oportion of youths and children among the victims. The Committee also noted with grave concern various reports that the total casualty toll among Palestinians was probably much higher because 01 the fear of many Palestinians thnt they would be arrested if they went to a hospital for treatment of wounds, and because the repeated sealing of entire areas, measures to restricl the activities of the press and the detention and harassment of journalists and hum~n rights workers had made it increasingly difficult to collect systematic information on the situation. '!'he Committee also expressed grave preoccupation at-. the growing involvement of armed Israeli settlers in attacks against the Palestinian populrll.iol1, and at:. the announced pol~cy of the authodties to allow settlers to shoot Palestinian demonstrators seen carrying what seemed to be firebombs. -5- 22. In thls connection, the Committee was extr~mely concerned at reports by humanitarian assistance organizations that were able to visit the area that medical personnel was refused access to camps and villages closed by the military an~ that hospitals had been attacked, equipment destroyed, medical personnel and patients beaten, and that patients had been arrested and taken away. In view of the high number of casualties, the Committee was alatmed at information that the health situation in the occupied territories and partiCUlarly in Gaza had ~e~ched catastrophic proportions and that hospitals were facing ~evere shortages because the authorities were restricting access to medical supplies. In this connection, the Committee deplored that the Special Committee of Experts of the World Health Organization (WHO) had again been refused access to the occupied territories and noted that the information collected by that Committee had caused it to express deep coucern regarding the health situation in the occupied te~ritories. 23. The Committee further noted that, in addition t~ che use of force, the Israeli authoritie9 had resorted to a policy of mass arre&ts, imposition of adminittrative detention without chargea or trial, and deportations, in its efforts to eradicate the leadership of the uprising. Human rights organizations estimated that, by the end of September 1988, about 5,500 Palestinians remained in detention, 2,500 of whom had been placed under administrative detention without charges or trial. Several new prison camps had been built, where conditions were reported to be in clear violation of international human rights standards. There were numerous reports of severe overcrowding, mistreatment and beating, and even killing of prisoners, lack of hygiene and unavailability of medical car.. Several cases of torture were also reported. In addition, since the beginning of the uprising, the Israeli authorities deported 33 Palestinians from the occupied territories and issued deportation orders on another 25, in defianoe of Seourity Council resolutions and of the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention. 24. The Committee was also gravely concerned at the reported escalation of collective punishment measures directed against the entire Palestinian popUlation. Repeatedly, Israeli forces had declared entire areas closed military zones and placed the population under extended curfews, sealing all entry points to villages and camps and preventing the delivery of foodstuffs and other essential items such aa fuel and medicinesl electricity and telephone service were repeatedly interruptedl thousands of trees were uprooted and crops bulldozedl and property was randomly destroyed in raids on Palestinian homes, which were reported to have become a regular occurrence. Some Z36 homes were repor ed to have been destroyed as of 23 September 1988, displacing thousands of Palestinians, and hundreds more were reportedly scheduled for demolition. 25. The Committee further noted that Israel had imposed severe restrictions on freedom of movement wiLhin and outside the occupied territories and had intensified its restrictions on travel abroad. In this connection, the Committee strongly deplored that the Israeli authorities had denied permission to travel to persons from the occupied territories who had been invited by the Committee to participate in meetings of non-governmental organizations held under its auspices. 26. The growing resort by Israel to the use of force against the Palestinian population in general was accompanied by an intensification of measures against Palestinian economic, social and cultural institutions. Universities and other educational institutions, which had suffered frequent closings and other disruptions prior to the uprising, were closed on the West Bank from December 19ij7 to May 1988, and then again for varying perioa~ of time. Most schools were also -6- repeatedly closed in the Gaza Strip. A large number of schools in the occupied territories were s6questered by the army, for its own use, and school property destroyed. All teAchers newly appointed at the beginning of the 1987-1988 academic year were dismissed. Palestinian trade unions were also the object of harassment and punitive meaS\lre~. Twenty-four unions, as well as the General Federation of Trade Unions wer~ reported to have oeen closed since the b3ginning of the uprising, and a number of tr6de unionists were ~rrested, placed under administrative detention, or eHp~lleri. The Palestine ~ress Service was closed for six months and other Palestinian publications were the object of harassment through repeated closings, disruption ot distribution, and the arrest and detention of many Palestinian journalists. At the end of June 1988, the military commander of the West Bank ordered closed the relief organization In'ash el-Usra, which served the needs of over 15,000 Palestinians, for two years, the first such self-help community group to be so closed. Many Palestinian institutions were also closed and popular committees outlawed, and their members arrested. 27. In addition, the Israeli authorities adopted a number of st~r~Qgent a,1ministrative and economic measures directed at further strengthening their control over key aspects of life in the nccupied territories, and to stifle Palestinian resistance to the occupation, particUlarly efforts to boycott the military authorities. The authorities engaged in aggressive collection oC back taxes, linking proof of payment of all Israeli taxes to the issuance of any official document (such as drivers licences, marriage or birth certificates) and, in the Gaza Strip, to the requirement that existing identity cards be replaced by new ones. Direct export of agricultural produce from the occupied territories was prohibited, thus causing great material damage to Palestinian farmers, who are dependent on exports for the marketing of their produce. In addition, the amount of money that Palestinians could bring across was reduced to one fifth the amount previously allowed, thus almost eliminating the possibility of indirect export and severely reducing the amount of remittances from Palestinians working abroad, on which many families depended. The restrictions were also causing great difficuJti~s to voluntary organizations providing services not supplied by the occupation authorities. The authorities also repeatedly impoaed the closing of Palestinian shops of an essential nature, such as' bakeries and pharmacies, and forced the opening of others in an effort to break protest strikes. 28. These measures directed at suppressing the uprising were taken against a backdrop of intensified de facto annexation of the occupied territories. The total area of land confiscated by ~srael since 1967 had reached almost 2.8 million dunums (1 dunam = 1,000 m2 ), i.e. more than half the land area ol the occupied Palestinian territories, by May 1988. The number of settlements reached 170 in the West Bank and 20 in the Gaza Strip, and the establishment of new settlements and the expansion of existing ones were announced. Stringent restrictions continued to be imposed on water use, new construction, the granting of credit and other activities necessary for the development of the territories. 29. The Commi Uee noted with great concern that in his ann tal 1 eport on the situation of workers in the occupied Arab territories, based on three missions to the area, the Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) had concluded that the clashes resulting from the uprising and the repressive and other measures which had ensued gravely affected the situation of Arab workers in those territoLies. The report expressed concern that the situation of Arab workers, which was already seriously affected by the occupation, was likoly to be increasingly aggravated if the occupation continued and if the serious events -7- taking plaoe in the territories persisted or assumed greater dimensions. The reperoussions on employment and on living and working conditions, in the view of the ILO, o~uld be extremely grave. 30. In light of these alarming developments in the occupied territories, the Committee wishes to draw once again the most urgent attention of the General Assembly and the Seourity Counoil to the polioies and praotices of Israel, the ocoupying Power, which are in flagrant violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, prevent the Palestinian people from attaining its inalienable rights, and thwart international efforts to bring about a peaceful settlement of the Palestine question, the oore of the Arab-Israeli confliot in the Middle East. In this oonnection, the Committee oonsiders that every effort should be made to ensure the safety and protection of the Palestinians in the ocoupied territories. At the same time, the Committee noted with appreciation that, in his report on to the Palestinian people (A/43/367-E/1988/82), the Secretary-General had desoribed a number of measures to respond to the emergency situation in the occupied territories, in accordance with the report he had submitted to the Security Council under resolution 605 (1087) (S/19443). Unfortunately, no action was authorized by the Security Council on that report owing to the negative vote of a permanent member of the Security Council. The Committee was encouraged by the assessment that, although a number of projects had been disrupted, the assistance programme continued to operate at full strength and had made considerable progress, and that all organizations of the United Nations system had expressed a willingness to expand their activities in the area, provided additional funding was available. The Committee expressed its deep appreciation to the Governments which had increased their contributions to the programme and, noting that needs are still very great and that additional funding is urgently needed, assooiated itself with the Secretary-GenerAl's appeal to the international community to oontinue to inorease its ~upport for the assistance programme. The Committee considered that intensified efforts towards genuine development of the occupied territories, with the close involvement of the Palestinian people themselves, through their representative, the PLO, must be a neoessary accompaniment of renewed efforts to aohieve a political solution of the question. as~lstance 31. 2. (a) Reactions ~~la~mBnts affecting the inalienable rights af the Palestinian pegple Communications to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council 32. In response to the very grave situation in the oocupied Palestinian territories in the course of the year under review, the Chairman of the Committee repeatedly drew the most urgent attention of the Secretary-General and of the President of the Security Council to developments in the area and, in particular, to the intensification of repression by the Israeli military authorities, urging the adoption of appropriate measures in accordance with humanitarian principles and United Nations resolutions. The Chairman repeatedly pointed out that the polici~s and practices of Israel, the occupyinq Power, in the occupied Palestinian territories are in contravention o( the Fourth Geneva Convention, international human riqhts instruments and United Nations resolutions. He further stressed that such policies and practices pose further obstacles to international efforts to promote a comprehensive, just and lastinq 9~lution to the Palestine question. Tha -8- Chairman reiterated his appeals to the Secretary-General and to the President of the Security Council to take all possible measures for ensuring the safety and protection of the Palestinian civilians under occupation, and to intensify all efforts towards the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East, in accordance with General Assem~ly resolution 38/58 C. 33. In a letter dated 13 October 1987 (A/42/655-S/19203), the Chairman described an incident in the Gaza Strip which had resulted in the shooting death of three Palestinians and which had prompted demonstrations and a general students strike. A subsequent incident in which four Palestinians and an Israeli soldier had been killed had sparked widespread protests in the Gaza Strip which were still continuing. Extremely serious incidents had also been reported from the occupied West Bank, where a renewed attempt by militant Jews to enter the Islamic Holy Shrine or Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem had sparked protest demonstrations which had resulted in the death of a Palestinian won,an. There had also been dozens of injuries among PalestiniRn demonstrators, and many had been arrested. Protest strikes had been declared in many areas. 34. In a letter dated 13 November 1987 (A/42/768-S/19270), the Chairman detailed a number of grave incidents which had taken place in the occupied Palestinian territories and had caused the death and injury of several Palestinians, inclUding schoolchildren. The Chairman further reported that it had been disclosed by an official Israeli report that the Shin Beth internal security service had routinely SUbjected Palestinian detainees to physical abuse and that such abuse had been covered up in the courts. 35. On 11 ~ecember 1987 (A/42/877-S/19337), the Chairman drew urgent attention to the very dangerous situation which was being created in the occupied territories by renewed acts of violence by the Israeli troops, which had again resulted in casualties among young Palestinians. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli troops had shot two Palestinian youths dead and had wounded 18 others. Protesters assembled in the cOllrtyard of a hospital were attacked by Israeli helicopters which dropped tear gas canisters into the crowd. Many schools and shops in the Gaza Strip remained closed and hundreds of Palestinians stayed away from work in Israel. In the West Bank, Israeli soldiers had shot six Palestinians, including an 11-year-old boy, to death in various towns and refugee camps, and had wounded many others in protest demonstrations. Many Palestinian protestors had been arrested. Military authorities had also detained the head of the Arab Journalists Union for sia months without trial and had ordered the daily A1=lAj~ to halt distribution in the West Bank for 10 uays. 36. In a letter dated 29 December 1987 (A/43/73-S/19394), the Acting Chairman stated that the use of live ammunition by Israeli troops had already caused the killing of at least 23 Palestinians and injuring of hundreds of others. The number of Palestinian youths arrested by the Israeli army for suspected involvement in the recent wave of protests had risen to nearly 1,000. The army had opened two makeshift prisons to detain the hundreds of prisoners until trials could be arranged, where conditions were reported to be extremely harsh. The Israeli army was preparing to begin military trials which, based on past experience, were expected to be swift and in the nature of "a mass court-martial". DeCence lawyers had not been allowed to see the detainees and Palestinian lawyers in the Gaza Strip were boycotting the military trials. The army wa~ also report~u to have ordered the closing of several universities and of about 800 schools in the West Bank and 92 schools in the Gaza Strip. -9- 37. In a further letter dated 5 January 1988 (A/43/77-S/19405), the Chairman reported that Israeli military authorities had decided to expel nine Palestinians, five from the West Bank and four from the Gaza Strip, accusing them of being the "chief instigators" of the uprising in the territories. More than 1,000 Palestinians rounded up during the paRt month also remained gaoled, and trials on incitement charges were proceeding in the military courts. Further violent incidents had also taken place, resulting in several new casualties. 38. In a further letter dated 12 January 1988 (A/43/86-S/19424), the Chairman once again drew urgent attention to the continuing deterioration of the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly due to the use of live ammunition against demonstrators, mass arrests, detentions and deportations. He described a number of grave incidents which had taken place since his earlier letter and which had resulted in the death of eight Palestinians, including a pregnant woman, and in numerous injuries. The Israeli army was reported to have sent large reinforcements into the Gaza Strip and to have declared most of the area a closed military zone, barred to journalists and others. The total number of dead had reached at least 35 since the beginning of the protests in December. At least 30 Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza had been placed under administrative detention without trial for up to six months. A total number of almost 2,000 Palestinians had been arrested, the majority of whom remained gaoled awaiting trial in the military courts. 39. In a further letter dated 20 January 1988 (A/43/95-S/1944l), the Chairman drew urgent attention in particular to the increasingly systematic use by Israel of collective punishment against Palestinians. It had been reported that the army was imposing "economic curfews" on refugee camps, preventing residents from leaving and thus cutting off more than 250,000 Palestinians from their sources of income, and even preventing food from reaching the camps, thus leading to serious shortages. The Chairman also reported that &everal violent incidents had taken place, resulting in renewed casualties among Palestinians. 40. On 10 February 1988 (A/43/l32-S/19490), the Chairman said that events since his last letter had shown that, despite international appeals, Israeli authorities had increasingly resorted to random beatings, curfews, the closing of schools, and mass arrests. Live ammunition was again being used against Palestinian demonstrators, raising the death toll to at least 50 since December 1987. The Committee was also gravely concerned at the reported growing involvement of Israeli settlers in acts of violence against the Palestinian population. At least 300 Palestinians had been hospitalized for injuries inflicted in beatings by Israeli troops carrying out the policy announced by the Defence Minister of "might, force and beatings". Several hundreds of others were also beaten but ha~ reportedly avoided going to hospi~als for fear of being arrested. One hundred twenty-nine Palestinians had been placed in administrative dete~tion for six months without trial and a further 1,753 Palestinians were still under arrest, including 577 who had been aentenced to gaol terms by military courts. The Chairman further described several incidents in which another 10 Palestinians, including a lO-year-old boy, had been killed by Israeli troops. 41. In this connection, the Chairman expre66ed the Committee s appreciation for the report ot: the Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of resolution 605 (1987) (5/ .9433) and COl' its objective analysis of the situation and the identification of ways and means for ensuring the safety and protection of Palestinian civilians under Israeli occupation. The Committee in partiCUlar expressed appreciation for the steps taken by the Secretary-General in pursuance of that resolution and for I -10·- the action he planned to take to help alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people under occupation. The Committee stressed that the international community should also take suitable action, including the measures identified in that report, to help ensure the protection of the Palestinian civilian population. In a further letter dated 1 _, ~ch 1988 (A/43/183-S/19562), the Chairman stated that the toll of Palestinians known to have been killed by Israeli gunfire or beatings was at least 79 since early December. At least 29 Palestinians had died since his previous letter, indicating an extremely gerious increase in casualties. Another 12 deatho had been attributed to the effects of tear-gas. A humanita~ian assistance organization which h3d visited the occupied territorisH had estimated that injuries ran into the thousands, many of them victims of beatings. Medical personnel had been refused entry to refugee camps and areas under curfew, and hospitals had boen assaulted, medical personnel beaten, equipment smashed and patients pulled from beds and arrested. Giving a brief chronology of the incidents that had taken place si-nee his previous letter, he reported that Israeli troops or settlers had killed Palestinians, including a four-year-ol~ child, in a number of areas. 42. In a further letter dated 30 March 1988 (A/43/264-S/19710), th~ Chairman reported the latest incidents and stated tha~ the toll of Palestinians known to have been killed by Israeli gunfire, beatings and tear-gas inhalati~n was at luast 127 since the beginning of the uprising in early December. Children as young as three had also been beaten. The number of Palestinians detained b~' the army had reached at least 4,000. Stringent new measures had been announced, including an easing of the rules allowing for administrative detention without charges or triall the outlawing of the Shabiba (Youth) Movementl and allowing Israeli civilians to shoot at demonstrators who hurled firebombs. The imposition of a variety of economic restrictions had also been announced. In view of demonstrations planned to commemorate Land Day on 30 March, the Israeli army had now declared the entire West Bank and Gaza Strip closed military lones for thre6 days, banning journalists and prohibiting Palestinians from travelling between the occupied territories and Israel. International telephone links had beAn cut, and food supplies restricted. The Gaza Strip had also been placed under curfew, meaning that more than 650,000 Palestinians were confined to their homes. 43. In a further letter dated 13 April 1988 (A/43/302-S/19769), the Acting Chairman drew tho most urgent attention to the intensification of repression by Israel against the Palestinian people, inclUding deportation of persons, the demolition of houses, the imposition of curfews over long periods, restrictions on media coverage, and other measures. Live ammunition continued to be used indiscrimin~tely and widely against demonstrators. The growing death toll of Palestinians due to Israeli gunfire had now reached at least 138 since early December. The Committee in particular strongly deplored the expulsion of eight Palestinians to southern Lebanon, and the decision by the Israeli authorities to deport another 12 Palestinians, in defiance of Security Council r~solutions 607 (1988) and 608 (1988). 44. In another letter dated 13 May 1988 (A/43/362-S/19881), the Acting Chairman stated that the toll of Palestinians known to have been killed by Idraeli gunfire had now reached at least 1801 dozens more had reportedly died from beatings and suffocation from the particularly toxic form of tear-gas used by the arm9d fOl'ces. In addition, the Israeli authorities had introducbd new administrative measures against the entire Palestinian population in the occupied territories in order to 45. -11- t}ghten control over the area in further ef(orta to quell the up,Jsing. Desoite growing restrictions on the press and the detention of several journalists, there was information that the uprising was continuing and a number of grave incidents had taken place. Another eight P~lestinians had been expelled and further deportations were plannedl the number of prisoners had topped 7,000, of whom 1,200 had been placed in administrative detention. 46. On 3 June 1988 (A/43/392-S/19926), the Chairman drew urgent attent\on to the conviction by an Israeli coart of four Israali peace actlvi&cs fo~ meeting with members of the PLO in Romania in 1986. The Committee was also seriously concerned at the continued Israeli policy of military repression in the occupied Palestinian territories. The casualty toll had now r~ached 190 Palestinians killed by gunfire. More than 2,000 Palestinians were being d~tained without charges 1n a desert prison camp at Ketziot under inhuman conditions. Thousands more re~ained imprisoned in Israeli gaols and there had been several reports of ill-treatment of prisoners. 47. In a further letter dated 22 July 1988 (A/43/4/7-S/200S2), the Chairman expressed the Committee's most serious concern that live ammunition, rubber bullets and beatings continued to be used widely. The number of Palestinia~s killed by Israeli gunfire had reached at least 2~0, and 9,000 Palestinians were still detained under inhuman conditions. Israeli civilians had been alluwed to shoot Palestinians carrying firebombs. He detAiled several instances of house demolitions, closure of schools, expulsions, banning of comn\unity organizations, and other measures taken by the military authorities. 48. On 4 August 1988 (A/43/S02-S/20086), the Acting Chairman ~trongly deplored the deportation by Israel of eight Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza Strip to Lebanon, on charges of being involved in inciting recent uprisings in the occupied Palestinian territories. The Committee also strongly deplored the arrest of Faisal Husseini, D~rector of the Arab Studies ~ociety in Jerusalem, who was given up to six months administrative detention for allegedly participating in the co-ordination of the Palestinian uprising. 49. In p.nother letter dated 19 August 1988 (A/43/547-S/Z0136), the Acting Chairman reported that the Israeli army had adoptad a new pre-emptive policy of sealing off entire areas. The Gaza Strip was reporte~ly placed under complete and total curfew from 14 to 18 August, and separate curfews remained in effect in a nUt.,ber of areas. Another part of the army's new strategy had been to outlaw the "popular committees" established in the course of the uprising to keep civic affairs running. A Defence Ministry official was reported to have discloAed that more than 250 members of tIle committees had been jailed recently. Despite the new measures, protest demonstrations had taken place in the Gaza Strip and at least 13\' persons had been injured by beatings or tear-gas on 16 and 17 August. At least 247 Palestinians had been killed since Dec~rnber, inclUding two Palestinians shot to death on 16 August at Ketziot prison camp during a demonstration against t~e inhumane conditions oC detention of some 2,500 administrative detainees at the camp. The shooting was condemned by the International Committee of the Red CrosG, which stated that. IRrael was violating the Fourth Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949. The Acting Chairman also expressed concern that another four Palestinians were deported to Lebanon on 17 August 1988. 50. In a letter dated 29 September 1988 (A/43/663-S/20210), the Chairman of the Committee detailed a nwnber of grave incidents which had taken place in the occupied Palestinian territories and had caused death and injury to many -12- Palestiniaus. The Chairman in particular expressed most serious concern at the use of plastic b~llets by the Israeli army which had led to increasing deaths and wounding of Palestinians. The C~airman also expressed the Commit~ee's concern ut. the fact that a number of Palestinian institutions perceived by the Israeli authorities to be the nucleus of a future Palestinian State were ordered closed for prolonged periods and a network of popular committees charged with organizing the Palestinian uprising in Gaza had been smashed and some 20C people had been arrested. 51. In a further letter dated 13 October 1988 (A/43/710-S/20228), the Chairman reported an intensification of the policies of repression of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories, in particular army raids in order to prevent demo~strations, and the extension of the closure of schools and universities until 15 November. The closure of the Palestine Press Service had also been extended for one year. Live ammunition continued to be used widely and had resulted in an increase in casualties. She reported a statement by the Israeli Army Chief of Staff to the effect that the number of Palestinians wounded had almost doubled in recent weeks, and detail~d several recent incidents in which Israeli troops had shot Palestinians to death. (b) Action taken within the Security Council 5~. In addition to transmitting letters to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council, the Committee followed closely the act.vitics of the Council on mattel'S relating to the C,mmittee's mandate, and pal,ticipated in Council debates as necessary. 53. In A lettAr dated 11 December 1987, addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/19333), the Permanent Representative of Democratic Yemen to the United Nations, in his capacity as Chairman of the Arab Group for the month of December, requested that an immediate meeting of the Security Council be convened to address the situation in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories. Th~ Security Council considered the item at seven meetings held between 11 and 22 December 1987. 54. At the 2710th meeting of the Security Council, on 11 December 1987, the Chairman of the Committee intervened in the debate and stated that the deterioration of the situation in the occupied territories was all the more disturbing because it directly affected not merely the future of the Palestinian population but also international peace and security. He described 3 number of incidents which had taken place and whlch he had related in a letter sent to the Presid~nt of the Security Council (A/42/877-S/19337) (s~e para. 35 above). 55. The Committe~ had continued to emphasize that the situation in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories, including Jerusalem, would continue to worsen, as IOI~ as the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people had not been exercised. The United Nations had an undeniable responsibility for ensuring the protection of the Palestinians and the enjoyment of their rights in the occupied territories. The Committee considered that it was now up to the Security Council to implement the findings of the 1983 International Conference on the Question of Palestine held at Geneva, endorsed by growing majorities in the General Assembly, in partiCUlar by calling for the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East. He underscored that the question of Palestine had reached a critical stage and urgently appealed for increased efforts to achieve a just and lasting solution to the question and to put an end to the intolerable situation or. the Palestinian people. -13- 56. At its 2777th meeting, on 22 December 1987, the Security Council adopted resolution 605 (1987) by 14 votes in favour to none against, with 1 abstention, by which it strongly deplored those policies and practices of Israel, the oocupying ;ower, which violate the human rights of the Palestinian people in th~ occupied territories, and in particular the copening of fire by the Israeli army, resulting in the killing and wounding of defenceless Palestinian civilians; reaffirmed that the Geneva Convention relative to th9 Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, ia applicable to the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem; called once again upon Israel, the occupying Power, to abide immediately and scrupulously by that Convention; called for the exercise of maxin.um restraint to contribute to the establishment ef peace; stressed the urgent need to reach a just, durabl9 and peaceful settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict; and r~quested th~ Secretary-General to examine the present situation in the occupied territories by all means available to him and to submit a report containing his recommendations on ways and means for ensuring the safety and protection of the Palestinian civilians under Israeli occupation. 57. In a letter dated 4 January 1988, addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/194Q2), the Permanent Represent~,tive of Jordan to the United Nations, in his capacity as Chairman of the Arab Group for the month of January, requested an immediate meeting of the Security Council to address the situation in the occupied Palestinian and other Ara~ terrilo~leB. The Security Council considered the item at its 2780th meeting held on 5 January 1988. 58. At that meeting, the Security Council adopted unanimously resolution 607 (1988), by which it reaffirmed once again that the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, is applicable to Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem; called upon Israel to refrain from deporting any Palestinian civilians from the occupied territories; strongly requested Israel, the occupying Power, to abide by its obligations arisinq from ~he Convention; and decided to keep the situation in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem, under review. 59. The Security Council resumed consideration of the ~tem at its 2781st meeting, held on 14 January 1988. At that meeting, the Council adopted resolution 608 (1988) by 14 votes in favour, none against and 1 abstention. By that resolution, the Council expressed deep regret that Israel, the occupying Power, had deported Palestinian civilians in defiance of resolution 607 (1988); called upon Israel to rescind the order to deport Palestinian civilians and to ensure tha safe and immediate return to the occupiAd Palestinian territories of those already deported: requested that Israel desist forthwith from deporting any other Palestinian civilian from the occupied territories; and decided to keep the situation under review. 60. The Security Council resumed its consideration of the item at its 278Sth to 2787th meetings, on 27 and 28 January 1988, and at its 2789th and 2790th meetings. on 1 February 1988, having before it the report, dated 21 January 1988, submitted by the Secretary-General pursuant to Security Council resolution 605 (1987) of 22 December 1987 (5/19443). 61. The representative of Senegal, also in his capacity as Chairman of the Committee, intervened in the debate at the 2786th meeting of the Security Council, on 27 January 1988, and praised the report submitted by the Secretary-General as -14- complete, balanced and resp~nsible, He expressed his satisfaction that the report stressed the special duty of the United Nations towards the Palestinian people, and the need to reach a ne90tiated, just and lasting bettlement of the Middle East problem, Referring to the violent roprebsion in the oocupied territories, he stressed once again the primary responsibility of the Council, guarantor of international peace and security, and called on it to take measures to make Israel comply with its obligat~ons and duties as occupying Power, under the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949. He further called for the strengthening of humanitarian organizations in a universal effort to rehabilitate the Palestinian population, and for renewed efforts, through the Security Counail, to advance a negotiating process leadi~1 to a just and lasting settlement of the Middle East problem, inclUding the question of Palestine. 62. At its 2790th meeting, on 1 February 1988, the Security Council had before it a draft resolution (S/19466), submitted by Algeria, Argentina, Nepal, Senegal, Yugoslavia and Zambia, by which the Council would have called upon Israel, as the occupying Power and as a High Contracting Party to the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Parsons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, to accept the 4L_j~r~ applicability of the Convention to tne Palestinian and the other Arab territories occupied since 1967, inclUding Jerusalem, and fully to com[ly with its obligations under that Convention I would have recalled the obligation of all the nigh Contracting Parties to ensure respect for the Convention in all oircumstanceSI would have called again upon Israel to desist forthwith from its policies and practices which vi )late the human rights of the Palestinian peoplel would have requested Israel to facilitate the task of humanitarian relief agencies and request all members to give them their full supportl would have requested the Secretary-General to continue to monitor the situation in the occupied territories by all means available to him and to makA regular and timely reports to the Councill would have affirmed the urgent need to achieve, under the auspioes of the United Nations, a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict, an integral part of which is the Palestinian problem, and expressed its determination to work towards that end1 would have requested the Secretary-General to continue his endeavours to promote such a settlement and to keep the Security Council regUlarly informed1 and would have decided to keep the situation under review. 63. At the same meeting, the Security Council proceeded to vote on the draft resolution, which received 14 votes in favour to 1 against (United States of America), with no abstentions, and was not adopted, owing to the negative voto of B permanent member of the Council. 64. In a lelter dated 29 March 1988, addressed to the President or the Security Council (S/19700), the Permanent Representative of Tunisia to the United Nations, in his capacity as Chairman of the Arab Group for the month of March, requested that an urgent meeting of the Security Council be convened to discuss the situation in the occupied Arab territories. The Security Council resumod its consideration of the item at its 2804th meeting, held on 30 March 1988. 65, At the 2804th meeting, the representative of Senegal intervened in the debatA, also in his capacity as Chairman of the Committee. He stressed the further deterioration or the situation in the region as described in hia lelter addressed to the President of the Security Council on the same date (A/43/264-R/19710) (see para. 43 above). He appealed to the Council to take action on the recommendations -15- adopted by consensus at the International Conference on the Ouestion of Palebtine held in 1983 and approved repeatedly by an increasing majority in the General Assembly for the convening of an international peace conference on the Middle East. The Chairman further stressed that the question of Palestine had now entered Q critical phasa and urged that increased efforts should be undertaken to provide a just and lasting solution to this question. He urgently appealed to all Council members to make a positivd c{lntribution to the adoption of appropriate measures so that the policy of dialogue cuuld be followed by all the interested parties in order to put an end to the tragic situation which had continued for more than 40 years. 66. The Security Council resumed its consideration of the item at two further meetings held on 14 and 15 April 19C8. The Acting Chairman of the Committee intervened in the debate at the 280Sth meeting, on 14 April 1988, and stated that notwithstanding the resolutions adopted by the Council since December 1981 and the emphatic appeals addressed to Isravl by the entire international community, the Isreeli authorities had continued and il.. enslfied their repressive policy. He col196 on all concerned to use every possible means to guarantre the security and protection of the Palestinian civilians living under occupation, and to redoubJ~ joinc efforts to secure the conveAing of the International Peace Conference on the M~ddle East, in acco.rdapce with General As~embly resolution 38/58 C. He urged the Council to take measures to that end and appealed to the Secretory-General to implement the recommendations contained in his report (S/19443), so that the necessary humanitarian assistance could be provided to the long-suffering Palestinian people in the occupied territories. 61. At the ~806th meeting, on 15 April 1988, the Security Council considered a draft resolution (8/19780), submitted by Algeria, Argentina, Nepal, Senegal, Yugoslavia and Zambia. By that draft resolution, the Council would have urged Israel, the occupying Power, to abide immediately and scrupulously by the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, and to desist forthwith from Its policies and practices that are in violation of the Convention, would have urged Israel to rescind the order to deport Palestinian civilians and ~nsure the safe and immediate return to the occupied Palestinian territuries of thosv already deported' would have urqed Isr~el once again to desist forthwith from deporting Palestinian civilians from th~ occupied territories; it would have condemned those policies and practices of Israel, the occupying Power., that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people in the oc~ '~led territories, and in particular the opening of fire by the Israeli army, rL.i 'L~ing in the killing ana wounding of defenc9less Palestinian civilians; would ha~e affirmed the urgent need to ach~eve, under the auspices of the United Nations, a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict, an integral part oC which is the Palestinian pr.oblem, and would have expressed its determination to work towards ~hat end, would have requested th~ Secretary-General to submit perindic reports nn th~ situation in the occupied territories, includinq those aspects relating to enjeavours for ensuring the safety and protection of the Palestinian civilians under Israeli occupation; and would have decided to keep the situation under review. 68. The draft resolution received 14 votes in favour and 1 agaInst (United Stata~ of America) and was not adopted owing to the negative vote of a permanent member nf the Council. 69. In a ~etter dated 19 April 1988 (S/19798), the PermaLent Representative of Tunisia to the United Nations requested an urgent meeting of the Security Council -16- to consider the situation created by the new deliberete attack by Israel on the territorial integrity and sove~eiqnty of Tunisia. The letter stated that on 16 April 1988 a terrorist commando had entered the resid&nce of Mr. Kha1il AI-Wazir, Deputy Commander in Chief of the Paleotinian Armed Forces and a member of th& Central Council of the PLO, and had assassi~ated him in the presence of his wife and daughter. ~hree oth~r persons had also died in the attack. An investigation r.arried out by the Tunisian Government had ascertained the direct responsibility of Israel in the attack. Accordingly, the Tunisian Government invited the Council to condemn Isr~pli terrorism forcefully and to take appropriate steps to avert and prevent the repetition of such acts. The Council considered the item at four meetin9s held between 21 and 25 April 1988. 70. At the 2807th meetinq of the Council, on 21 April 1988, the representative of Senegal, also in his capacity as Chairman of the Committee, intervened in the debate and called on the Council to condemn unequivocally, on the one hand, the repeated violation of TuniHia's territorial integrity a~d sovereignty and, on the other hand, the assassination of Khalj1 A1-Wazir as a terrorist act that the international community finds intolerable, in accordance with the principles defined by both the Security Council and the General Assembly. 71. He further stated that the cycle of violence in the region could not be halted so long as there was no political solution guaranteeing the Palestinians the exercise of their inalienable right to self-determination ~nd the creation of a State. Assassinations and measures of repression did not stirve the cause of peace, but simply postponed the reaching of a peaceful settlement and cast doubt on the ability of the United Nations to find just and lasting solutions to longstanding conflicts. Such ~ solution shoul1 be sought within the framework of the International Peace Conference on tne Middle East in accordance with General Assembly resolutions. 72. At its 2820th meeting, on 2S "pril 1988, the Security Council, by a vote of 14 in favour to none against, with 1 abstention, adopted resolution 611 (1988). By that resolution the Council condemned vigorously the aggression perpetrated on 16 April 1988 against the sovereignty ~nd territorial integrity of Tunisia in flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations, international law and norms of conduct; urged Member States to take measures to prevent such acts against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States; expressed its deter.mination to take the appropriate steps to ensure the implementation of the resolution; requested the Cecretary-Genera1 to report urgently to the Security Council any new elements available to him and relating to the nggression; and decided to remain seized of the matter. 73. After consultations, the President of the Security Council issued the following statement on behalf of the members of the Counci, on 26 August 1988 (5/20156)1 "The members of the Security Council are g:avely concerned by the continued deterioration of the Aituation in the Pales: inian territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem, and especially by the current grave and serious situation resulting from the closing-off of areas, th~ imposition of curfews and the consequent increase in the nl~ber& of injuries and deaths that have occurred. -17- "The members of the Council are profoundly concerned by the persistence of Israel, the occupying power, in continuing its policy of deporting Palestinian civilians in contravention of Security Council resolutions and the Fourth Geneva Convention, as demonstrated on 17 August 1988 by its expulsion of four Palestinian civilians to Lebanon and its decision to expel 40 more. The members request Israel immediately to desist from deporting any Palestinian civilians and immediately to ensure the safe return of those already deported. "The members of the Council consider that the current situation in the occupied territories, described in paragraph 1 above, has grave consequences for endeavours to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East. "They raa£firm that the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, is applicable to the Palestinian aud other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, inclUding Jerusalem, and request the high contracting par~ies to ensure respect for the Convention. "Rec'!llinq Security Council resolutions, the members of the Security Council will keep the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, inolucUng Jerusalem, under review." (c) Action taken b~ the General Assembly 74, The Committee considered with great concern the legal and political implications of the "Anti-Terrorism Act of 1987" enacted by the United States of America which, in the Committee's view, affected not only the work of the Committee and of the United Nations but also the prospects for peace in the Middle East. The Committee had initially considered the matter prior to the adoption of the le~islation and had expressed its grave concern through its Chairman, at the 126th meeting of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country, on 14 October 1987. The Bureau of the Committee also met with the Seoretary-General on 13 October 1987 to discuss the question, At its 144th meeting, on 20 October 1987, thw Committee considered the matter further and took note of the decisions and statements adopted by the Group of Arab States of the United Nations, the Co-ordination Bureau ot. the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, bnd the Organization of the Islamic Conference, as well as of the activities in opposltion to the legislation undertaken by the North American Co-ordinating Committee of Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine, 75, The Committee noted that, at its forty-second session, the General Assembly considered thA matter under the item entitled "Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country" and adopted resolution 42/210, of 17 December 1987, by 143 votes in favour to 1 against (Isra~l), with no abstentions. By that resolution, the Assembly took note with appreciation of the Secretary-General's position with regard to the Permanent Observer Mission of the Palestine Liberation Organization to the United Nations; reiterated that tha Permanent Observer Mission of the Palestine Liberation Organization to the United Nations is covered by the provisions of the Headquarters Agreement and should be ena~led to 9stablish and maintain premises and adequate functional facilities, and the personnel of the Mission should bo enabled to enter ~nd remain in the United States to carry out their officiaJ functions; requested the host country to abide by its treaty -18- obligations under the United Nations Headquarters Agreement and in this connection to refrain from taking any action that would prevent the discharge of the official functions of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Palestine Liberation Organization to the United Nations I requested the Secretary-General to take effective measures to ensure full respect for the Headquarters Agreement a~d to report, without delay, to the General Assembly on any further development in the matterl and decided to kee~ the matter under active review. 76. As the matter was stil), unresolved, the forty-second session of the General Assembly was resumed on 29 February 1988 at the request of the Permanent Repre~dntative of Bahrain to the United Nations in hi~ capacity as Chairman of the Arab Group for the month of February (A/42/919) and the Permanent Representative of Zimbabwe to the United Nations, in his capacity as Chairman of the Co-ordination Bureau of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries (A/42/921). The request was strongly supported by the Permanent Representative of Kuwait to the United Nations in his capacity as Chairman of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (A/42/922) and by the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (A/42/924). The General Assembly held five plenary meetings on the matter between 29 February and 2 March 1988. 77. The Chairman of the Committee intervened in the debate at the lOlst plenary meeting of the General Assembly, on 29 February 1988, and expressed the Committee's appreciation for the Sec:~tary-General's efforts as described in his report (A/42/915). The proper fuactioning of the United Nations and its ability to fulfil its mandate under the Charter were at stake. The Committee was deeply disturbed by the host country's inability to provide assurances thot the present arrangements for the PLO Observer MissJ~n would not be curtailed or otherwise affected by the new legislation, and by its continued unwillingness to enter formally into the dispute settlement procedure set forth in section 21 of the Headquarters Agreement. Implementation by the United States Government of the new legislation would prevent the PLO from exercising its right to participate in UnitYd Nations efforts to find a comprehensive and just settlement to the Palestine question, which had become more urgent than ever in light of events in the occupied Palestinian territories since December 1987. 78. At its l04th plenary meeting, on 2 March 1988, the General Assembly adopted resolution 42/229 A by 143 votes in favour to 1 against (Israel), by which it reaffirmed that the Permanent Observer Mission of the PLO to the United Nations in New York is covered by the provisions of the Headquarters Agreementl considered that the application of the legislation in question would be contrary to the international legal obligations of the host country under that Agreementl considered that a dispute exists between the United Nations and the United States of America, the host country, concerning the interpretation and application of the Headquarters Agreement, and th&t the dispute settlement procedure set out in section 21 oC the Agreement should be set in operation I called upon the host country to abide by its treaty obligations under ~he Agreement and to provide assurances that no action would be taken that would infringe on the current arrangements for the official functions of the PLO Observer Mission to the United Nations in New York; requested the Secretary-General to continue his efforts in pursuance of the provisions of the Agreementl and decided to keep the matter under active review. 79. At the same meeting, the General Assembly also adopted tesolution 42/229 B by 143 votes in favour to none against, by which it decided, in accordance with -19- Article 96 of the Chart6r of the United Nations, to request the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion on whether the United States of America, as a patty to the HeadquartQfs Agreement, is under an obligation to enter into arbitration in accordance with section 21 of the Agreement. 80. The COlnmittee furthar noted the subsequent reports of the Secretary-General (A/42/9l5/Add.2 and Add.3) in which he informed the General Assembly of the decision by the United States Government to close the office of the Permanent Observer Mission of tho PLO to the United Nations, which he had protested as a clear violation of the Headquarters Agreement between the United Nations and the United States. The Committee participated in the subsequent meetings of the resumed forty-second session of the General Assembly held between 18 March and 22 March 1988. 81. The Acting Chairman of the Committee intervened in the debate at the 106th plenary meeting of the General Assembly, on 21 March 1988, and stated that the decision taken by the host country would be counterproductive and would jeopardize the cause of peace. The participation of the PLO in all efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Middle East, as repeatedly affirmed by the Assembly, was essential for the solution of the question of Palestine, the core of the conflict in the Middle East. The Committee wished once again to urge the Government of th~ host country to refrain from implementi~g the proposed measure and urgently to take steps to resolve the dispute through the machinery provided for in the Headquarters Agreement. 82. At its 109th plenary meeting, on 23 March 1988, the General Assemtly, by a vote of 148 in favour to 2 against (16reel and United Stales of Amerioa), adopted rosolution 42/230. By that resolution, the Assembly strongly supported the position taken by the Secretary-Gene~all reaffirmed that the Permanent Observer Mission of the PLO to the United Nations in New York is covered by the provisions of the Headquarters Agreement and that it has the right to establish and maintain premises and adequata functional facilities and that its personnel ~hould be enabled to enter and remain in the United States to oarry out their official functionsl determined that the application and enforcement of the legislation in question is inconsistent with the Headquarters Agreement and is contrary to the international legal obligations of the host countrYI reaffirmed that a dispute exists between the United Nations and the host country concerning the interpretation or application of the Headquarters Agreement and that the dispute settlement procedure provided for under the Agreement should be set in operationl requested the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to ensure the proper constitution of the arbitral tribunal provided for under the Agreementl deplored the (ailure oC the host country to comply with its obligations under the Agreement and urged it to bbide by those obligations and to desist from taking any action inconsistent witll the Agreementl and requested the Secretary-General to take adequate measures on a preliminary basis, if necessary, in order to ensure the discharge oC the oCficial funotions of the Permanent Observer Mission of the PLO, and to report to the General Assembly on further dovelopments. 83. The [orty-~p.cond session of the General Assembly was resumed for the third time on 13 May !Y8B, following the advisory opinion given by the International Court. oC Justice on 26 April 1988 in response to Assembly resolution 42/229 B. The Committee noted with appreciation that the Court was unanimously of the opinion thRt. "the United States of Americi\, as a party to the Agreement between the Unit':!d Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United -20- Nations, of 26 June 1947, is under an obligation in accordance with section 21 of that Agreement, to enter into arbitration for the settlement of the dispute between itself and the United Nations" (A/421952). 84. Tha Acting Chairman of the Committee spoke at the 113th plenary meeting of the General Assembly, on 13 May 1988, and called on the Assembly to endorse the advisory opinion. The Committee sincerely hoped that the host country, in the light of that opinion, would now reconsider the measures adopted to give effect to that imprudent legislation and would desist from its intent to proceed with the matter in domestic courts. The Committee urged again the host country to repeal the legislation which, in addition to the possible closing of the PLO office, also had potential adverse implications for activities by NGOs on behalf of the Palestinian cause. 85. At the same meeting, the General Assembly, by a vote of 136 in favour to 2 against (Israel and the United States of America), adopted resolution 42/232, by which it expressed its appreciation to the International Court of Justice for having found that an early answer to the request for an advisory opinion would be desirable and for having accelerated its procedure I took note of and endorsed the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, of 26 April 19881 urged the host country to abide by its international legal obligations and to act consistently with the advisory opinion and accordingly to name its arbitrator to the arbitral tribunal provided for under section 21 of the Agreementl requested the Secretary-General to continue his efforts in this regard, and to report to the General ~ssembly without delay on developments in this matter, and decided to keep the matter under active review. 86. In this regard, the Committee noted the report of the Secretary-General in document A/42/915/Add.5 containing the jUdgement of the United States Disrict Judge in Manhattan of 29 June 1988 concerning the PLO Observer Mission to the United Nations. The judgement dismissed the United States Government lawsuit seeking to close the rLO Mission under the Anti-Terrorism Act passed by Congress last year. The Committee also 110ted the decision by the United States Government not to appeal the judgement of the reder~\ District Court for the Southern District of New York. 3. h&tlon taken by the CQmmittee to promQte the cODyening QC ~ _~QInat19nBl Peace Conference on the Middle East in accQ_[~llnC-§_Jd.th Gene.r.al._Assembly resolution 38/58 C of lL_Dj}~mber 1983 87. By resolution 42/66 D of 2 December 1987, the General Assembly noted with satis(action the ever-increasing international consensus in favour of the early convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East; determined onca again that the que6tion of Palestine is the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middla East; reaffirmed once again its endorsement of the call for convening the Conference in conformity with the provisions of resolution 38/58 C; reiterated its endorsement of the call for setting up a preparatory committee; stressed onc~ again the urgent need for additional concrete and constructive efforts by all Governments in ul'der to convene the Conference without further delay; and requestpd the Secretary-Goneral, in consultation with the Security Council, to continue hi~ efforts with a view to convening the Conference and to report thereon to the General Assembly not later than 31 March 1988. -21- 88. In the light of that resolution, the Committee once again, in adopting its programme of work (A/AC.183/1988/CRP.1/Rev.1), decided that, in its activities during 1988, it would continue, as a matter of the utmost priority, to exert all efforts to promote the early convening of the proposed International Peace Conference on the Middle East, while urging the understanding and further co-operation of all concerned for the resolution of a problem of such fundamental importance to the maintenance of international peace and security. 89. In light of the grave situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, the Committee also decided to give the highest priority to the need for ensuring the s~fety and protection of Palestinians under Israeli occupation, in accordance with the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of CiviliLn Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949. These goals were stressed in the letter bddressed to the Secretary-General by the Chairman of the Committee on 30 March 1988, inviting the participation of all States and intergovernmental organizations in the work of the Committee (see pAra. 14 above). In response to th& letter of the Secretary-General transmitting the Chairman's leteer, some Member States addressed letters to the Secretary-General containing suggestions regarding the Committee's work. The Committee decided to take note of those suggestions and to take them into account in its future programme of work. 90. The Committee was greatly strengthened in its resolve by the inoreasing concern of the international community as a whole at the worsening situation in the oocupied territories and the overwhelming consensus in favour of a comprehensive negotiated settlement through the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East, as it emerged in particular from the regional seminars and from symposia and meetings of NGOs on the question of Palestine organized under its auspices (see sect. IV.S below). 91. The Committee noted with appreciation that the Secretary-General had continued his efforts with a view to convening the Conference in accordance with the above-mentioned resolution. In partioular, the Committee was pleased to note from the report of the Secretary-General under General Assembly resolution 42/66 (A/43/272-S/19719) that the President of the Security Council, following consultations with the members of the Council, had reported that the members were convinced that the latest developments in the Middle East, partiCUlarly the situation in the occupied territories, called for urgent action to resolve the underlying problem through a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement, including a solution to the Palestinian problem in all its aspects. All members of the Council were in agreement concerning the desirability to convene an International Peace Conference on the Middle East. Almost all members had declared their support for an early convening of a substantive international conference under the auspices of the United Nations, with the participation of all parties concerned and of the five permanent members of the Council. Most of those members had reiterated their support for General Assembly resolution 38/58 C. Some members, however, while expressing continuing reservations concerning resolution 38/58 C as a basis for an international conference, had reaffirmed the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, with all that this implies, as well as the right to existence and to security of all States in the region, including Israel. One member of the Council ~as of the opinion that it was not possible to make progress nor to find ~ peacefUl solution to the problem on the basis of resolution 38/58 C, and had pointed to a peace initiative currently under way. All but one member of the Council had invited the Secretary-General to continue his efforts and consultations on the subject in connection with General Assembly resolution 42/66 D. -22- 92. The Committee further noted that the Sacretary-Genercl had also consulted the parties directly concerned for their current positions on the convening of the International Conference in conformity with resolution 38/58 C. The Committee noted with regret the Secretary-General's conclusion that it was again clear from the communications he had received that sufficient agreement did not exist, either among the parti9s directly concerned or within the Security Council, to permit the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East as called for in resolution 42/66 D. It also noted the Secretary-General's view that the recent and continuing events in the occupied West Ban~ and Gaza Strip had dramatically highlighted the urgent need for the negotiation, in a manner acceptable to all the parties directly concerned, of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict. The Committee was of the view that the uprising in the occupied territories and the repressive policies and practices of Israel, the occupying Power, as well as its repeated violations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries in the area, had created a critical situation which made it imperative to advance towards a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East. At the same time, events during the year had also brought about a greatly increased understanding of the problem and support for the proposed International Peace Conforence on the Middle East among Governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and international public opinion everywhere. The Committee accordingly continued to stress the urgent need for the Security Council and the parties directly concerned to seize this opportunity to take positive actlon towards the convening of the Conference. It also strassed that that member of the Security Council and others who thus f~r have not shown willingness to co-operate should reconsider their positions. 93. 4. Attendance at international conferences and meetings 94. In accordance with its mandate, since its previous report to the General Assembly, the Committee was represented at the following international conferences and meetingsl (a) Special meetings of the United Nations Council for Namibia to commemorate the Week of Solidarity with the People of Namibia and their Liberation Movement, the South West Africa People'S Organization (SWAPO), held in New York on 27 October 1987; (b) Seventeenth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, held at Amman, from 18 to 2S March 1988; (c) Seminar on the International Responsibility for Namibia's Independence, held under the auspices of the United Nations Council for Namibia at Istanbul, Turkey, from 21 to 25 March 1988; (d) Forty-eighth Ordinary Session of th~ Council of Ministers and Twenty-Fourth Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity, held at Addis Ababa from 19 to 28 May 1988; -23- (e) Meeting in Solidarity with the Palestinial1 People and its Uprising organized by the Afro-Asian People's Solidarity Organization, Nicosia, Cyprus, from 28 to 30 June 1988; (f) Solemn meeting of the United Nations Council for Namibia in commemoration of Namibia Day, 26 August 1988; (g) International Symposium on Practical Ways to Support the Palestinian Trade Union Movement, organized by the European Co-ordinating Committee for NGOs on the Ouestion of Palestine, held at Geneva on 28 August 1988; (h) Conference of Foreign Ministers of Nicosia, from 7 to 10 September 1988. 5. Non-Ali~ned Countries, held at Action taken by other United Nations bodies. the Moyement of Non-Aligned Countries and intergovernmental organizations 95. The Committee continued to follow with great interest the activities relating to the question of Palestine of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, United Nations bodies and intergovernmental organizations. The Committee especially noted the growing concern at all levels of the international community about the deterioration of the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and in the region as a whole owing to the policies and practices of Israel, and the increasing sense of urgency with which the international community addressed the need to ensure the safety and protection of the Palestinian people under occupation, and to advance towards a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine. The Committee welcomed the growing sentiment and momentum in favour of the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East in accordance with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C. The Committee noted in particular the following documents: (a) Final communique of the Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries to the forty-second session of the United Nations General Assembly, held in New York from 5 to 7 October 1987 (A/42/681, chap. XVIII and XX); (b) Final Declaration issued by the Extraordinary Arab Summit Conference held at Amman from 8 to 11 November 1987 (A/42/779-S/l9274); (c) Declaration on the Middle East issued by the Heads of State and Government of the Twelve States Members of the European Community meeting in the European Council at Copenhagen on 4 and 5 December 1987 (A/42/858-S/19322); (d) Communique adopted by the members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference at the United Nations, at the urgent meeting on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, held in New York on 15 December 1987 (A/42/892-S/19348); (e) Communique issued by the Co-ordinating Bureau of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries meeting in New York on 15 December 1987 (A/42/889-S/19360); (f) Final communique and recommendations adopted at the emergency meeting of the Al-Quds Commit~ee held at Ifrane, Morocco, on 5 January 1988 (A/43/1l4-S/19464); -24- (g) Communique adopted at the urgent meeting of the members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference at the United Nations, held in New York on 19 January 1988, concerning the desecration of Al-Masjed Al-Aqea on 15 January 1988 during Friday prayers (A/43/94-S/19439)1 (h) Statement by the Foreign Ministers of the Twelve States Members of the European Community on the M,ddle East made at Bonn on 8 February 1988 (A/43/131-S/19487)1 (i) Final communique and resolutions of the Seventeenth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, Session of Islamic Solidarity with the Uprising of the Palestinian People, held at Amman, from 21 to 25 March 1988 (A/43/273-S/19720)1 (j) Statement on the Middle East issued by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden at their meeting at Tromso, Norway, on 23 and 24 March 1988 (A/43/29S-S/19754)1 (k) Communique issued at the session of the Committee of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the States parties to the Warsaw Treaty, held in Sofia on 29 and 30 March 1988 (A/43/276), (1) Declaration by the Twelve States Members of the European Community on Israeli Practices in the Occupied Territories, made at Bonn on 15 April 1988 (A/43/318-S/19804), (m) Communique adopted by the members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference at the United Nations, at the urgent meeting to consider the situation created by the new deliberate attack on the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Tunisia, held in New York on 20 April 1988 (A/43/323-S/19813), (n) Communique issued by the Co-ordination Bureau of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries meeting in New York on 21 April 1988 (A/43/327-S/19820), (0) Resolutions adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its forty-eighth ordinary session, held at Addis Ababa fro~ 19 to 23 May 1988 (resolutions CM/Res.1154, 1155 and 1156) (A/43/398)J (p) Final declaration of the Extraordinary Arab Summit Conference held at Algiers, from 7 to 9 June 1988 (A/43/407-S/19938), (q) Joint declaration iRsued in Luxembourg on 15 June 1988 by the European Community and its Member Stater. and the Co-operation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf and its Member States (A/43/549), (r) Joint communique of the twenty-first ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, held at Bangkok, on 4 and 5 July 1988 (A/43/S10-S/20091), (s) Communique of the ninth meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government ol the Caribbean Community, held at Deep Bay, Antigua and Barbuda, from 4 to 8 July 1988 (A/43/480); (t) Communiquj issued at Nicosia on 7 September 1988 by the Foreign Ministers of the Committee of Nine Non-Aligned Countries on Palestine (A/43/613), -25- (u) Communique issued by the meeting of the Council of Arab Ministers for Foreign Affairs held in New York on 30 September 1988 (A/43/673); (v) Communique of the Co-ordination Meeting of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, held in New York on 29 September 1988 (A/43/692-S/20220). B. Action taken by the Committee in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 42/66 A and B of 2 December 1987 1. Co-operation with non-governmertal organizatiQns 96. During the period under review the Committee, in accordance with its mandate under General Assembly resolutiQn 42/66 A, continued to extend its co-operation to NGOs in their contribution tQ heightening international awareness of the facts relating to the questiQn Qf Palestine and in creating a mQre favourable atmosphere fQr the full implementatiQn of the Committee's recommendations, and cQntinued tQ take the necessary steps to expand its contacts with those Qrganizations. 97. In accordance with its mandate under General Assembly resQlution 42/66 B, the Division for Palestinian Rights, in consultation with the CQmmittee and under its guidance, organized the following activities for NGOs during 1988 in implementation of those objectives: regiQnal symposia for NGOs in North America and Europe; an international meeting of NGOs; and two preparatory meetings, for the North American symposium and the International Meeting, respectively. 98. In accordance with its decision tQ continue to give utmost priority to efforts to promote the early convening of the proposed International Peace Conference on the Middle East, in confQrmity with General Assembly resQlution 38/58 C, the Committee decided that nQn-governmental symposia and meetings should continue to emphasiz·' the importance of convening the Conference and structured the programmes for those activities accordingly. In light of the extremely grave situation in the Qccupied territories and the legislatiQn affecting th~ presence of the PLO Observer MissiQn tQ the United Nations in New YQrk, and the concern expressed by NGOs in this regard, the Committee decided to include cQnsideratiQn of those topics in the programmes of the meetings fQr NGOs. 99. The Committee was greatly encouraged by the intensification of activities and prQgrammes of NGOs, including the sending of fact-finding missions to the area, intensified efforts to promote greater understanding of the issue and support for the convening of the International Peace Conference, as well as relief efforts to assist Palestinians in the uprising. The Committee was particularly strengthened in its resolve by the growing involvement of Israeli organizations and Jewish organizations in North America and Western Europe in these efforts. (a) North American Regional NGO Symposium and Preparatory Meeting 100. The Preparatory Meeting for the N01'th American Regional NGO Symposium was held at United Nations Headquarters on 1 ono 2 February 1988 anti was attended by the members of the North American Co-ordinating Committee for Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question ~f Palestine and by a delegation of the CQmmittee. The meeting elaborated tne various aspects of the programme for the Symposium to be held in 1988 and the modalities for expanding the network of NGOs active on the questiun of Palestine in North America. -26- 101. The North American Regional NOO Symposium was held at United Nations Headquarters from 29 June to 1 July 1988, immediately following the North American Regional Seminar, with which it was combined in the interest of economy and in accordance with the practice followed in previous ye~rs (see para. 116 below). The Symposium was attended by representatives of 47 NGOs as participants, and 34 NOOs as observers from the United States and Canada, by a delegation of the Committee, and by a number of observers from governmental and intergovernmental organizations and liberation movements. The Symposium considered two main panels onl (a) The uprising in the occupied Palestinian territoriesl the urgency of convening the International Peace Conference in accordance with United Nations General Assembly resolution 38/58 C, (b) Implications of United States legislation affecting the promotion in the United States and the United Nations of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. 102. The Symposium also established a number of action-oriented workshops under the general topic "Overcoming obstacles and organiz1ng in North America". 103. The Committee noted that the Symposium adopted a declaration in which the NGOs resolutely reaffirmed the inalienable rights of the Pale~tinian people and that the PLO was the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. The organizations further committed themselves to provide moral, political and material support for the intifadah, and called for immediate intervention by United Nations peace-keeping forces to replace the Israeli occupying forces in order to provide protection and ensure respect for the human and political rights of the Palestinian population of the West Bank and Gaza. In doing so, the organizations affirmed their support for the goals of the intifadah as repeatedly stated in leaflets issued by its Unified National Leadership. The Committee also noted with satisfaction that the declaration contained a plan of action in which the North American NGOs had agreed on practical strategies and support projects in order to promote the goal of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, particularly through the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East in accordance with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C. (For the text of the declaration, see annex VI.) (b) European Regional NGD S~PQsium 104. The European Regional NGO Symposium was held at Geneva from 29 to 30 August 1988, immediately preceding the International NOO Meeting, with which it was combined in the interest of economy and efficiency (see para. 110 below). 105. The programme for the Symposium was elaborated in consultation between the members of the European Co-ordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine and the Committee delegation attending the Preparatory Meeting for the International NGO Meeting held at Geneva on 21 and 22 March 1988. 106. The Symposium was attended by representatives of 66 NGOs as participants and 93 NGOs as observers, as well as by a delegation of the Committee and governmental and intergovernmental observers and liberation movements. -27- 107. The Syrnposiwn had a main theme, entitled "The Palestinian uprising and the European commitment to the InternBtional Peace Conference" and considered B panel of the same title and four action-Jl'1ented workshops. 108. The Committee noted that the Symposium adopted a declaration by which it expressed support for the Palestinian uprising and called upon the United Nations to exercise full resp~n&ibility for the question ~f Palestine and ~o place obsfttver teams in the West Bank and Gau. to help protect the peo).,1h there from continuiug human righte violations. It reaflirmed very strongly the urgent n~ed for the International Peace Conference to be convened in accordance with General A9sembly resolutions 38/58 C and 41/43 0, as the only possible means to achieve a just and peaceful settlement The Symposium further noted the historic links between Europe and the Middle East and the European Economic Community's declarations supporting the convening of ,n international conference, and called upon the Governments concerned to Bet to ensure the convening of the Conference and to end breaches of the Gen~VB Convention by Israel. It also called on European Governments which had not yet fully recognized the PLO to do so. The Symposium also endorsed the recommendations of the NGO-sponsored International Symposium on Practical Ways to Support the Palestinian Trade Union Movement, held at Geneva on 28 August 1988, and included them in the decla~atioa_ It also endorsed a programme of activities drawn up by participants in the worksho~s. (For the text of the declaration, see annex VII.) (c) :nternatioDf~l Meeting of NGOs and Preparatory Meeting Genev~ 109. The Preparatory Meeting for the International Meeting of NGOs was held at on 21 and 22 March 1988 and was attended by members of the International and European Co-ordinating Committees for Non-Governmental Organizations on the Ouestion of Palestine (ICep and ECC~). In this connection, the COlnmittee delegation strongly deplored that the Israell authorities had denied per~ission to Ms. Zaheera Kamal, of the Palestine Union of Women's Work Committees, to depart from Israel to attend the Meeting. The Preparatory MeeLing elaborated the details of the pr09r~meB for the Internatioual Meeting of NGOs and the European Regional Symposiwm to be held in 1988 and discussed :uture co-operation and action by NGOs at the Europ~an and the international levels. In addition, the two Co-ordinating Committees held informal consultations with the Committee delegation and representatives of the Division for Palestinian Rights concerning ways a~d means of strangthening co-operation and improving exchange of information between the United Nationa and the NGO community. 110. The International Meeting oC Non-Governmental Organizations waR held at Gen(Jva from 31 August to 2 September. 1988. The Meeting was attended by representatives from 140 NGOs nR participants and 138 NGOs BS observers from all regions, including several (rom Israal and the occupied Palestinian territories. The Committee was pleased that a uwnber of prominent political persollalities had accepted its invitation to attend and addresR the Meeting_ Ill, The Meeting established two panels, namelyl (a) a panel of eminent persons on the topic "The consequences of the uprisiug in the occupied PaJ.est!nian territolip.& and the llew urgency of convening the I1ternational Peace Conference in accordance with United Nations General Assembly resolution 38/58 C"I and (b) a panel of perscns from the occupied ~erritories qntitled "The consequences of occupation Witnesses from the occupied territories - What has hap~ened". In addition, five -28- workshops were established under the goneral topic "Reopondinq to the challenge of the uprising Gnd the search for peace". 11~. The Committee noted that the Meeting adopted a declaration supporting the !ntJfadab and calling for the immediate ~onvening of the International Peace Con~erence on the Middle E3st in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 38/58 C and 41/43 O. The Meeting condemned all deportations and all other manifestations of the systematic ~estruction of Palestinian society and the attempts by the occupation forces to eliminate Palestinian society for the future. The Meeting urged the United Nations, the five permanent members of the Security Council and the entite international community to help to ensure the protectlQn of the Palestinian people in the occupied territories in accordance with th~ suggestions contained in the Secretnry-General's report (S/19443). The Meeting requested the Secretary-General to send a fact-finding mission to the occupied territories to assess the needs of the Palestinians there. The CommIttee also noted that the Meeting called upon the United Nations to exercise its full respon~ibility for the queotion of Palestine and place observer teams andlor any other United Nations body in the occupied Palestinian territories without delay to help prQtect the people there from continuing human rights violations and specifically requested the Secre';ary-General to establish immediately a special commission to investigate specific instances of violations. The Meeting also called on ~ll Governments to recognize the inalienQble rights of thO Palestinian people anJ to I "ognize,he Palestine Liberation Organization. It further affirmed a progran~e for NGO activities drawn up by the participants in the workshops and requested the United Nations to assis~ in its implementation. (For the text of the declaration, see annex VIII.) 2. Seminars c~~tinued 113. During the period under review the Division tor Palestinian Rights to or~anize seminars in consultation with the Committee and under its guidance, in accordance witn its mandate under General Assembly resolution 34/60 0 and subsequent resolutions. The regions covered during the reporting period were Latin America, Europe and North America. 114. The Committee further expressed its appreciation f~r the decision of the G~vernment of Egypt to provide th~ venue for the African Regional Seminar (the tWAnty-first United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine) and the African Regional NGO 5~nposiwn. Owing to circumstances beyond its control, the Committe~ could not hold tllese events within the reporting period and h~B Gcheduled them to take place at Cairo, from 18 to 22 O~cember 1988. 115. In accordance with previous practice, the CommLttee again decided that the regional seminars would continue to emphasize thd urgent need Cor co~:enin9 the International Peace Conference on the Middle Eastl the role of the PLO; and the need for mobilizing public opinion in the region concerned. The Committee furth~r decided to stress the grave situation created by the policies and pract"~es of Israel, the occupying Power, in the occupied Palestinian territories, in its efforts to suppress the Palestinian uprising. 116. The Committee was pleased by the participation in the seminars of prominent political personal! ties, parliamentarians and policy makers, as well as persons from the academic community and other experts, as this showed the growing concern -29- of the international community at all levels over the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and its determination to promote progress towards a solution of the Palestine question. (a) Latin 6merican Regional Seminar. BaY.D·. 15 tp 11 pgcembQ[ 1911. 117. The Committee greatly appreoiated the offer of the Government of Cuba to host the Latin American Regional Seminar (the Eighteenth United Nations Seminar un the Question of Palestine), which had been Jnoluded in the programme of work of the Committee for 1987 but could not be held before the forty-seoond session of the General Assembly for reasons beyond the Committee's control. (a) The International Peace Conference on the Midd~~ East, in aooordance with United Nations General Assembly resolution 38/58 C, the need for such a conference and efforts and prospects to promote a successful outcome, and benefits thereofl (b) The questio~ of Palestine and Latin AmerJ.oan/Caribbean publio opinionl (c) The role of ~h~ Palestine Liberation Organization. 119. Th~ Committee noted that, in its conclus~nns and recommendations, the Seminar expressed its deep concern over the dangerous situation in the area and the Israeli policies and practices, whioh were in violation of inter~ation8l instruments, and called for attainment by the Palestinian people of !ts lnalienable rights. The Seminar further called for reoognition of the PLO, th~ sole and legitimate repres6ntative of the Palestinian people, by Governments which had not yet done so. The Seminar unanimously concluded ~hat the way to establish a just and lasting peaoe in the Middle East was by convening the International Peace Conference in accordance with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C and called on Ilrael and the United States to reconsider their position towards the Conferenoe. The Seminar also stated that the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian Peopla had an important role to play in this effort, and called for full imp~ementation of the Committee's recommendations. Finally, the Seminar urged intensified efforts to mobilize official and pUblic opinion in Latin America and other regions and to disseminate faotual and up-to-date information on the rights of the Palestinian pwople and the United Nations recommen~ations for th_ir attainment. (ror the text of the oonolusions and recommendations, see annex Ill.) 118. The Seminar considered three panels on the following topicSI (b) EurQpaan.~agiQnal Seminar. Berlin. German Democ[atig Republig. 25 tp jZ 9 Apr .U..J..2ll 120. The Committee expressed its gratitude to the Govermnent of the German Democratic RepUblic for providing the venue for the European Regional Seminar (the Nineteenth United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine), which took place at Berlin !rom 25 to 29 April 1988. 12'1. The Seminar considered th,l following topicSI (8) '...... upr.ising in the occuph<'\ Palestinian territoriesl the urgency of convening the International Peace Conference on the M{ddle East in a~ccrdance with General Assembly resolution J8/58 C; (b) The role of the PLO; (c) The question of P~lestine and European public opinion. 122. The Committee noted that, in the conclusions and recommen1ations at th~ Seminar, it w~s stated that ~he Palesti~lian uprising in the occupied territories had confirmed Lhe determination of the Palestinian people to reject and resist -30- Israeli domination and ocoupation. The Seminar reaffir~Rd t.hat the PLO is the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. It further expressed satisfaction at the growing support world wide for the convening of the International Peace Conforence on the Middle East in accordance with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C, and urged the United States and Israel to rec~nr.ider their negative attitudes towards that Conference. The Committee also noted with interest that the Seminar expressed appreciation for the evolving position of the Western European and the Nordic countries in this regard, and expressed the hope that the Committee would undertake further endeavours witb a view that the countries of Western Europe would play an even more active role in bringing about a comprehensive political settlement. The Committee also noted the suggestions that it int~nsi'l ~ts co-operation with Europe~n NGOs and its efforts so that the next European seminar could be held in a Western European country. (For the text of the conclusions and recommendations, see annex IV.) (c) Nortb American Regional Semipar. New York. 28 to 29 June 1988 123. The North American Regional Seminar (the ~entieth United Nations ~dminar on the Question of Palestine) was held at United Nations Headquarters, on 28 and 29 June 1988. 124. The Seminar considered two panelsl (a) The uprising in the occupied Palestinian territoriesl th~ urgency of convening the Internationa~ Peace Conference on the Middle East in accordance with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C, and (b) The role of the Palestine Liberation Organization. 125. The Committee noted that, in its oonclusious and recommendations, the Seminar had remarked that the uprising in the occupied P6lestinian territories had brou~ht home to Israeli citizens the destructive impact of continued occupation, raising for the firqt time serious doubts about the wisdom of the policies of their Government. ~hese doubts were also reflected in important Jewish communities in Western countries, whose politic '. and financial support was essential to Israel. The Seminar further stated that the basic issues to be addressed in order to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict werel Israeli recognition of and respect for Palestinian rightsl Arab acceptance of the State of Israel within internationally reco~nized bordersl acceptance by IsraQl of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East under United Nations auspices, and recognition by Israel and others of the right of the Palestinian people lo participate in such a Conference through the PLO, its sole and legitimate representative. The Committee further noted with interest the Seminar's call for the ronference to be convened before the end of 1988. (For the text of the conclusions and recommendations, see annex V.) 3. QtJa[ actlvitiu 126. The Committee took note with appreciation that the Division for Palestinian Rights, in accordanc~ with its mandate, had continued to pre~are the following publications, under the guidance or the Co~nltteel (a) Monlhly bulletins covering action by the Committee, other U~lited Nations organs, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned with the question or Palestinel -31- (b) Reporta of regional seminars, regional ~fGO symposia and international NGO meetings, and ~p~cial bulletins on tho obBervanc8 of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, (c) Compilations on an annual basis of t~e relevant resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and the Recurity Council, (d) Monitoring of Arabic, English and Hebrew press and media on developments relating to the question of Palestine and issuance of montbly reports for the use of the Committee. h~d finaliled a new study entitled "The need for convening the International Peace Conference on the Middle East (In accordance with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C)". The study entitled "The origins anG evolution of the Palestinian problem" (part IV), covering the period from 1984 to June 1988, is currently under finalization. Thie study will be added to the existing three volumes. An informatio~ note on the work of the Committee and of the Division was prepared by the Division and is now available in all the six official United Nations languages. 127. The Committee further noted that the Division 128. Tho International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was obsarved on 30 November 1987 at United N~tions Headquarters in New York Bnd Bt the United Nations Offices at Geneva and Vienna. The Committee noted with appreciation that the International Day had been equally commemorated in many oth~: cities throughout the world in 1987. -32- V. ACTION TAK~N BY THE DEPARTMBNT OF ~UBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCB WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY R~SOLUTION 42/66 C 129. The Committee noted with appreciation that, during the past year, the Department of Public Information continued its information programme on thv question of Palestine with a view to furthering the world-wide dissemination of accurate, objective and comprehensive information on the question. The Department's continuing mandate on the area derived from General Assembly resolution 42/66 C of 2 December 1987, by which the Assembly requested it to continue its special information programme on the question of Palestine during the biennium ]983-1989. 130. In re'ponse to the Assembly's request, the Department has disseminated press releases, publications and audio-visual material and has also organized fact-finding publioatio~s and eudio-visual material and has also organized fAct-finding missions and regional and national encounters for journalists. Full coverage was provided of meetings by the General Assembly, the Security Council ano the Commission on Human Rights as they dealt with the question of Palestine, and of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the PopUlation of the Occupied Territori~s and the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. 131. The Department's coverage of the queGtion of Palestine during the past year focused increasingly on news items Bnd information concerning the situation in the occupied t9rritories, partiCUlarly since December 1988, and efforts to convene an international peace conference on the Middle East under United Nation~ auspices. 132. In pUblication activities, the Department actively disseminated information through articles, press releases, brochures and booklets. The UN Chronicl~ reported extensively on the consideration given to the question of Palestine and other related items by the Assembly ftt its forty-second session and by the Security Council, particularly since the beginning of the uprising in the occupied territories. The meetings of the Council which related to the uprising were fully covered by press releases. ~he Department also disseminated information on the seminars and sympoRia held in different world capitals by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian Peop19. An information officer travelled with the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Populatlun of the Occupied Territories during its fact-finding mission to ~an, Damascus and Cairo in May-June 19S8 and reported on testimony taken from inhabitants of the occupied territories. 133. The D~partment continued to distribute a brochure on the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of th~ PopUlation of the Occupied Territories as well as the booklet, The United Notions ond the QUestion-PI Palestine. They are available in Arabic, English, French, German and Spanish and have been given wide circulation through all available channels. The Department expects to update and revise both publications by the end of 1988. A new booklet on the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People is at the production stage. 134. All aspects of the question of Palestine and other related items were covered in the news and taped feature radio programmes of the Department. The Arabic anu Middle E~st Radio Unit, for example, provided broad coverage of the question, -33- including the uprising in the occupied territories, in its weekly programmes ond talephone feeds to radio stations of the region. United Nations activities and events, including observance of 29 November 1987 as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, rec~ived extensive coverage. Two feature programmes in the Perspec~ series, adapted in many languages, dealt with new initiatives to convene the proposed International Peace Conference. In addition, a special series of four featur9 programmes each in Arabic, french and Spanish were produoed on the quest\on, dealing with the Co~ittee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, the human dimension of the issue, United Nations economic and social assistance, and the latest efforts aimed at convpuing the peace conference. 135. A aa-minute film, "Palestinian Portraits", was produced in English by the Department. Although released in late 1987, the film has already been widely screened and loaned out by 34 United Nations information centres and film libraries of the United Nations Development Programme. 136. Full television coverage was provided on General Assembly and Seourity Counoil meetings on the question of Palestine. The commemoration of the International Day of Solidarity, ~s well as the opening ceremony of the photo-exhibit on the inallenable rights of the Palestinibns, were also fully covered. A total of 241 television news packages on the various aspects of the question were prepared for world-wide dissamination. Members of delegations were also ~rovided with video-cassette dubs and excerpts on the question of Palestine-related SUbjects. Cassette copies and linefeeds were made available to the major networks. 137. As in previous years, the Department once again organized activities to acquaint the media with the facts and developments pertaining to the question of Palestine. A team of 10 high-level journalists participated in a news mission to the Middle East organized by the Department. Between 13 March and 2 April, they visited Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan and the Syrian Arab RepUblic. A formal request to the Pormanent Mission of Israel for the mission to visit Israel and the West Bank WAnt unanswered. The mission provided the participants with an opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge &nd impressions on various aspects of the Palestine question. Particulal'ly because of the heightened state of tension in the ocoupied territories, the mission received extensive media coverage in all the countries visited. Numerous articles were later published ~y the participants on the basis of their exp~rience and interviews conducted during the mission. 138. The Department organized two regional encounters for journalists on the question of Palestine, bringing high-level journalists together with experts in the field for brief, in-depth, informal and candid discussions of the various aspects oC the Palestinian problem. The first encounter was held at Nairobi, from 2 to 5 February, and wus attended by 18 journalists from as many African countries, representing the print, radio and television media. The second encounter was organized at Vienna, from 17 to 20 May. About 20 journalists fr~m the different parts of Europe participated. 139. The Department also organized two series of national encounters in which small, balanced panels of experts held meetings, in the form of in-depth press conferences, with national journalists and foreign correspondents in various countries. African national journalists encounters were held in Kinshasa, DF\r es Salaam and Addis Ababa, between 29 January and 8 February. National encounters for Europe were held between 16 and 25 May in Madrid, Brussels and Stockholm. -34- 140. United Nations information centres throughout the world continued to carry out information activities in connection with the question of P8le~tine and made available to the public United Nbtions information materials in the subject. The information centres undertook various activities in ODservance of 30 November as the International Day of Solid~rity with the Palestinian People. They made available publications prspa;ed for, and under the quidance of, the Committee ~'n the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and distributed information circulars in official and local lanqu~qes. Exhibitions were held, films screened, and events organized in various centres in cu-operation with the diplomatic corps, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Pall·stlne Refuqees in the Near East and national parliaments. -35- VI. RECOMMENDATIONS or THE COMMITTEE 141. The year under review was marked hy the courageous uprising (the intifadah) of the Palestinian people in the occupied :alestinian territories against 20 years of Israeli occupation and for t~e aChievement of its inalienable rights. The uprising brought to a new level the understanding of the question of Palestine and support fl)r a comprehensive, just and lasting solution of this long-standing conflict among public opinion internationally and within Israel itself. The intensification of repressive measures by Israel, the occupying Power, in an effort to crush the uprising and its armed attacl:a against States in thft region have been un'versally condemned and have aroused the most serious concern for the safety of the Palestinian people under occupation. The situation has given a new impetus to eCforts to reach a peaceful settlsment in accordance with United Nations reSOlutions and particularly through the convenin9 of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East as called for in General As~embly resolutions 38/58 C and 41/43 D. 142. The Committee reaffirms that, in view of the critical situation, urgent positive action by the Security Council is required on the recommendations formulated by the Committee in its first report and those adopted by the International Conference on the Question of Palestine held at Geneva in 1963, which have been repeatedly endorsed by the General Assembly, and annexes them to the present report (see annexes I and II). The Committee reaffirms that. these recommendations Bre solidly founded on fundamentL', and internationally accepted principles and that the recognition, attainment and exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people are indispensable conditions in the solution of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East. The Committee further reasserts that the Israeli e"ar.uation of the territories occupled by force and in violation of the principles of the Charter and relevant resolutions of the United Nations is a cQnditiQ sine gua non for the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights in Palestine. 143. The Committee nQted the action taken by the Central Council of the Palestine LiberatiQn Organization in the light of the decision of Jordan relative to the Weat Bank, and the respQnse Qf the Executive Committee of the Palestine LiberatiQn Organization tQ assume full respQnsibility tQ maintain as well the fanctioning of the administrative structure in the Qccupied Palestinian territories Qf the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The Committee asserts that the questiQn of representation Qf the Palestinian people is definitively settled and the Palestine LiberatiQn Organization is tho sQle and legitimate representative Qf the Palestinian people. The Committee nu led the universal demand for the withdrawlll of Israeli forces from the occupied ~alestinian and otber Arab territorieR and the Qverwhulming support for the right uf the Palestinian peQple to establish its Qwn independent sQvereign State on Palestinian territory, vQiced by participants in seminars and NGO symposia and meetings organized under the Committee's auspices, as well as by many intergoverJ~ent6l organizatiQns and Governments. 144. The Committee is convinced that these important developments open the way [')r the PalesLinian people to establish an independent Arab State in Palestine as envisaged in General Assembly resolutiQn 181 (11) Qf 29 NQvember 1947, which has only been implemented in part. The CQmmittee is further r.Qnvinced that the Uniterl Natiuns and the international community as a whQle must now urgently intens Hy their efforts to bring this about. -36- 145. The Committee considers that it has now become imperative for the Security Council to take positive action towards the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Mi~dle East in accordance with the guidelines and other provisions contained in General Assembly resolutions 38/58 C and 41/43 D. That Conference remains the most comprehensive and widely accepted proposal for the attainment of a peaceful settlement. The Committee appeals to the Secretary-General to do everything in his power to ensure that active consultations are undertaken within the framework of the Security Council for this purpose. In the past year, the international consensus in favour of the convening of the Conference has clearly been consolidated. The Committee therefore intends to further intensify its efforts towards this objective, and to make it once again the focal point of its work programme in the coming year. 146. Noting that the Secretary-Gener&l has re90rted that sufficient agreement does not exist, either among the parties directly concerned or within the Security Council, to permit the convening of the Conference, the Committee recommends that the General Assembly should call onCA again for additional concrete and constructive efforts by all Governments, in particular the permanent members of the Security Council, for the convening ~f the Conference and for setting up the preparatory committee for the Confer6nce in accordance with General Assembly resolution 41/43 D1 and renew the mandate of the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Security Council, to continue his efforts with a view to convening the Conference. 147. Pending the attainment by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights, the Committee wishes to affirm in the strongest terms the urgent need for effective measures to ensure the safety and protection of the Palestinian population in the occupied Palestinian territories. The Committee calls on the international community, and in particular on the High Contracting Parties to the G~neva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, to do all in their power to ensure respect for the Convention by Israel, the occupying Power. The Committee calls on the Security Council to take the necessary measures to ensure compliance by Israel with Security Council resolutions 605 (1987), 607 (1988) and 608 (1988). The Committee also calls upon the Security Council to act positively on the recommendations of the Secretary-General contained in his report SUbmitted under resolution 605 (1987) (S/19443), and in particular to make a solemn appeal lo the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention that have diplomatic relations with Israel, drawing their attention to their obligati-on to ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances and urging them to use all the mHans at their disposal to urge Israel to abide by and to give effect to the provisions 01 the Convention. The Committee also calls upon the Security Council to give positive consideration to the Secretary-Ganeral's recommendations and observation6 concerning other ways and means available to the international community, including physical protection, legal protection, general asslstance, and protection by publicity. The Committee further calls on the international community, the United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to sustain and increase their assistance to the Palestinian people, in close co-operation with the PLO. 148. The Committee noted with satisfaction the increased awareness and mobilization of international public opinion in support of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and of United Nations recommendations for a compreh, nsive, jUijt and lasting 6olution of the Palestinian question. The Committee believes that 1ts programme of regional seminars and NGO meetings and symposia, as well as the -37- journalists' encounters and other informational activities sponsored by the Committee, have played a valuable role in this process, and will continue to stri\ to achieve maximum effectiveness in carrying out this programme and to intensify its efforts in the implementation of its mandate. Notes 11 Qftigial RegQrdl of the Geneval Allembl,. Tbirt,-first SessiQD, Supplement No. 35 (A/31/35). 11 Ibid., Thirty-slgAPd SelsiAP· Sqpplemept NA. 35 (A/32/35), !Ald., Thirty-third Session. Supplemept NQ. 35 (A/33/35), ibid., thirty-fourth Sessiop, Sqpplement No. 35 (A/34/35), ibid., thirty-fifth Sesgiop. Supplement No. 35 (A/35/35), ibid., Forty-silth SessiAP· Sqpplement No. 1& (A/36/35), ibid., Thirty-seyenth Session. Sqpplement NA. 35 (A/3?/35), iQ14., thirt¥-eighth Session, Sqpplement No. 35 (A/38/35), ibid., thirty-ninth Sesgiop. Supplement No. 35 (A/39/35)' ibid., Fortieth SesliOn' Sypplement No. 35 (A/40/35), ibid., Forty-firs SI&sion. Sqpplement No. 35 (A/41/35)' and ~., rorty-slcopd Session. Sqpplement NO. 35 (A/42/35). Report of the IpternationA1 COnference OP the Question Of Palegtine, Geneva. 29 August-7 September 1983 (United Nations pUblication, Sales No. E.83.I.21), chap. I, sect. B. il The observers at the Committee's meetings were as followsl Algeria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, CzechoslQvakia, Ecuador, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Ruwait, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Nicaragua, Niger, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab RepUblic, United Arab Imirates, Viet Nam, the League of Arab States anc the Organization of the Islamic Conference. The Palestine Liberation Organization, as the representative of the Palestinian people, the principal party to the question of Palestine, was also an observer. il The current membership of the Working Group il as follows I Afghanistan, Cuba, German Democratic Republic, Guinea, Guyana, India, Malta, Pakistan, Senegal, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and, as the representative of the people directly concerned, the Palestine Liberation Organization. al -38- ANNEX I Recommendations of the Committee endorsed hy the aeneral Asgembly At its thirty-first gession. I. BASic considerAtions And Quidelinls 59. The question of Palestine is at the heart of the Middle East problem, and consequently, the Committee stresses its belief that no solution in the Middle East can be envisaged which does not fUlly take into account the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people. 60. The legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to return to their homes and property and to aChieve self-determination, national independence and sovereignty are endorsed by the Committee in the conviction that the full implementation of these rights will contribute decisively to a comprehensi"e and final settlement of the Middle East crisis. 61. The participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, on an equal footing with 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. 62. The Committee recalls the fundamental principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force and stresses the consequent obligation for complete and speedy evacuation of any territory so occupied. 63. The Committee considers that it is the duty and responsibility of all concerned to enable the Palestinians to exercise their inalienable rights. 64. The Committee recommends an expanded and more influential role by the United Nations and its organs in promoting a just solution to the question of Palestine and in the implementation of such a solution. The Security Council, in particular, should take appropriate action to facilitate the exercise by the Palestinians of their right to return to their homes, lands and property. The Committee, furthermore, urges the Security Council to promote actioD towards a just solution, taking into account all the powers conferred on it by the Charter of the United Nations. 65. It is with this perspective in view and on the basis of the numerous resolutions of the United Nations, after due consideration of all the facts, proposals and suggestions advanced in the course of its deliberations, that the Committee submits its recommendations on the modalities for the implementation of the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. Official Records of the General Assembly. Thirty-first Session, Supplement NOL-~ (A/31/35), paras. 59-72. -39- 11. 66. :.'he right, Af return The n~t~ral and inalienable right of Palestinians to ~eturn to their homes is recognized by resolution 194 (Ill), which the General Assembly has reaffirmed almost every year sinoe its adoption. This rlqht was also unanimousl~ reoogni.ed by the Security Council in its resolution 23, (1967), the time for the urgent implementati~n of these resolutions is long overdue. 67. Without prejudioe t~ the right of all Palestinians to return to their homes, lands and property, the CO'll'llittee oonsiders that the proqramme of implementaU.on of the exercise of this ~ 19ht ,Aay be carried out in two phaseu Phase ope 68. The first phnse involves the return to their homes of the Palestinians displaced as a result of the war of June 1967. The Committee recommends thatl (i) The Security Coundil should request the immediate implementation of its resolution 237 (1967) and that such implementatio~ should not be related to any other condition, T~e (ii) resources of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and/or of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near Bast, suitably financed and mandated, may be employed to assist in the solution of any logistical problems involved in th~ resettlement of those returning to their homes. These 8gencie& could a.Lso ass!..st, in co-operation with the host countries and t.he Palestine Liberation Organilation, in the identificati~n ot the displaced Palestiniaus. Phase two 69. ~he second phas. deals with the return to their homes of the Palestinians displaced between 1948 and 1967. The Committee recommends tha~1 (1) While the first phase is being implemented, the United Nations in co-operation with the States directly involved, and the Palestine LJ.beraticn C'lrqanlllation as the int(llrim representative of the Pal"stinian nntity, should proceed to make the neceosary arranqements to enabld Palestinians displaced between 1948 aad 1967 to exercise their right to return to their home~ and property, in accordance with the relevant un.ted Nations roeolutions, partiCUlarly General Assembly resolution 194 (Ill), Palest~nians (ii) not choosing to return to their home~ should be paid jnst and equitable compen3ation as provided for in rssolutlon 194 (Ill). Ill. ~_~~to self-determinati2n. national independence Wed sovereignty 10. The Palestinian people has the inherent ri~nt to self-determlnation, national independence and sovareignty in Pal,.tine. The Committee con~id~rs that the ev~cuation of the t~rrit~=~es occu~i6d by f.orce and in violation of the princ!p16s -40- of tl ~,ciQ and relevant resolu~ions of the United Nations is a sipe Qua pQn for the exercis& by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights in Palestine. The Committee considers furthermore, that upon '-he return of the Palestinians to their homes and ploperty and with the establishment of an independent Palestinian entity, the Palestinian people will be able to eBorul~o its rights to self-determinption and to decide its form of government without b~tern8l interference. ~narter 71. ~he Committee also feels that the United Nation~ has an nistnrical duty and responsibil\ty to render all assistance necessary to promot& the economic development and prosperity of the Palestinian entity. 72. To these endG, the Committee recommends thatl (a) A timetable qhould be established by the Security Council for the complete withdl'awal by Israeli occupation forces from those areas occupied in 1967, such withdrawal should be completed no 14ter than 1 June 19771 (b) The Security Council may need to provide temporary peace-keeping forces in order to facilitate the process of withdrawal, (c) Israel should he requested by the Security Council to desist from the and services in these areas Ghould be maintained intactl establishm~nt of new settlements Rnd to withdraw during this period from settl~.nents established since 1967 in the uccupied tefrit~ries. Arab property ~ll ~ssential (d) Israel should also be requested to abi~e scrupulously by the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Proteotion of Civilian Persons In Time of War, of 12 August 1949 and to declare, pending its speedy withdrawal from these territories, its recognition of the ap},Hcabillty of that Convention, (e) The evacuated territories, with all property e"~ 8srvices intact, should be taken over by the United Nations, which with the co-operation of the League of Arab States, will subsequently hand over these evacuated areas to the Palestine Liberation Organi~ation as the represeutative of the Palestinian peoplel The United Nations Sh"'lld, i f necessary, as&bt in establishing communioations betweeu Gala an~ .ne West Bank' (f) (g) As soon as the independent Palestinian entity has been established, the United Nations, i~ co-operation with the States directly involved and the Palestinian entity, should, taking into account General Assembly resolution 3375 (XXX), make furthel arranqements fo~ the full implementation of the inalienable riqhts of the Palestinian people, the resolution of outstanding problems and the establi~hment of a just and lasting pa~ce in the region, in accordance with all relevant Unite~ Nations resolutions 1 (h) The United Nations should provide the ecunomic an~ technical necessary for the consolidation of the Palestinian entity. assistanc~ -41.- ANNEX 11 ~eneyo Deglaration on Pa~ftstine and the PrQgromme~.Action for tt, Aghievempnt of Palestinian Rights AI A. Qaneva Deglaration on PalestiDe In pur9uanoe of General Assembly resolutions 36/120 C of 10 December 1981, r.S-7/7 of 19 August 1982 and 37/86 C of 10 December 1902, an International Conference on the Question of Palestine was convened at the Unite~ Nations Office at Geneva from 29 ,.o'CiJust to 7 Septftmber 1983 to sp,ek effQctive ways and means ta enahle the Palest~ .1an people to attain and to eKercire their inalienable riCiJhts. The Conferonce w~s opened uy the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Javier Perez de Cuellar, and presided over by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Senegal, Moustapha Nias18. 1. The Conference, havinq tho~oughly considered the question of Palestine in all its aspects, expresses the grave concern of all nations and peoples regarding the ~ntarnational tension t~at hIS persisted for several decades in the Middlo East, the principal cause of which is the denial by Israel, and those supportiuc/J its expansionist policies, of the inalienable legitJ,mate rights of the Palestinian people. The Conference reaffirma and stresses that a just solution of the question of Palastine, the core of the problem, is the crucial element in a comprehensive, just and lasting political settlement in the Middle E~st. 2. The Conference recognizes that, as one of the most acute and complex pro~lems of our tir.te, the question of Palestine - inherited by the United Nations at the time of its e&~ablishment - requires a comrrehensive, just and lasting POlitical sett19ment. ~~~is settlement mURt be based on the implementation of the relevant United Natlons resolutionl concerning the question of Palestine and the attaif.~ent of the leqitimate, inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, inclUding the right to self-determination bnd the iiqht to the establishment of its own independent State in Palestine and should also be based on the ~rovision by the Security Council of guarantees for peaoe and seourity among all St.te, in the rl!gion, including the independent Paleotinian State, within secure and internationally recogn~zed boundarier. The Conference is convinced that the attainment by the Palestinian ~eople of their il1alie~able rights, as defined by Gene~al A~sembly resolution 3236 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, will ~ontribute subsi~ntially t~ the aohievement of peace and stability in the ~!~dl~ East. 3. The Conference considers the role of the United Nations in the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasling peace in the Middle East to be essential and paramount. It emphaslzes the need for respect for, and application af, the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, the 'esolutions of the United Nations relevant to the question of Palestine and the observance of the ~rinciplos of internation&l law. 4. The Cor-ference considers that the various proposals, consistent with the principles of international law, which have been prese,ted on this question, such as th~ Ar~b peace plan adopted unanimously at the Twelfth Arab Summit Conference (see A/J7/696-S/15510, annex), held at Fez, Morocco, in Septemtar 1982, should -42- aerve as guidelines for concerted international effort to resolve the question of Palestine. These guidelines include the followingl (a) The at.tainment by the Palestinian pe'Jple of its le9it.imate inalienable rights, including the right to return, the right to self-determination ~nd the right to establish its own independent State in Palestinel (b) The right of the Palestino Liberation Organilation, the representative of the Palestinian people, to participate on an equal footing with other pafties in &ll efforts, deliberations and conferences on the Middle East, (c) The need to put an end to Israel's ocau9ation of the Arab territories, in accordance with the principle ot the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, and, consequently, the need to ~ecure Israeli withdrawal from the territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, (d) The need to oppose and reject such Israeli polioies and pr&ctices in the occupied territories, includin9 Jerusalem, and any de fagto situation created by Israel 8~ are contrary to int&rnational law and relevant United Nations resolutions, particularly the eetablismnent of settlements, as these policies and practices constitute major obstacles to the aChievement of peace in the Middle Eastl (e) The need to reaffirm es null and void all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, whioh have altered or purported to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, including the expropriation of land and property situated thereon, end in partiCUlar the so-called "Basic Law" on Jerusalem and the proclamation of Jerusalem as the capital of IsraelI (f) The right of all States in the region to existenoe within seoure and internationally recogni~ed boundaries, with justice and ~ecurity for all the people, tho £iJUL~-OQD of which is the reoognition a~d attainmsnt of the le9itimate, inalienable rights of the Palestinian people as stated in subparagraph (a) above. 5. In order to give effect to these guidelines, tbe Conferenoe oonsiders it essential that an international peace conferunce OD the Middle Eas~ be oonvened on the basis o~ the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant resclutions of the United Nations, with the aim of aohievin~ a comprehonsive, just and lasting solution to the Arab-liraeli conflict, an essential elemen~ of which would be the establishment of an independent Palestinian State in Palestine. Thin peace conference should be convened "nder the auspices of the United Nations, with the participation of all parties to the Arab-Is~aeli conflict, includin, the Palestine Llber~tion Organization, aB well as tbe United States of America, ~he Union of Soviot Socialist Republi~s, and other concerned States, on an equal footing. In this context the. Security Council has a primary retOponsibility to create appropriate institutional arrangements on the basi~ of rel~vant United Nations resolutions in order to guarantee and to carry oue the acc(,rds of the int~rn8tional peace conference. 1l~ International Conference on the Question of Palestine emphasizes the importance of the time factor in achieving a just solution to the problem of Palestine. The Conference is convince~ that partial solutions are inadequate and delays in seeking a comprehensive solut1~n do ilOt eliminate tensions in the region. 6. -43- B. ~'ogr~a O~ Aotion for the Aghievement-ot Palestinian Rights The International Conferonre on the Question of Palestine agreed that no effort should be spared to seek effective ways and means tu enable the Palestinian people to attain and exercise their rights in Palestine in accordance with the Charter of the Unite~ Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights QI Bnd the principles of intornational law. The Conference, taking into consideration tho Geneva Declaration on Palestine (sect. A above), recommended the following Programme of Action. I The International Conference on the Que~tion of Palestine recommends that all States, individually or collectively, consistent with their respective constitutions and their obligacions under the Charter of the Unit4d Nations and in conformity with tb~ principles of international law, should. (1) Recognize the great importance of the time factor in solving the question of Palestinel (2) Intensify efforta for the ostablishment of an independent Palestinian State within the framework of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement to the Arab-Israeli conflict in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, the relevant United Nations resolutions and the guidelines of the Geneva Declaration on Palestine, (3) Consider the continued presence of Israel in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories, including Jerusalem, as exacerbating instability in the region and endangering internationftl peace and securitYI (4) Oppose and reject, as a serious and continuing obstacle to peace, the expansionist policies pursued by Israel in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, and in partiCUlar the alteration of the geographic nature and demographic comp~sition, and the Israeli ~ttempt to alter, through domestic legislation, the legal status of those territories, and all the measures taken in violation of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, ~I and the Geneva Convention relative to the Proteotion of Civilian Pe~sonB in Time of War, gl both of 12 August t949, and of The Hague Regulations of 1907, AI such as the establishment and expansion of settlements, the transfer of Israeli civilians into those territories and the individual and mass transfers therelrom of the Arab Palestinian populationl (5) Refrain from provlding Israel with assistance of such a nature as to encourage it militarily, economically and financially to continue its ag9~ession, occupation and disregard of its obllqations under the Charter aud the relevanl resolutions of the United Nationsl (6) Not enco\rage migration to the occupiqd Arab territories until Israel has put a definitive end to the implementation of its illegal policy of establishing settlements in the Palestir.ian and other Arab territories occupied since 19671 -44- (7) Fully comply with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and its specialized agencies on the Holy City of Jerusalem, including those which reject Israel'5 annexation of Jetusalem and its declaration of that city as its capital, (8) Undertake universal efforts to protect the Holy Places and urge Israel to take measures to prev$nt their desecration, (9) Consider ways and means of meeting the threat that Israel poses to regional security in Africa in view of Israel's di~regard of United Nations resolutions, and its close coll=~oration with the a»artheid regime in the economic, military and nuclear fields, thereby contributing to the continued illegal occupation of Namibia and anhancing the r89ime' s repressive and aggreosive capacity, (10) Encourage, through bilateral and multilateral contacts, all States, inclUding Western European and North American States whioh have not done so, to welcome all peace inltiatives based on the recognition of the inalienable rights of the PalBstinian people, which were also welcomed by Chairman Yasser Arafat in his address to the International Conference on the Question of i'alestlne, (11) Seek and develop ways snd means to enable the Palestinian people to exercise sovereignty over their national resources, (12) Express concern that Israel debars Palestinians from eoonomic a~tivity and access to national resources on Palestinian territory, in consistent violation of General Assembl? resolutions OD the right of the Palestinians to permanent sovereignty over their national resources, (13) Declare null and void and COltnter sltch measurBS a:u5 practices applied by Israel in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories, including Jerusalem, as the annexation and the expropriation of land, water resources, and property and the alteration of the demographic, geographic, historical and cultural features thereof, (14) Undertake measures to alleviate th~ economi~ and social burdens borne by the Palestinian people as a result of the continued Israel! occupation of their territories since 1967, (15) Consider contributing or increasing special contributions t~ the proposed bUdgets, programmes and projects of thQ relQvant orga~s, funds and agencies of the United Nations system thHt have been requestAd to provide humanitarian, economic and social assistance to the Palestinian people, with particular referAnce toc (a) General Assembly resolution 33/147 of 20 December 1078 and the appeal of the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme its thirtieth session for additional special contributions dmounting to ~t laast $8 million during the third progrnmm\ng cycle (1982-1986) aimed at helping to meet the economic and sooie1 needs of the Pa1estinlan peoplel 1/ (b) The proposed programme budget of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development for the biennium 1984/85 regarding the establlsbment ~t -45- within the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development of a special economic unit, gt as requested by that Conference at its sixth session at Belgradel bl (c) Establishing a special legal aid fund to assist Palestinians in seouring their rights under ounditions of oocupation, il in aocurdance with the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Person; in Time of lIar I (16) Ensure that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East can meet the essential needs of the Palestinians without interruption or nny diminution in the effectivehess of its servicesl (17) Review the situation of Palostinian women in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories and, in view of their special hardships, urge the Prepar~tory Committee of the World Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women, to be held at Nairobi in 1985, to include this item on the agenda of the Conference I (18) Review, if they have not yet done so, in conformity with their national legislation, their ~conomic, cultural, technical and other relations with Iarael, and the agreements governing them w~th the aim of ensuring that these regulations and agr.eem~nts will not be interpreted or construed as implying in any way recognition of any modification of the legal status of Jerusalem and of the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 19~7, or an acceptance of Israel's illegal presence in those ~erritoriesl (19) Recognize that the process of e~ablinq the Palestinian p&ople to exercise its inalienable rights in Palestine is a significant contribution to the re~tofation of the rule of law in international relationsl (20) Assure the observance of the stipulations provided in General Assembly resolution 181 (11) guaranteetng to all persons equal and non-discriminatory rights in oivil, political, economic and l'eligious matters and the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, inoluding freedom of religion, speech, publication, educetion, assernbly and aS90ciationl (21) Express concern that the laws applicable in the occupie~ Arab territories have been totally eolipsed by a plethora of military orde~s that have been designe~ to establish a new "legal regime" in violation of Th.., Hague Regulations of 1907, and the Geneva ~onven~ion r~lative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Tlme of Warl (22) Act in accor~anoe with their obligations under existing internationDl law, in p~rticular with regard to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 which require States Parties to resp~ct and to ensure respect for those Conventions in all circumstances, and in partiCUlar ensure the respect by Israel for the Geneva Conventions of 1949 in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territo~ies, (23) Express concern that the Palestin~ans and other Arabs in the occupied territories ere deprived of juridical and other kinds of protection, that they are victims of repressive legislation, involving mass arrests, act~ -46- of torture, destruction of lAouses, and the expulsion of people from their homes, acts which constitute flagrant violations of human rightsl (24) Reroqnize the necessity that Palestinian and Lebanese prisoners detained by Israel be accorded the status of prisoners of war in accordance with the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of 1949, gl if combatants, or in accordance with the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 1949, dl if civiliansl (25) Strive for the adoption of international measur,s so that Israel will implement in the West Bank and Ga.a the provisions of The Hague R9gulBtions of 1907 and the G.neva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons, in the light ~f Security Council resolution 465 (1980)' (26) Recognize~ if they have not yet don9 so, the Palestine Liberation Organization as the represe~tative of ~h~ Palestinian people and e6tablish with it appropriate relations I (27) Encourage, in conformity with their national legislations, the formation of national committees in support of the Palestinian Feoplel (28) Encouraga the observanet- uf 29 November as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian PeQple, in a most effective and meaningful waYI (29) Request the Gen~ral Assembly at its thirty-ei9hth session to designate a Year of Palestine, t~ be observed at the earliest possible time, taking into considerati~l& the factors necessary to e~suro ita effective preparation for the purpos9 of galvanizing wori4-wide public opinion and support for [urthe~ implementation of th~ Geneva Declaration on Palestine and the frogramme of Action. 11 The International Conference on the Question of palestine stresses the obligation of all Member States, under the Charter uf the United NatJons, to enable the United Nations through an expanded and more effective role to fulfil its responsibili~~ for achieving a solution to the question of Palestine. To this endl A States participatin~ in the Conference invite the Security Council.- aB the organ with primery responsibility for the maintenance of international peace Bnd security, (1) To suppress continuing and growing acts of aggression and other breaches of the peace in the Middle East which endanger peace and security in the region and the w~r~d aR a wholel (2) To take prompt, firm and eff~ctlve steps and actions to establish an indepeudent sovereign Palestinian State in Palestine through the implementation of th~ relevant United Nations resolutions, by facilitating the organization oC the international peace conference on the Middle EasL, BS called for in ~aragrBph 5 ef the Geneva Declaration on Palestine (~ee B~ct. A -47- above), and by creating in this context the appropriate institutional arrangements on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions in order to quarantee and carry out the accords of the international peace conference, including the followingl (a) Taking measures consistent with the principle of the inadmis'ibility of the acquisition of territory by force to ensure Israel's withdrawal from the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem, with a specific timetable I (b) Undertaking effective measures to guarant.ee the safety and seL~lrity and legal and human rights of the Palestinians in the oocupied territories pending the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including ,Jerusaleml (c) Subjecting those territories, following the withdrawal of Isra~l, to a short transitional period, under the supervision of the United Natlans, during which period the Palestinian people would exercise its ri9ht to self -deterl'hinationl (d) Facilitating the implementation of the right to return of the Palestinians to their homes and propertYI (e) Supervising elections to the constituent assembly of the independent Palestinian State in which all Palestinians shall par.ticipate, in exercise of their ri9ht to self-dete~minationl (f) f~oilitate Providinq, if necessary. tomporary peace-keeping f~rces in order to the ilnplementation of subparagraphs (a) to (e) above. B Meanwhila tho Security Cnuncil is also invited tOI Take urgent aclion ~o bring aho~t an immediate and complete cessation of sucb Israell polioies in the oooupied territories and, in particular, tbe establishment of settlements as have been determined by the Security Council to have no legal validity ~nd as a serious obstruction to a1hieviug a comprehensive, just and lastln9 peace in the Middle Eastl (1) (2) Consider urqently the reports of the COflllnission established under its resolution 446 (1979) of 22 March 1979. which examined the situation concerning settlements in the Arab territories occupied since 1967, includin~ Jerusalem, and to reactivate the above-mentioned Commissionl (3) Initiate action to terminate Israel's exploitative policies which go aqainst. the indlgGnous economic development of the occupied territories, and to compel Israel to lift its restrictions on water use and well-drillinq by Palestinian farmers as well as its diversion of West Bank wate~ resources into the Israeli water grid system, (4) Keep under its ~onstant attention the actions committed by Israel against the Palestinien people in vJ.olation of the stipUlations provided for in relevant General Assembly resolutions, in partiCUlar the stipulations of -48- resolution 181 (11) of 29 November 1947 guaranteeing to all persons equal and non-discriminatory rights and freedoms, (5) Consider, in the event of Israel's persistent non-compliance with the relevant United Natio~s resolutions which embody the will of the international community, appropriato measures in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, to ensure Israel's complianc~ with these resolutions. C (1) Taking into account the recommendations of the five regional preparatory meetings of the International Conference on the Question of Palestine it and United Nations resolutions concerning economic and social assistance to the Palestinian people, the Secretary-General of the United Nations is requested to convene a meeting of the specialized agencies and other organJzations associated with the United Nations, as well as representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organization and of those countries '~hich are hosts to Palestinian refugees and other potential sources of assistance to develop · co-ordinated programme of economic and soclal assistance to the Palestinian people anj to ensure its implementation, (2) The meeting should also look into the most effective inter-agency machinery to co-ordinate and sustain and intensify United Nations assistance to the Palestinian people. D The dissemination of accurate and comprehensive information world wide and the role of Don-governmental organizations and institutions remain of ~ital importance in heightening awareness of and support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to the establishment of an independent soveleign Palestinldn State. To these endsl The United Nations Department for Public Information, in full and constant consultations with the Co~mittee on the ERercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, shou161 co-operatio~ (1) (a) Co-ordinate all information activities of the United Nations system on Palestine through the Joint United Nations Information Committee, (b) of dev~lopments Expand publications and audio and visual coverage of the ,fects and pertaining to the qu&stion of Palestine, (c) Publish newsletters and articles 1n its respective pUblications on Israeli violations of human rights of the Arab inhabitants in the occupied territories and organize fAct-finding missions for journalists to the area; (d) Organize regional encounters for journalistsl (e) Disseminate appropriate information on the results of the International Conference on the Question of Palestine, -49- (2) The relevant organizations of the United Nations system should organize meetings, symposia and seminars on topics within their terms of reference and relating to specific problems of the Palestinian people by establishing closer liaison with non-governmental organizations, the media and other groups interested in the question of Palestine. 111 The International Conference on the Question of Palestine, convinced of the important role of world-wide public opinion in resolving the question of Palestine, and in the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action, urges and encouragesl (1) Intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to increase awareness by the international community of the economic and social burdens borne by the Palestinian people as a result of the continued Israeli occupation and its negative effects on the economic development of the West Asian region as a whole, (2) Non-governmental organizations and professional and popular associations to intensify their efforts to support the rights of the Palestinian people in every possible way, (3) Organizations such as those of women, teachers, workers, youths and students to undertake exchanges and other proqrammes of joint action with their Palestinian counterparts, (4) Women's associations, in particUlar, to investigate the conditions of Palestinian women and children in all occupied territories' (5) the media and other institutions to disseminate relevant information to increase pUblic awareness and understanding of the question of palestine, (6) Institutions of higher education to promote the study of the question of Palestine in all its aspects, (7) Various jurists' associations to establish special investigative commissions to determine the violations by Israel of the Palestinians' legal rights and to disseminate their findings accordingly, (8) Jurists to initiate with their Palestinian counterparts consultations, research and investigations on the juridical aspects of problems affecting the southern African and Palestinian struggles, in particular the detention of political prisoners and the denial of prisoner-of-war status to detained members of the national liberation movement6 of s~uthern Africa and Palestine, (9) Po~lilvnentarians, political parties, trade unions, organizations for solidarity and intellectuals, particularly in Western Europe and North America, to join their counterp~rts in other parts of the world in giving their support, where it has not been done, to an initiativ9 which would express the desire of the international community to see the Palestinian pllople at lust living in their own independent homeland in peace, freedom and dignity. -50- Notes AI See BlP.ort of the Internatignal Conferen~e on the Ouestion of Palestine, Geneva, 29 August-7 Se»tember 1983 (United Nations publication, Sales No. £.83.1.21), chap. I, sects. A and B. ~I See General Assembly reso~ution 217 A (111). gl United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 972, p. 135. ~., dl No. 973, p. 287. AI Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, The Hague Conventions and Declarations of 1809 and 1901 (New York, O.ford University Press, 1915), p. 100. {I ~ See Official ReCords of the Economic and Social Council. 1983, Sypplelnent (E/1983/20). A/C.5/38/4, para. 8 (c). (~~) gl bl Recommendation 146 on Trade and Development. of 2 July 1983 of the United N~tions Conference il Recommendation 19 of the Latin American Regional Preparatory Meeting, Managua, Nicaragua, 12-15 April 1~83 (A/CONF.114/2). il African region, A/CONF.114/1, Latin American region, A/CONF.114/2, Western Asian region, A/CONF.114/3, Asian region, A/CONF.114/4, European region, A/CONF.114/5. -51- ANNEX III ConclusiQn, and reco~ndations Idopted by t~~teeDtb Uniteg NltieDI Seminar on the QUlstiQn Of PIlestine (Havana, 15-17 December 1907) 1. The Eighteenth United Nations Seminar on the OUftstion of Palestine, entitled "The inalienable rights of the Palestinian people", "as held at the Palacio de laB ~Qnvenciones at Havana, Cuba, frQm 15 tQ 17 December 1987, in ac~ordance with the terms Qf General Assembly resolution 40/96 B of 12 December 1985. The Committee Qn the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian was represented by a delegatiQn cQnsisting of Mr. Massamba Sarre (Senegal), Chairman of the Committee, head of the delegation, Mr. AlbertQ Velazco-San Jose (Cuba); Mr. Pramathesh Rath (India); and Mr. Zehdi 1.. Terzi (Palestine Liberation Organization). Mr. Massamba Sdrre was Chairman and Mr. Pramathesh Rath Rapporteur of the Seminar. PeQ~le 2. 3. Four me~tings were held and 17 panelists presented papers on selected aspects of the question of P31estine. In addition, representatives of 26 Governments, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), 2 United Nations organs, 4 United Nations programmes and specialized agencies, 2 national liberation Qrganizations, as well as observers of 17 non-governmental organizations attended the Seminar. 4. The opening session of the Seminar was attended by Mr. Jorge Risquet, Member of the Politburo and the Secretariat, Chief of the General Department for Extornal Relations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba. The Seminar was addressed by the fQllowinga Mr. IsidQro Malmierca Peoli, Minister of External Relations of Cuba; Mr. Naseem Mirza, Chief, Division for Palestinian Rights, on behalf of the Secretary-General; Mr. Massamba Sarre, Chairman of the Seminar; Mr. Imad Jada'a, Ambassador of the PLO to Cuba, who conveyed a message from Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the PLO; Mr. Ammar Amari (Tunisia), representing the Special Committee on the Situation with Regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Pe~ples; and Mr. Nasreldin A. M. Idries (Sudan) representing the Special Committee against Apartheid. 5. The Seminar olso heard statements from Mr. Helmut AngulB, Permanent Observer of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) to the United Nations and from Mr. Stanley Manana, Representative of the African National Congress of South Africa tQ Cuba. 6. MeE'sages of support were received from Mr. Clodomiro Almnida, former Vice-President ( l [ Chile and Secretary-GenerRl of the Socialist Party o[ that country, as well as from the Arab Union of Cuba of the City of Ciego de Avila. 7. On its purl, the Seminar adopted messages to Mr. Yasser Arafat, to the President of the SeclArity Council and also to the Secretary-Gen~ral of Lhe Unite~ Nations. -52- 8. Theee panels were established. followsl The topics of these and panelists were as (a) Panel I, "The IntEtrnational Peace Conference on the Middle East, in accordance with United Nations G'tneral Assembly resolution 38/58 C, the need for such a conference and efforts 8~J prospects to promote a successful outcome, and benefits thereof"l Mr. Shafiq AI-Hout (Palestinian), Mr. Tillo Declerq (Belgium), Mr. Miklos Endreffy (Hungary), Mr. Eduardo Kronfly (Colombia), Mr. Jorge Manfugas (Cuba), Mr. Paul McCloskey (United States), Mr. Mattiyahu Peled (Israel), and Mr. Gabriel Perez Tarrau (Cuba)1 (b) Panel I1, "The question of Palestine and Latin American/Caribbean public opinion"l Mrs. lrma CQceres Perez (Cuba), Mr. Roberto Garc.la (Nicaragua), Mr. Alvaro Menendez Franco (Panama), Mr. Ruben Montedonico (Mexico), Mr. Juan Pereira Fiorilo (Bolivia), De~uty Henry Rondinel Cornejo (Peru), Mr. JU6n SQnchez (Cuba) and Mr. Carlos Alberto ~orrengo (Argentina)1 (c) Panel Ill, "The rolt of the P.llestlne Liberation Organization"l Mr. Fouad Moughrabi (Palestinian). The expert members of the three panels agreed on summaries of the presentations and the discussions on the three topics. The Seminar decided to include those summarieB in the report, which has been published as a special Bulletin of the United Nations DiviGion for Palestinian Rights. Conclusions and recommendations 9. The conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Seminar are as follows I (a) Ihe Seminar recalled that the year 1987 marked a number of anniversaries of significant events in the history of the Palestinian people in its struggle to attain its legitimate and inalienable rights. It was the seventieth anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, the fortieth anniversary of the adoption of General Assembly resolution 181 (11), the twentieth anniversary of the 1967 war and the fifth anniversary of the Israeli invasion and occupation of Lebanese territory and the massacre of Palestinians at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps. (b) The Seminar expressed its deep concern over the present dangerous situation in the Middle East which posed a serious threat to international pe8ce and security. In the nuclear age it was necessary for interuational relations to be restructured so that confrontation was replaced by co-operation, and corflict situations were resolved through peaceful political means and not through military actions. (c) The Seminar ~as profoundly convinced that the vital interests of all peoples of the rp-gien, as well as the interests of international peace and security, could be secured only through the attainment of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement, on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions and under its auspices, of the Arab-Israeli conflict of which the question of Palestine was the core. (d) The Seminar was aware that while strenuous attempts had been loade to find a solution tu the ~iddle East conflict, the situation in the region remained -53- intractable. It was further aggravated by I~rael's actions in the occupied ~.rab territories. The inalienable rights of tho Palestinian people continued to be undermined. Israel continued its policie~ of illegally maintaining and eKpa~ding Jewish settlements as well as confiscatin~ Arab-owned lands and diverting scarce water resources to its own use in the occupied Palestinian and Arab territories. The "iron-fist" policy of Israel had further stifled all forms of political, cultural, social and economic expression of the P6lestinian people. Israel continued to strengthen its control over most aspects of life, with the objective of obstructing a self-sustained development of the Palestinians in the occupied territories by turning those territories into a dependent entity with the aim of their final absorption and annexation. Such policies were in violation of United Nations resolutions, the Geneva Conveutions of 1949 and other norms of international law and exacerbated tension in the area, thus hindering attempts to find a peaceful solution to the question of Palestine. (e) The Seminar affirmed that the denial of the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people remained tho core of the conflict in the Middle East and that a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region could not be achieved without the full exercise of those rights, including the rights t~ return, to self-determination and to Itatehood, and without the complete withdraw~ . of Israel from Palestinian and Arab territories occupied since 1967, includ.f .g Jerusalem. It further affirmed that the PLO was the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. It invited Governments which had not yet done so to accord recognition of the PLO as such. (f) The Seminar unanimously concluded that the way to establish a just and lasting peace, in the Middle Bast wa. by convening the International Peace Conference on the Middle East, under the auspices of the United Nations and with the participation of all paft1e. to the conflict, including the PLO on an equal footing, as well as the United State. and the Soviet Union and other concerned States, in accordance with General Allembly relolution 38/58 C. The Seminar was convinced that partial and piecemeal lolutions would ignore the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict and were not conducive to a comprehensive settlement. The need was stressed for a comprebenlive attempt at establishing a just and lasting peace in the Middle £aet through the International ~eace Conference in accordance witb General Assembly resolution 38/58 C. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People had an important role to play in promoting the convening of the Conference. (g) The Seminar w~s of the view that, during 1987, international understanding of the question of Palestine and support for the attainment and exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights had continued to grow. At the same time, in the region, tension and violence had continued to mount, with tragic consequences. The Seminar considered that the present situation demanded renewed and intensified collective international efforts aimed at reaching a comprehensive, just and lasting solution. Urgent positive action by the Security Council was required on the recommendations formulated by the Committee in its first report, submitted 1n 1976 and endorsed by the General Assembly, as well as the recommendations adopted by the International Conference on the Question of Palestine, held at Geneva in 1983. The peaceful solution of this long-stan~ing conflict and the attainment of justice and security for all, based on the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights, remained a primary and urgent responsibility of the United Nations. -54- (h) The S~minar touk note with appreciation of th~ efforts of the Con~ittee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to secure universal recognition of the inalienable rights of the PLlestinian people, and of i~s recommendations for ensuring the exerclse by the Palestinian people of those rights. The Seminar also noted with satisfaction the increased support at the United Nations for the programme of action undertaken by the Committee. It urged the international community to sustain and strengthen its support for the Committee's activitieo and endeavours, in particular its efforts for facilitating the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East and th& establishment of a preparatory committee within the framework of the Security Council, with the participation of its permanent m9mb~rs. (i) The Seminar expressed its grateful appreciation for the efforts undertaken by the Secretary-General of the United Nations with a view to convening the International Peace Conference on the Middle East. In this regard the Seminar took note of his report (A/42/714-S/19249) and express~d full support for his intention to maintain hie special efforts and continue to explore with the parties ways of advancing the process. The Secretary-General, in his report, had stated that "the inability of the Government of Israel as a who~e to agree to the principle of an international conference under United Nations auspices" remained a major obstacle. The Seminar concluded that the Government of Israel, along with the Government of the United States, opposed compliance with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C. In that context, the Seminar urged ~~e Governments of Israel and the United States to reconsider their negative attitudes towards the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East. (j) The Seminar was of the view that the recent adoption of Amendment No. 940 by the United States Senate making unlawful the establishment and maintenance of offices of the PLO in the United States ignored the fact that the PLO Observer Mission to the United Nations was present in accordance with General Ass~mbly resolution 3237 (XXIX) of 22 November !974. Furthermore, that legislation was contrary to the Headquarters Agreement between the host country and the United Nations. Thd Seminar was also of the view that the closure of the PLO Observer Mission to the United Nations would mean the elimination of an importar~ institution contributing to the search for peace in the Middle East. (k) The Seminar expressed its strong protest against the re~orted Israeli military actions against Lebanon as well as the new wave of oppressioh ·'f PalestiniAns in the occupied territories. It demanded that thuse actions should cease immediately and requested the Security Council to undertake every effort under the Charter of the United Nations in order to put an end to the causes of violence and the use of force. (1) The Seminar appealed to the members of the Security Council and in particular to its permanent me~bers, in exercising their responsibilities for the maintenance of international peace and security, to make every effort to convene the International P~ace Conference on the Middle East without further delay. (m) The Seminar viewed the results of the eighteenth session of the Palestin~ Nationu! Council, held in April 1987, at Algiers, as a significant contribution to achieving a just solution to the question of Pale9tine and resolving t~e plight of the Falestinian people. The Seminar welcomed in particular the unequivocal SUppOJ't of the PLO for the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East in accordance with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C. -55- (n} The Sellllnar recalled .,ith appreciation the support that Governments and peoples of Latin America hlld extended at the United Nations and in other forums to the Palestinian cause and for the achievement of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. It agreed that efforts should be continued and intensified to mobilize the official and public opinion in the Latin American region, as well as in other regions of the world, especially through the use of the media and activities of non-governmental organizations. The United Nations should undertake additional efforts to disseminato factual and up-to-date information on the quesion of Palestine, the plight of Palestinians under occupation or in exile, and the measures requlred to be taken for the achievement of a just solution to the question of Palescine on the basis of the attaiDnI'nt by the Pa16stinia~ people in Palestine of its inalienable rights. The Committee on the Exer~loe of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights had an important role in the dissemination of such information. Moreover, the United Nations Department of Public Information should make every effort to ensure that accurate information on the question of Palestine received the widest possible dissemination and should ensure ad~quate representation of Latin American journalists in its annual fact-finding mi&sions to the Middle East. (0) It was important that governmental media and international news agencies should play a more objective role in providing balanced reporting on the Middle East and, in particUlar, on the plight of the Palestinian people. The Seminar emphasized that intergovernmental organizations, institutions such aR universities, colleges, research institutes, churches and other religious establishments as well as national and international non-governmental orqanizations, had a crucial role to play in the formation of public opinion, especially in the Un~.ted States and Israel. Those institutions should bR encouraged to qive wider coverage and objective treatment to the question of Palestine. -56- ANNEX IV ~nclusions and recommandations adopted by the Nineteenth United Nations SeminAr on the Question of PAleatinA Re~ublic, (Berlin, German Democratic 25-29 April 1988) Introduction 1. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People accepted the offer of the Gov.rnment of the German DemocrAtic Republic (GDR) to hold the Nineteenth United Nations Seminar on the Question ~f Palestine (Fourth European Regional Seminar) entitled "The inalienable rights of the Palestinian people". The Seminar was held at the Palasthotel, Berlin, from 25 to 29 April 1988, in accordance with the terms of General Assembly resolution 12/66 8 of 2 Decel\lber 1987. 2. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People was represented by a delegation consisting of Mr. Alexander 80rg Qlivier (Malta), Rappor~eur of the Committee, head of the delegationl Mr. Tom Qbaleh Kargbo (Sierra Leone), Mr. Alberto Velazco-San Jose (Cuba)1 Mr. Dirk Hielscher (GDR), and Mr. Zehdi L. Terzi (Palestine Liberation Organization). Mr. 80r~ Olivier served as Chairman, Mr. Velazco-San Jose BS Vice-Chairman and Mr. Kargbo as Rapporteur of the Seminar. 3. The opening session of the Semin~r was attended by the President of the forty-second session of the General Assembly, Mr. °eter Florin. 4. Eight meetings ~~re held and 14 panelists presented papers on selected aspects of the question Jf Palestine. In addition, representatives of 37 Governments, the Palestine Liberatio~ Organization (PLO), 3 United Nations organs, 4 United Nations specialized agencies and bodies, 1 intergovernmental organization as well as observers of 5 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) attended the Seminar. 5. The opening session of the Seminar was addressed by Mr. Oskar Fl~cher, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the GDR, and a message was received ~~om the General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany and Chairman of the Council of State of the GDR, H.E. Mr. Erich Honecker, which was read out by the Chairman of the Seminar. 6. At the opening session, st~tements were also made by the representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Under-Secr~tary-General Joseph Verner Reed, and by H.E. Mr. Alexander Borg Olivier, Chairman of the Saminar. 7. A message was received from Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the PLO, and read out by Mr. Isam Kamel Salem, Ambassador of the PLO to the GDR. In addition, a statement waR made by Mr. Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada, Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. 8. The S~minar also heard statements from the United Nations Coun~il for Namibia; Mr. the Special Committee on the Situation with Declaration on the Granting of Independence Mrs. Shi Yanhua (China), representing Emmanuel Douma (Congo), representing regard to the Implementation of the to Colonial Countri~s and Peoples; -57- Mr. Dirk Hielscher (GDR), representing the Special Committee against Apartheid, anc Mr. Achim Reichardt, General Secretary of the Solidarity Committee of the GDR. ThE Seminar also received a message by the Chairman of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Population of the Occupied Tarritories, Mr. Daya Pdrera. 9. On its ~wn part, the Seminar adopted messages to Mr. Erich Honecker, Chairman of the Council of State of the GDR, and to Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the PLO. 10. Three panels were established. follows, These panels and their panellsts were as (a) Panel II "The Uprising in the Occupied Pale~tinian Territoriesl The Urgency of Convening the International Peace Conference on the Middle East in accordance with United Nations General Assembly resolution 38/58 C"I Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. (b) Shafiq Al-Hout (Palestinian), Mr. Dragan Jovanic (Yugoslavia), Igor M. Khvoroatiany (Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic), Vladimir I. Klsselyov (Union of So·riet Socialist Republics), Roberto Mesa (Spain) and Mr. Ingo Schoenfelder (GDR), Panel III liThe Role of the Palestine Liberation Organization"l Mr. Yusif Sayegh (Palestinian), (c) Panel IIII liThe Question of Palestine and European Public Opinion"l Mr. Mikko Lohikoski (Finland), Mr. Ion Margineanu (Romania), Mr. Lothar Pilz (GDR), Mr. MUmtaz Soysal (Turkey), Mr. Jorgen Stromberg (Sweden), Mr. Paolo Ungari (Italy) and Mr. Nicolas Vou1elis (Greece). 11. The expert members of the three panels agreed on summaries of the presentations and the discussions on the three topics. The Seminar decided to include those summaries in the report, which has been published as a special bulletin of the United Nations Division for Palestinian Rights. Conclusions and recommendations 12. The ~onclusions and recommendations adopted by the SEminar are as followsl (a) The Palestinian uprising in tJle occupied territories confirms that the Palestinians are determined to reject and resist Israeli domination and occupation. The Palestinian people is struggling to preserve and protect its identity and its land and to regain and freely exercise its inalienable national rights to return, to self-determination and to the establishment of an independent State of its own in Palestine. (b) While strenuous attempts have been made to bring about a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, the situation in the region remains intractable. It is further aggravated by Israel's reaction to the Palestinian uprising in using mi~.itary might to quell the demands by the Palestinien people for the exercise of itE inalienable human and national rights. Israel contin'les its policies of -58- illegally maintaining and expanding Jewish settlements as well as confiscating Arab-owned lands and diver~ing scarce water resources to its own use in the occupied Palestinian and Arab territories. The "iron-fist" policy of Israel has further stifled all forms of political, cultural, social and economic expression, ~f the Palestiniar people. Jsrael continues to strengthen its control over most aspects of life, with the objeotive of obstructing a self-sustained ~evelopment of the Palestiniah people in the occupied territories by turning those territories into a dependent entitl with the aim of ~beir final absorption and annexation. Such policies are in violation of United Nations resolutions, the Geneva Conventions of 1949, in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention, end other norms of international law and exacerbate tension in the area, thus hindering attempts to find a peaceful solution to the question of Palestine. (c) The Seminar agreed that the role of the PLO derives from the inalienable of the Palestinians to Palestine, their right to ider.tify with it, to live on its soil as a community and national entity, with its social structure and its economic life. It derives from the collective wlll of the Palestinians, both on Palestinian territory and outs~de of it, that the PLO is their legitimate and sole representative. Those two factors are the source of the legitimacy of ~he PLO and the determinant of the complex role it has to play. The record of the PLO confirms and solidifies that legitimacy and has won the recoqnition, first of all by the Arab States and, in due courJe, by more than lOC other States, that the PLO is the legitimate and sole representative of the Palestinians. Among the exceptions to this significant development is Israel, the United States and South Africa. ~ight (d) The international community is becoming more deeply convinced of the need to find an immediate political settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict. That is evidenced by the growing support for the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Miidle East in accordance with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C as the only realistic and reliable means of achieving such a settlement. That support is clecrly reflected in the position adopted by the PLO, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, the ~eague of Arab States, the Organization of African Unity, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the European Communit.y, the Nordic countries, as well as by the USSR, China and other socialist countries. In that regard, the Seminar emphasized in particular the sustained and continuing support by the European socialist and non-aligl1ed countries for the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable national rights an~ the convening of the International Peace Conference on the basis of General Assembly resolution 38/58 C. (e) The Seminar appreciated the evolving position of Western European and Nordic countries in support of a comprehensive settlement and the convening of the International Peace Conference as expressed in the official statements by the European Community and the Nordic countries. It took also into account tho position of the European Parliament in that regard and expressed the hope that the COI1\l.:ittee on the Exerl:ise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People wi 11 undertake further endeavours with a view that the countries of Western Europe will play an even more active role in bringing about a comprehensive poli~ical settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict, guaranteeing the exercise by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights. (f) The Seminar concluded that the way to establish a just and lasting peaca in the Middle East is by convening the In~ernational Peace Conference on the Middle East, under the auspices of the United Nations and in conformity with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C, which endorsed the Geneva Declaration adopted by the -59- International Conference on the Question of Palest~ne, held at Geneva ~n 1983. There was concurrence that a cAreful examination of the ~~mponents of that resolution, whir.h was based on the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, and too~ into account all relevant Unite~ Nations resolutions, and included the objective, the political elements, tho framework of, and the participants in the International Peace Conference, demonstrates the credibIlity and applicability of that project to produce a durable solution. It is the only prescription that ~ould claim to have the ingredients for a just solution to the conflict, for the transf',rmation of the illl1itary conflict into peaceful political platforms. Among the parties involved in the Middle East conflict, Israel and the United States are the only ones rejecting that path. (g) The Seminar expressed its appreciation for the efforts underta~en by the Security Council of the United Nations to bring about a just, lasting and comprehensive settlem~nt of the Arab-Israeli conflict and in particular, to facilitate the convening of the Internatiollal Peace Conference on the Middle Eati i ·· Attention was drawn to the report of ~ne Secretary-General to the Security Council (S/19443 of ~1 January 1988), as requested by resolution 60S (1987) of 22 December 1987, describi~~ the existing situat~~n in the occupied territories and indicating action to be taken by the internationt'~ community to alleviate the SUffering of the Palestinian people under occupation and to rectify the causes of the present situation through a peaceiul negotiated settlement. The Seminar urged the Committee on the Exercise ~f the Ih~lienapld Rights of the Palestinian People to f':ake the necessary steps co facilitate \.'le implementation of those actions. Attention was also drawn to th~ report of the Secre':ary-General to the General ASbemb1y (A/43/272) on t~·· ~rrent situation regard~ng the convening of the International Peace C)nfprence on the Middle East. In th~t context, the Semina~ urged the Governments O£ Israel and the United States to reconsider their negative attitudes towards the convenin9 of the Conference in conformity with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C. (h) The Semi~ar took note with appreciation of the efforts of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to secure universal recognition of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, and its recommendations for ensuring the exercise by the Palestinian people of those rights. The Seminar expressed its satisfaction that the Committee had organized the Seminar for Europe and the suggestion was made that the Committee should in~ensify its efforts so that the next European Seminar c~uld be held in a We3tern European country. The Seminar also noted with satisfaction the increasod support a~ the United Nations for the programme of action undertaken by the Committee. It urged the international community to sustain and strengthen its support for the Committee's activities and endeavours, in particUlar its efforts for facilitating the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East. At the same time, all countries must act and make their own contributions towards the convening of the International Peace Conference. (i) Although Israel and the United States are not yet convinced of the usefulness of the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East, overall international con~itions for Hccomplis~ing that task are not unfavourable. Additil 'al efforts towards the pollti~al, negotiated settlement of regional conflict are essential. The hope was expressed that the forthcoming summit meeting of General Secretary Gorbachev and President Reagan would lead to R healthier international climate and produce tangible progress for a political solution to the Arab-Israeli confict and its core, the question 0f Palestine. -60- The Seminar condemne~ the brutal assassination by Israeli special forces in Tunis oC Rhalil al-Wazir, Ueputy Commander-in-Chief of the Palestinian armed forces, and the open violation of thb sovereignty and territorial integrity of Tunisia. In that regard, the Seminar was apprisad of the deliberations of the Security Council and noted with appreciation the adoption of resolution 611 (1988) of 25 April 1988. The Seminar expressed its condolences to the PLO and the family of al-Wazir. It was of the view that that outrageous act of State terrorism, which has been condemned by the international community, would not deter the Palestinian people from its path to secure and exercise its inalienable rights. (j) (k) The Seminar expressed its serious concern over the attempts by the United States Administration to close thE Permanent Observer Mission of the PL') to the United Nations in complete disregard of its legal obligations under the Headquarters Agreement. The position of the General Assembly in its resolution on that issue was unequivocally Aupported. The hope was expressed that that dispute between the United States and the United Nations could be resolved in accordance with the provision of the Headquarters Agreement and on the basis of the principles of international law. The Seminar took note of the Advisory Opinion unanimously adopted by the International Court of Justice which affirmed that the United States was obliged to enter into the settlement procedure under article 21 of the Headquarters Agreement. The Seminar expressed the hope that the United States would act accordingly. (1) The Seminar recalled with appreciation the support that Governments and peoples of Europe have extended at the United Nations and in other forums to the Palestinian cause and for the achievement of a JUBt and lasting peace in the Middle East. It agreed that efforts should be continued and intensified to mobilize official and public opinion in Europe, and in particular in Western Europe, as well as in other regionR of the world, especially through the use of the media and activities of NGOs. The United Nations should undertake additional efforts to disseminate factual and up-to-date information on the question of Palestine, the plight of Palestinians under occupation or in exile, and the measures required to be taken for the achievement of a just solution to tha q'lestion of Paleotine on the basis of the attainment by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights. ~he Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Pal,~clnian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights have an important role in the dissemination of such information. Moreover, the United Nations Department of Public Information should make every effort to ensure that accurate information on the question of Palestine received tt~ widest possible dissemination and should ensure adequate representation of EUu'j,cc,n journalists in its annual fact-finding missions to the Middle EMt. (m) The Seminar was apprised of the activities of the European Co-ordinatinq Committee for Non-Governmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine and expressed its appreciation for the manifold activities undertaken by that Committee. Regarding the co-operation of the Committee on the gHercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People with the European Co-ordinating Committee and European NGOs in general, the following suggestions were made: (i) To encourage the United Natious to strengthen its co-operation with tha NGD community in all ways possible. In that respect, the decision that the United Nations is planning to organize regional European NGO symposta annually was noted with appreciation; -61- (ii) To encourage visits by represent8tiv~s of the Committee on the Exercise ot the Inalienabl~ Riqhts of the Palestinian People to national events organized by various NGOs, To foster efforts to produc~ an.j update existing factual information material on the question of Palestine about the various aspects of the life of the Palestinian people, its organizations, national ideDtity, culture, etc.; To promote to the extent possible the translation of those pUblications in languages other than the official languages of the United Nations; To facilitate a closer dialogue between NGOs and Governments for exchange of information and views. (ill) (iv) (v) (n) It is important that governmental media and international news a~encies should plar a more obje~tive role in providing balanced reporting on the Middle East and, in particular, on the plight of the Palestinian people. The Seminar 6mphasized that intergovernmental organizations, institutions such 8S universities, colleges, research institutes, peace movements, churches and other religious establishments, as well as national and international NOOs, have a crucial role to play In the formation of p~llc opinion, eBpecially in Western Europe, the United States and Israel. Those institutions should be encouraged to give wider coverage and objective treatment to the question of Palestine. -62- ANNEX V Conclusions and recommendations adopted b¥ the Twentieth united Nations Seminar on the Ouestion of Palestine (New York, 21 to 28 June 1988) Introdugtion 1. The ~wentieth United Nations Seminar on the Question of Palestine (Fifth North American Regional Seminar) entitled "The inalienable rights of the Palestinian people", was held at United Nations Headquarters, New York, on 27 aLd 28 June 1988, in accordance with the terms of General Assembly resolution 42/66 8 of 2 December 1987. 2. Four meetings were held and six panelists presented papers on ~elected aspects of th~ question of P~lestine. In addition, representatives of 40 Governments, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), 2 United Nations organs, 6 United Nations specialized agencies and bodies, 3 intergovernmental organizations, 3 national Hberation movements as well as observers of 9 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) attended the Seminar. 3. Mr. Alexander 80rg Olivier (Malta), Rapporteur of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, was Chairman, Mr. Alberto Velazco-San Jose (Cuba) Vice-Chairman, and Mr. Tom Obaleh Kargbo (Sierra Leone) Rapporteur of the Seminar. 4. The opening session was addressed by the representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Naseem Mir6a, Chief, Division for Palestinian Rights and also by Mr. AleBander 80rg Olivier, Chairman of the Seminar. 5. A message was received from Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the EBecutive Committee of the PLO, which was read out by Mr. Zehdi L. Terzi, Permanent Observer of that organization to the Unlted Nations. 6. Other statements were made at the opening session by the followingl Mr. Ahmad Farouk Arnouss, Rapporteur of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoplesl H.E. Mr. Jai Pratap Rana, Acting Chairman of he Special Committee against Apartheidl Mr. Sarnir Mansouri, Deputy Permanent Observer of the League of Arab States to the United Nationsl H.E. Mr. A. Engin Ansay, Perlranent Observer of the Organization of the Islamic Conference to the United Nationsl and Mrs. Monica Noshandi, Deputy Permanent Observer of the Sou::.'l West Africa People's Organization to the United Nations. At the third meeting, the Observer of the African National Congress of South Africa, Dr. Ernest Feed Dube, made a statement. 7. On its own part, the Seminar adopted a message to Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the PLO. a. Two panels were established. The panels and their panelists were as follows: -63- (a) Panel la "The uprising in the occupied Palestinian territories, the urgency of convening the International Peace Conference on the Middle East in accordance with United Nations General Assembly resolution 3a/58 CfI , Mr. Ibrahim Abu-Luqhod (Palestinian), Mr. William H. Barton (Canada), Mr. Paul N. McCloskey (United States), Mr. Mattityahu Peled (Israel), Mr. V. P. Vorobyov (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)1 (b) Panel III '''rhe role of the Palestine Liberation Organization", Mr. Yusif Sayegh (Palestinian). Owing to circumstances beyond his control, Mr. Yusif Sayegh could Dot attend the Seminar and his paper was read by the Permanent Observer of the PLO to the United Natlons. 9. The expert members of the panels agreed on summaries of the presentations and the discussions on the two topics. The Seminar decided to include those summaries in the report, which has been published as a Special Bulletin of the United Nations Division for Palestinian Rights. Conclusions and recommendations 10. · The conclusions and recommendations adopted by the Seminar are as follows. (a) The Seminar expressed its deep conoern over the present dangerous situation in the Middle East. The vital interests of all peoples and States of the region, as well as the interests of international peace and security, could only be secured through the attainment of a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict and its core, the question of Palestine, on the basis of United Nations resolutions and under United Nations auspices. (b) The Palestinian uprising in the occupied territories now in its seventh month confirms that the Palestinians are determined to reject and resist Israeli domination and occupation. Despite Israel's extremely cruel attempts to suppress it, inclUding the use of brute force against women and children, it is all too evident that the Palestinian uprising has been thus far the most successful in challenging Israel's oppressive plans and policies and in demonstrating anew the Palestini~n people's strong determination to realize its inalienable national rights. The Palestinian people is struggling to preserve and protect its identity and its land and to regain and freely exercise its inalienable national rights to return, to self-determination and to the establishment of an independent State of its own in Palestine. (c) Israel has confiscated Pal&stinian lands and has been instrumental in effecting population expulsion to the extent that today less than half of the 5 million Palestinians live in historic Palestine. The varied and harsh socio-political, economic and legal conditions which characterize the Palestinian existence on their own soil are intended to create an objective condition of permanent subordination and subjugation to a State that views itself as thd sovereign State of the Jewish people. Those Israeli policies of occupation, subjugation, dispossession and expulsion account for the continuing Palestinian resistance. -64- (d) The campaign of civil disobedience by the Palestinians in the occupied territories, sustained with great fortitude in the face of the use of overwhelming military force has brought home to Israeli citizens the destructive impact of continued occupation on their own social values. This, coupled with increasing awareness of the ultimate futility of attempting to maintain suzerainty over lands where they are outnumbered demographically, has for the first time raised serious doubts in the minds of many ordinary Israeli citizens about the wisdom of the policies of their Government. These doubts are also reflected in important Jewish communities in Western countries, whose political and financial support is essential to Israel. Once the inability to resolve the problem by confrontation is grasped by Israel the road will then be open for a negotiated settlement. (e) The SeminBr affirmed that the denial of the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestiuian people remained the core of the conflict in the Middle East and that a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region could not be achieved without the full exercise of those rights by the Palestinian people, including the rights to return, to self-determination and to the establishment of a State of its own in Palestine, and without the withdrawal of Israel from Palestinian and Arab territories occupied in 1967, including Jerusalem. It further agreed that the role of the PLO derives from the inalienable right of the Palestinians to Palestine, their right to identify with it, to live on its soil as a community and national entity, with its social structure and its economic life. It derives from the collective will of the Palestinians, both on Palestinian territory and outside of it, that the PLO is their legitimate an6 sole representative. (f) The basic issues which must be addressed in order to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict area (a) Israeli recognition of and respect for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people which have been hitherto deniedl (b) Arab acceptance of the State of Israel within internationally recognized bordersl (c) acceptance by Israel of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East, under the auspices of the United Nations and with the participation of the five permanent members of the Security Council and all the parties to the conflict, as the mechanism to achieve a solution to the conflictl and (d) recognition by Israel and others of the fact that the Palestinian people has the right to participate in the International Peace Conference through the PLO, its sole and legitimate representative. (g) The inte~national community is becoming more deeply convinced of the urgent need to bring about an immediate political settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict and its core, the question of Palestine. Tensions that persist could be further aggravated by the introduction of weapons of mass destruction into the region. There is growing support for the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East in accordance with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C as the only realistic and reliable means of aChieving such a settlement. Resolution 38/58 C reaffirms the rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to return, the right to self-determination and the right to establish an independent State in Palestine as well as the right of all States in the r~gion to exist within secure and intornationally recognized boundaries. That support is clearly reflected in the position adopted by the PLO, all Arab States, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, the Organization of African Unity, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the European Community, the Nordic countrj~s, as well as by the USSR, China and other socialist countries. It is encouragin9 that all of the -65- permanent members of the Security Council reco9nize that the situation must not be allowed to drift any longer. (h) Although Israel is not yet convinced of the usefulness and the United States is not yet supportive of the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East in accordance with General ABsembly resolution 38/58 C, overall international conditions for accomplishing that task are very favourable. Moreover, it was encouraging that the relations between the United States and the USSR seem to have improved and the nations of the European Community have acknowledged their responsibility to encourage the searoh for a solution. Additional efforts towards the political, negotiated settlement of regional conflict are essential. The hope was expressed that the existing healthier international climate could produce tangible progress for a political solution to the Arab-tsraeli conflict and its core, the question of Palestine. (i) The Seminar expressed its appreciation and support for the efforts undertaken by the Secretary-General and the Security Council of the United Nations to bring about a just, lastinq and comprehensivti settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict and in particular, to facilitate the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East. Attention was drawn to the report of the Secretary-General to the Security Council (S/19443 of 21 January 1988), as requested by resolution 605 (1987) of 22 December 1987, describing the existing situation i1. the occupied territories and indicating action, that may include United Nations presence therein, to be taken by the international community to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people under occupbtion and to rectify the causes of the present situation through a peaceful negotiated settlement. Attention was also drawn tu the r.~ort of the Secretary-General to the General Assembly (A/43/272) on the current situation regarding the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East. In that context, the Seminar urged the Governments of Israel and the United States to reconsider their attitudes towards the convening of the Conference in conformity with General Asaembly resoluion 38/58 C. (j) The Seminar took note with appreciation of the efforts of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to secure universal recognition of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, and its recommendations for ensuring the exercise by the Palestinian people of those rights. The Seminar urged the international community to sustain and strengthen its support for the Committee's activities and endeavours, in partiCUlar its efforts for facilitating the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East. At the same time, all countries must act and make their own contributions towards the convening of the International Peace Conference. (k) The Seminar unanimously stressed the urgency of convening the International Peace Conference on the Middle East in accordance with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C. The Seminar urged that the Conference be convened before the end of 1988. (1) The Seminar viewed the results of the recent Arab Summit held at Algiers as a significant contribution to achieving a settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the question of Palestine. The Arab States once more committed the~~selves to meaningfUl political and economic support to the Palestinian uprising. The Seminar welcomed in partiCUlar the unequivocal support of the Summit for the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East. -66- (m) The Seminar took note with great interest of the statement of 7 June 1988 by Mr. Bassam Abu Sherif, Advisor to Chairman Yasser Aralat on ~he prospects of a Palestinian-Israeli settlement. (n) The Seminar expressed its serious concern over the attempts by the United States Government to close the Perm~·. :nt Observer Mission of the PLO to the United Nations. The position of the General Assembly in its resolutions on that issue was unequivocally supported. The hope was expressed that that disrute between the United States and the United Nations could be resolved in accordanoe with the provision of t,he Headquarters Agreement and on the basis of the prine!I,)les of inter~ational law. The Seminar e~pressed the hope that the United States would act in conformity with article 21 of the Headquarters Agreement as indicated by the International Court of Justice in its advisory opinion. (0) The Seminar agreed that efforts should be continued and intensified to mobilize official and public opinion in North America especially through the use of the media and activities of nati"nal and international NGOs. The United Nations should undertake additional efforts to disseminato factual and up-to-date i~formBtion on the question of Palestine, the plight of Palestinians vnder occupation, and the measures required to be taken for the aChievement _If a just solution to the question of Palestine on the bLSis of the attainment by the Palestinian people of its inalienable rights. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian people and the Division for Palestinian Rights have an important role in the dissemination of such informati~n. (p) It is important that the media should play a more responsive role in providing more balanced reporting on the Middle Bast and, in particular, on the plight of the Palestinians as well as on the efforts to convene the International Peace Conference on the Middle East. Public institutions, universiti~s, colleges, research institutes, churches and other religious establishments, as well as national and international NGOs, have a crucial role to play in the formation of pUblic opinion, particularly in the United States and Canada. Thoso institutions should be urged to give wider coverage and more balanced treatment to the question of Palestine. -67- ANNEX \'1 Declaration adgpte~ bY the UnlteA-Uations Ng~tb American Hegignal NGO S1!lTIp0slum gD t.b.LOuestion of PaleMtLAe (New York, 29 J"ne-l July 1988) Intrgduction 1. The fifth North American Regional NGO Symposium on the Question of Palestine was held from 29 June to 1 July 1988 in accordance with General Assembly resolution 42/66 B of 2 December 1987. 2. The Symposium was attended by repreuentatives of 47 non-governmental organizations as participants and 34 such organizations as observers from the United States and Canada. Still other NaOs from ~I.veral regions attended the Symposium as well as B number of governmental and intergovernmental observers. 3. ~he Symposium received a messBge from Hie Excellency Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation O~ganization. 4. His Excellency t~r. Alberto Velazco-·Sau Jose (c.:uba) opened the Symposium on behalf of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. Ms. Jeann8 Butterfield, Vice-Chairperson of the North American Co-ordinating Committee for NaOs on tne Question of Palestine (NACC) served as chairperson of the Symposium, while His Excellency Mr. Alexander Borg Olivier, the Rapporteur of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalianable Rights of the Palestinian People, presided over the closing session. S. Two panels were established. The first considered the topir. liThe uprising in the occupied Palestinian territoriesl the urgency of convening the International Peace Conference on the Middle East in accordance with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C. Under that topic the followinq pane1ists presented papersl Ms. Hanun Mihail-Ashrawi (Dean of the Art~ School, Bir Zeit University), Ms. TiJrvah Parnass-Honig (Committee to Confront the "Iron Fist"); and, Mr. Mubarak Awad (Director, Palestine Centre for the StUdy of Non-Vi~lence). 6. The second panel was entitled: "Implications of the United Nations leqislation affecting the promotion in che United States and the United Nations of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People". Papars on this topic were presented by the following persons: Ms. Jeanne Butterfield (Palestine .30lidarity Committee, Vice -Chairperson, NACC), Mr. Hanna Halaq (Professor, Bir Ze:t Univ'3rslty); and, Mr. Ramsey Clark (former United States Attorney-Gen'iJrcl). 7. Ten workshops were set up to consider tha following topics, under the genera) theme "overcoming obstacles and organizing in North America": (a) (b) Congressional and parliamentary; Breakthrough in the media and beyond; (c) Forging links between the Palestinian and North American trade union movements; -68- (d) Religious communities I obstacles created by Christian conservative fundamentalistbl building support for Palestinian rightsl (e) (f) Effects of occupation on Palestinian childrenl 'ducating and mobilizing women in solidarity with Palestinian womenl attacks on (g) Violations of international end United States laws I Palestinians and the PLO in the United Statesl (h) Understanding American Jewish policy and problems of organizing within the American Jewish communityl (i) 7he importance of the Israeli/Palestinian issue to the peace and disarmament movementsl (j) Obstacles and strategies for organizinq students in support of Palestinian rights. 8. The Declaration of the Symposium was adopted unanimously and is reproduced below. The Report has been published 8S 8 special bullelin of the Unitod Nations DivIsion for Palestinian Rights. Declaration 9. We, the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) participating in the fifth United Nations North American Regional NGO Sympo~ium on the Question of Palestine, wiSh to thank the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for making this Meeting possible. We are ~ndeed honuured by the reception, and the presence of the members and observers of this distinguished United Nations body. 10. We wish also to thank the Chief of the Division for Palestinian Rights and are especially grat~ful for his enthusiastic support throughout our deliberations. We wish to thank also the Liaison Officer, the staff of the Division and the Department of Conference Services for their invaluable assistance in the preparation and execution of this Meeting. 11. We ,'lsh also to voice our appreciation to the distinguished expert panelists, workshop organizers, resource porsons and facilitators who offered their invaluable insights into the question of Palestine and the potential central role to be played by NGOs in North America. The practical suggestions and strategies developed in the workshops assisted us in formulating future collaborative efforts in North America and in linking our efforts to a broader. global network. 12. We note with satisfaction the record attendance and participation in this year's Symposium, and the commitment to Palestinian rights and a just and lasting solution that such participation represents. 13. We believe this Meeting contributed to the constructive interaction between the United Nations and the North American NGO community concerned to promote the implementation of General Assembly resolution 38/58 C of 13 December 1983, a resolution whose implementation we hold to be indispensable. -69- 14. We resolutely reaffirm the international consensus that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is the Aole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. We affirm the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination without external interference and to establish an independent Palestinian State on its own national territory under the leadership of the PLO, and the right of return, in conformi~y with all relevant United Nations resolutions. 15. We recognize and express our concern for the role that racism, both de facto and de jure, plays in the situation and treatment of Palestinians inside and outside the 1ge7 occupied territories. State actions directed against the Palestinians by the Israeli Government, coupled with the uncritical support by t~e United States Administration of these Israeli policies, shows clearly that racism serves as a buttresc for denial of the inalIenable rights of the Palestinian people. 16. We express our admiration for the unity, courage, determination and self-sacrifice of the Palestinian people in the uprising. We commit ourselves to provide moral, political and material support for the !ntifadah. We req\est that t~e United Nations Security Council and the Secretary-General seek to arrange for an interim international peace-keeping for(:e to replace the Israeli occupying forces in order to provide protection and ~nsure respect for the human and political rights of the Palestinian popUlation of the West Bank and Gaza. 17. In doing so, we affirm our support for the goals of the intifadah as repeatedly stated in leaflets issued by its united national leadership. (a) Refusal to deal with or give legitimacy to any Israeli-appointed civil authority (police, revenue service, department of motor vehicles, etc.). specifically, municipal council and mayors, which have usurp~d the rights and responsibilities of an elected national authnrity. The resignation of such a~pointed individuals and bodies is an immediate and unequivocal pUblic demand (Which has been heedec by most appointees so far); (b) The rejection of all attempts at creating an "alternative" Palestinian leadership from the occupied territories and exposing them as attempts at undermining the unity and legitimate PLO leadership of the Palestinian people ~verywhere; (c) The qualitative transformation of the Intlfadab Into a fUll-fledged situation of civil disobedience (more accurately, civil disobedience/rebellion); (d) Nullification of the emergency laws (Ottoman, British) and an immediate end to Israeli's application of them; (e) The dismantling of Israeli detention camps and centres and the release of all Palestinian prisoners in addition to the cancellation of the Israeli progrmMne of intimidation and terror, including the deployment of troops against civilians in populated areas; The cessation of all Israeli measures aimed at creating new geo-politi~~1 and demographic facts in the occupied territories such as the confiscation of lann, the erection of settlements, the expropriation of resources, the deportation of Palestinians, and the demolition of houses; \t) -'10- (g) The demand for the immediate end of the occu~ation, since Israel has baon proven totally unfit to remain in charge of a civilian population whose human rights it has constantly violated in direct defiance of the Fourth Geneva Convention, (h) Instituting free elections under the auspices of a neutral international body whereby the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gala may elect their own local civil authority, Requesting international intervention in the form of an interim neutral of the West Bank and Gala (whether United Nations or EEC or other) to safeguard Palestinian rights and to prevent Israel from creating further "facts" and from altering the demographics In the area, caretak~rship (i) (j) Urging temporary caretakership so that the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza can practice their rights, including freedom of expression, freedom of political organization, and freedom of access to Palestinians everywhere, including their legitimate PLO leadership. All of this is in preparation for the convening of the United Nations International Peace Conference as called for in General Assembly resolution 38/58 C, (k) The launching of a concerted Palestinian peace offensive clearly expounding political strategy, objectives, and commitments. 18. The aim of this Meeting was to develop practical strategies and support projects for concerted action by North American NGOs. Our primary work was conducted in workshops. We commend their recommendations to all NGOs for their careful consideration. 19. NGOs attending the present meeting have selected a North American co-ordinating committee. During the coming year, the committee is charged by this meeting to co-ordinate the work of the North American NOOs, present in pursuing our common objectives and strategies. The NOOs present request a report from the committee at the 1989 North American symposium in order to evaluate i~s efforts. We urge continuing North American NOO support for the objectives stated in the present Declaration. 20. NACC wishes to continue to act as a resource for the United Nations Committee on the Exeroise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights, as requested. NACC requests that the United Nations countinue its financial support of an NACC preparatory meeting so that NACC can fulfil its obligations in relation to the 1989 North American NGO Symposium on the Question of Palestine. 21. In order to continue collaboration between the United Nations and the North American NGO community, we urge both the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights to send representatives to the major North American NOO conferences. 22. We urge the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to convey this Declaration to the General Assembly at its forty-third session a8 part of the Committee's report. -71- ANNEX VII Declaration adapted br the United "ationa European Regional NGQ SJroposium on the Question Palestine 0' (Geneva, 29-30 August 1988) Introduction 1. The United Nations European Regional NGO Symposium on the Question of Palestine, the second for the Europlan region, was held under the auspices of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 29 to 30 August 1988. The Symposium was conve.le4 in pursuance of General Assemb' .. resolutions 42/66 A and B of 2 Del~el1l.uer 1987. rhe Symposium was attended by a total number of 159 non-governmental or~~nizations (NGOs), 93 of whom attended as observers. It was also attended by se'/eral observers frclm G')verrunents, intergcvernmental organizations and Uni tf!d Nations bodies. 3. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People was represented by a delegation composed of H.E. Mrs. Absa Claude Oiallo (Senegal), Committee Ch~irman, H.E. Mr. Shah Mohammad Oost (Afghanistan), Committee Vice-Chairman, E.E. Mr. uuennadi Oudovenko (Ukrainian SSR), and Mr. Zuhdi L. Terzi (P~lestine Liberation Organization). 4. The programme for the Symposium was elaborated by the Committee in consultation with the European Co-ordinating Committee for NGOs on the Questior.. of Palestine. Its main theme was liThe Palestinian uprising and the European commitment to the International Peace Conference". A panel of the same title was held and presentatiop.~ were made by the following expertsl Prof. Ziad Abu-Amr (Palestinian); Mr. Robert Garai (Hungary); Ms. Luciana Castellina (Italy); and Mr. Ernie Ross (United Kingdom). 2. 5. Four workshops were also held on the following topicsl (a) Children under occupation; (b) Mobilization f~r a political solution of the question of Palestine; (r.\ ~omen for Palestine; (4) Actions to improve the economic and social conditions of the Palestinian people in the occ'l~ied territories. 6. The Symposium adopted a final declaration as well as action-oriented proposals pmanating from the workshops. It also elected a new European CQ-ordinating Committee for ~GOs on the Question of Palestine to co-ordinate the work of European NGOs from 1988 to 1990. Th6 report will be published in due course aa a Special Bulletin of the United Nations Division for Palestinian Rights. 12e.cJaration 7. We, the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) participating in the United Nations Er '?pean Regional NGO Symposiwm on the Question of Palestine, thank the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for convening this meeting and we appt'eciate the presence of: the -72- members and observers of that body. We thank the Chief of the Division for Palestinian Rights, the NGel liaison officers and staff of the Division and the Department of Conference Services, including the interpreters, for their assistance in this meeting. We express our appreciation to the distinguished experts who spoke here. We deplore tho fact that one distin~uished e_pert was prevented from attending by the Israeli Government. 8. We salute the brave peopl" of the occupied Palestinian territories for their courage, endurance and solidodty throughout the \Al'dsing and we 'note how strongly they have focused the attention of the entire world on the injustices suffered by all the Palestinian people. The uprising, by rejecting the occupation and affirming the inalienable righto of the Palestinian people, e.po··· the true nature of the Israeli occupation. We extend all possible support to them in this historic process. We call upon the United Nations to exercise full responsibility for the Palestinian question. The United Nations should place observer teams in the West Bank and Gaza to help protect the people there from continuing human rights violations. 9. We reaffirm very strongly the urg~nt need for the International Peace Conference to be convened, in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 38/58 C and 41/43 D, as the only possible means to achieve ~ just and peaceful snttlament. 10. The historic links between the countries and peoples of SUfope and those of the Middle East, and the fact that Europe is also affected by the lack of peace and justice in th,. Middle East, gives it a special responsibility aDd a key role in the search for a peaceful and just solution of ~he conflict in the region. Noting especially the declar'£tions of the E\l,I."pean Community (EEC\ of February 1987 and February 1988 in s~)port of the conve~ing of an international conference, we call upon the Governments concerned to act to inlplement their aeclarations and to ensure the convening of the International Conference without delay. 11. We condemn the systematic destruction of the political, sooial and eoonomic structure of Palestinian society and the attempts by the oc=upation forces to eliminat.e Palestinian society for the future. Even as we are meeting, the army of occupation closed down trade union headquarters and charitable institutions. These actions are wholly and s~ecifically contrary to articles 47, 49 and 50 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and they destroy the myth of the democratic nature of Israe!. We call upon all European Governments to state categorica11y that their bilateral relatio~s with Israel will be affected by these breaches of the Geneva Convention which will be reconsidered if these and similar practice~ are not ended especially as the signatories of the Geneva Convention are responsible for its impltJmentation. 12. We congratulate the members of t:le European Parliament who have opposed the ratification of the Israeli trading protocols with the EEC and uphold their example in practical action t~ demonstrate disapproval of Israeli actions which are wholly illegal in international law. On the same issue, we condemn the Israeli and Zionist demands addressed to the Soviet Government to establish special direct flights for emigrants to Israel. 13. We call upon all European Governments which have not yet fully recognized ~eople th~ PLO to do so, especially since the international consenSU8 that the PLO is the legitimate representative of the Palestinian is greatly strengthened by thp. -'13·· unequivocal support for the PLO by the people of the uprising. Accordingly, we call for the PLO's participation in the International Peace Conference on the Middle East, on an equal footing with all other parties in accordance with Generr.~ Assembly resolutions 38/58 C and 4]/43 D. We note that the Palestinians have completed the process of nation building and are now ready to have their o~n nation-State. Accordingly, the Palestini~ns' right to self-determination, in accordance with United Nations principles, must be basic to the deliberations of the Peace Conference. 14. We express our strong support for the foroes of peace in Israel which favour the principle of a Palestinian State. We especially express support for those who refuse military service in occupied Palestinian and other occupied Arab territories. 15. We express our great appreoiation Qf the work of NGOs actively involved in the Middle East, in sending missions there and in all their other activities, in support of oppressed people and in working with Palestinian NaOs. We not6 that NaO workers in this field are subject to physical danger and kidn~pping, We give them our strong support. Our primary work in this Symposium was conducted in workshops and we affirm their conclusions. We congratulate the EUfopoan Co-ordinating Committee on o~'ganizing a highly successful internation~l symposium on 28 August on practical ways to support the Palestinian trade union movement and we also affirm its conclusions. 16. -74- ANNEX VIII Declaration adopted by the International NGO Meetin; on the QuestioD of palestine (Geneva, 31 August-2 September 1988) Introdugtion 1. The Fifth United Nations International NGO Meeting on the Question of Palestine was held under the auspices of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 31 August to 2 September 1988. The Meeting was convened in pursuance of General Assembly resolution 42/66 B of 2 December 1987. 2. The Meeting was attended by a total number of 278 non-governmental organizations (NOOs), of whom 138 attended as observers. It was also attended by Mr. Joseph Verner Reed, Under-Secretary-General for Political and General Assembly Affairs and Secretariat Services, representative of the Secretary-General, and by several observers from Governments, intergovernmental organizations, United NatioDs bodies and the Palestine Libb~ation Organization (PLO). 3. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People was represented by a delegation composed of H.E. Mt"s. Absa Claude Diallo (Senegal), Committee Chairman, H.E. Mr. Mohammad Dost (Afghanistan), Committee Vice-Chairman, H.E. Mr. Guennadi Oudovenko (Ukrainian SSR), and Mr. Zubdi Lahib Terzi (Palestine Liberation Organizations (PLO». 4. The programme for the Meeting was elaborated by the Committee on the S.erci.e of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People in consultation with the International Co-ordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine (ICCP). Its main theme was "The conseczuences of the uprising in the occupied ~alestlnian territories and the new urgency of convening the International Peace Conference on the Middle East In accordance with United Nations General Assembly resolution 38/58 C". 5. A panel of the same ti~le was established and presentations were made by the following eminent personalities I H.E. Mr. Apollnar Diaz Callejas (Colombia), H.E. Mr. Paul Findley (United States), H.I. Mr. Rikki Jaipal (India), H.E. Mr. Gerald Kaufman (United Kingdom), H.E. Mr. Vladimir Vinogradov (USSR). The following panelists presented papers on the second panel entitled "The consequences of occupation - witnesses from the occupied territories - what has happened" I 6. Mr. Ghass8n Abdelwahab 11 Khatib (Palestinian), Mr. Emil Habibi (Israel), Ms. Samar Hawash (Palestinian), Dr. Allam Jarrar (Palestinian), Dr. Jumana Odeh (Palestinian)1 Dr. Amnon Zichroni (Israel). Five workshops were also held on the fol~owing topicsl (a) Protecting the human rights and security of the Palestinian peoplel (b) MobiliZing to meet special -75- needs. health, educQtion and welfare in the occupied territoriesl (c) Hew initiatives for mobilization for a just peacel (d) Meeting the 8~cio-economic crisis in the occupied territoriesl (e) Supporting women and children. A number of special interest groups were also organized by the participating NGOs. 7. The Meeting adopted a final declaration as well as action-oriented proposals emanating from the workshops and special interest groups. The report will be ,ublished in due course as a Special Bulletin of the Division for Palestinian Rights. DeclaratioD 8. We, the non-governmental organizations (HGOs) participating in the Fifth United Nations International NGO Meeting on the Question of Palestine, are gathering at a time when the Palestinian struggle has entered a decisive stage. We admire and support the determination of the Palestinian people in the struggle for independence and the securing of its own State. 9. Last year, the Fourth United Nations International HGO Meeting OD the Question of Palestine expressed its grave concern that any further delay in convening the International Peace Conferece on the Middle East, in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 38/58 C and 41/43 D, would worsen conflict in the Middle East and intensify the suffering and oppression to which the PalestiniaD people were daily subjected. Noting that the International Conference has still not been convened in spite of our warning, we now draw attention, with all the power at our command, to the murderous intensification of the daily and continuing suffering and oppression of the Palestinian people since December 1987. We vigorously renew our call for the Conference. 10. We salute the brave people of the occupied territories for their courage, endurance and solidarity throughout the intifadah (uprising) and we note that they have done more during the months of the intifadah to focus attention on the injustices suffered by the Palestinian people than the entire world community had done in the previous 40 years. 11. We condemn all deportations and all other manifestations of the systematic destI'uction of Palestinian society and the attempts by the occupation forces to eliminate Palestinian society for the future. We condemn all infringements of human rights and international law such as administrative detentions, imprisonment, arbitrary arrests, collective punishments, and demolition of houses, the closing of schools and educational institutions, the confiscation of property and the killing of innocent people. We warn the international community that plans for mass expulsions and population transfer (expulsions) of Palestinians are being seriously discussed in Israel. Even as we were assembling, trade union headquarters and charitable institutions were closed down. All these actions are wholly and specifically contrary to Articles 47, 49 and 50 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949. We call upon all Governme.lts to state categorically that their bilateral relations with Israel will be affected by these breaches of the Geneva Convention and that relations will be reconsidered if these and all breaches of the Geneva Convention are not ended. 12. In accordance with the suggestions made by the United Nations Secrotary-General (S/1944]) of 21 January 1988, we urge the United Nations, the five permanent members oC the Security Council and the entire international 7b community to help to ensure the protection of the Palestinian people in the occupied terdtoriol.i. Thh should include physical protection, legal protection, general ass!stOntltt to rtttdst the vlolations (le their dghLs and protection by publicity through thp. international mediR. We request the Secretary-General to send a fact-finding misslon to the occupi~d territories to nssaos the needs of the Paleslinlans thete. 13. We call upon Lhe Unit.ed Nations to exerche its full reRponslbility for the Palestine quoAtion. Tho United Nations should place observer teams and/or any other United Nations body in the occupied Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip wi thout dolay to help pl'Otoct the people there from continuing hwnan rights viulations and Israeli war crimes. We specifically request the Secretary-Generu1 to establish immediately a special commission to investigate the repeated occurrence of maltreatment, beatings, toxic gassing, torture and shooting and killing or Palestinian children by Israeli troops, prison authorities and sottlers. 14. We note that the Jnt.iuw.b has greatly strengthened the international consensus in favour of the Peace Conference. Accordingly, we call on all Governments to support the immediate convening of the Conference under United Nations auspices, in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 38/58 C and 41/43 0, with tile participants including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the PLU, Israel, the Arab States party to the conflict, and other concerned States, on an equal footinq and wit.h equal rights. The object must be to reach a peacurul settlement between the Palestinian State to be established and Israel as conducive to the overall settlement in the Middle East. 15. Noting that the people of the ln~~ijj} are not just protesting against oppression but are callinQ tor the self-determination, independence and right to return which is their dght in accordance with the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations, we call on all Goverrunents to recognize that right and to uphold it. Recent ~v~nts have created a new situation where there is no recognized sovereign authority over the Palest.inian territories occupied since 1967 except that or tho Palestinian ;eople. Thet'efore, we call for the immediate enl.1 of the occupation. We also colI on t.he United Nat· us to assist the Palestinian pdople in securing the right to exercise sovereignty there, according to United Nations resolutions. 16. ReafCirming the international consensus that the PLO is the sole and logitimate representativo of the Palestinian paople, we note that the consensus is grE'l:\tly strengthened by the unequivocal support (or the PLO by the people of the intHadan and hy the united national leadershiJ:> of thelnt.lli.dob. We therefore call un all Govenunenhi Lully to recognize thEi PLO. 17. We demand immediate Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in accordance with United Nallun~ Se~llrity Council resolutions 425, 508 Rnd 509. We demand th~ ending of the inhlUnane 1sraeli air raids and all other attacks on tat'gets in Lebanon. We colI (or an end to all attempts to destabilize Lebanon and (or full recognition of ito unity, sovereignty Rnd democratic development. We ask ICCP to co-ordinate the oending oC delegations to Lebanon as a way to protect the Palestinian POpulAtion there from the occupying authorities. 18. We condemn t.he int.roduction by tArael of nuclear weapons into t.he Middle EOMt-. and the t.hreat to rog101101 and world peace which those weapons constitute. We cnll -77- for the implementation of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East and for Israel to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to dismantle its nuclear and chemical weapons and open its nuclear facilities to international inspection. We especially deplore the creation of new nuclear threats in the Middle East at a time when the United States and the Soviet Union have embarked upon reductions in nuclear weapons. We demand the immediate release of Mordechai Vanunu. 19. We express our strong support for the forces of peace in Israel which favour the International Peace Conference and the establishment of a Palestinian State. We strongly condemn the closing down of newspapers and the harassment of journalists. We express support for those who refuse military service in occupied Palestinian territories and other occupied territories of Arab countries and we call upon the Israeli Government to release the imprisoned soldiers, to drop the investigation by its security services against Yesh Gvul and to recognize the right of Israelis to conscientious objection. We strongly urge the Israeli Parliament to rescind the law of August 1986 which prohibits contact between Israeli citizens and representatives of Palestinian organizations. 20. A major objective of this Meeting was to plan and co-ordinate NGO activities and much of our work was conducted in workshops and in special interest group meetings. We affirm their conclusions and suggestions for action. In so doing, we draw attention to the fact that NGO opinion has been more progressive and creative than official governmental thinking. We urge all Governments, in the interest of peace and justice, to consider seriously the options defined by NGOs. 21. It is important that NGO effectiveness be further increased. Accordingly, we call for NGO liaison offices to be established in every United Nations designated region and we urge the United Nations to convene an annual NGO regional symposium in every region. We urge the United Nations to convene an international meeting in Vienna in the first week of September 1989, the format to be decided, like the format for this present meeting, in co-operation with ICCP. 22. We call upon all our fellow NGOs to provide every material, medical and other assistance to the Palestinian people. 23. We affirm the organization and work of ICCP and its secretariat in Geneva. call upon the United Nations to offer every possible assistance to ICCP and its secretariat. We 24. We urge lhe Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to convey this Declaration to the General Assembly at its forty-third session as part of the Committee's report. We urge that the results of this meeting be disseminated as widely as possible to NGOs unable to attend, to Governments and the media. 25. We thank the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for convening this meeting and we appreciate the presence of the members and observers of that body. We thank the Chief of the Division for Palestinian Rights, the NGO Liaison Officer and staff of the Division, and the Department of Conference Services, including the interpreters, for their assistance in this meeting. We express our appreciation to the distinguished experts who spoke here. 88-33244 0566-67e (E) -78- .~\ ~'lI1 ..:JIJ~ ...sJ 1..... J&. 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