REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE EXERCISE OF THE INALIENABLE RIGHTS OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OFFICIAL RECORDS: FORTY-FOURTH SESSION SUPPLEMENT No. 35 (A/44/35) UNITED NATIONS New York, 1990 NOTE Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates areferenceto a United Nations document. ISSN 0255-2036 [Original: [15 January English] 1990] LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL I. II. III. INTRODUCTION MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE ORGANIZATICW OF WORK A. B. C. IV. E l e c t i o n of o f f i c e r s Participation i n the work o f the Committee o f the Working Group 1-8 9-11 12-17 12-14 15-16 17 18-93 v 1 3 4 4 4 4 5 Re-establishment ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE A. A c t i o n taken i n accordance w i t h G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/175 A o f 15 December 1988 1. Review o f the s i t u a t i o n r e l a t i n g t o t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e and e f f o r t s t o implement the recommendations o f the Committee R e a c t i o n s t o developments a f f e c t i n g the i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s o f the P a l e s t i n i a n people A c t i o n taken by the Committee t o promote the convening o f the proposed I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the M i d d l e E a s t i n accordance w i t h G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176 o f 15 December 1988 Attendance meetings at i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n f e r e n c e s and 18-63 5 18-31 5 2. 32-56 9 3. 57 - 61 14 4. 62 16 , 5. A c t i o n taken by U n i t e d N a t i o n s b o d i e s , the Movement of Non-Aligned C o u n t r i e s and i n t e r g o v e r n m e n t a l organizations 63 16 B. A c t i o n taken by the Committee i n accordance w i t h G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n s 43/175 A and o f 15 December 1988 1. C o - o p e r a t i o n w i t h non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s .. 64 - 93 64-82 18 18 CONTENTS (continued) P&r&qretptis 2. 3. V. Seminars Other activities DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION IN 94 - 109 110-118 Annexes I. II. Recommendations of the Committee endorsed by the G e n e r a l Assembly a t i t s t h i r t y - f i r s t session C o n c l u s i o n s and recommendations adopted by the T w e n t y - f i r s t U n i t e d N a t i o n s Seminar on the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , C a i r o , 18 t o 22 December 1988 D e c l a r a t i o n adopted by the U n i t e d N a t i o n s A f r i c a n R e g i o n a l NGO Symposium on the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , C a i r o , 18 to 21 December 1988 C o n c l u s i o n s and recommendations adopted by the Twenty-second U n i t e d N a t i o n s Seminar on the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , New York, 19 and 20 June 1989 D e c l a r a t i o n adopted by the U n i t e d N a t i o n s N o r t h American R e g i o n a l NGO Symposium on the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , New York, 21 t o 23 June 1989 . D e c l a r a t i o n adopted by the U n i t e d N a t i o n s European R e g i o n a l NGO Symposiiun on the Q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e , Vienna, 28 and 29 August 1989 D e c l a r a t i o n adopted by the S i x t h U n i t e d N a t i o n s I n t e r n a t i o n a l Meeting on the Q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e , V i e n n a , 30 August t o 1 September 1989 NGO 83 - 90 Pgqe 22 24 91-93 ACTION TAKEN BY THE ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 43/175 VI. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE 25 29 33 36 III. 42 IV. 45 V. 52 VI. 57 VII. 61 -iv- LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 8 November Sir, I have the honour to e n c l o s e h e r e w i t h the r e p o r t o f the Committee on the E x e r c i s e of the I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s o f the P a l e s t i n i a n People f o r s u b m i s s i o n t o the G e n e r a l Assembly i n accordance w i t h paragraph 4 o f r e s o l u t i o n 43/175 A o f 15 December 1988. A c c e p t , S i r , the a s s u r a n c e s o f my h i g h e s t c o n s i d e r a t i o n . 1989 (Signed) Absa Claude DIALLO Chairman o f t h e Committee on the E x e r c i s e o f the I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s o f the P a l e s t i n i a n People His E x c e l l e n c y Mr. J a v i e r Peres de C u e l l a r S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l o f the U n i t e d N a t i o n s INTRODUCTION 1. The C o n u n i t t e e on t h e E x e r c i s e o f t h e I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n P e o p l e , e s t a b l i s h e d by G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y r e s o l u t i o n 3376 (XXX) o f 10 N o v e m b e r 1975, i s c u r r e n t l y c o m p o s e d o f 23 Member S t a t e s as f o l l o w s : A f g h a n i s t a n , Cuba, C y p r u s , (German D e m o c r a t i c R e p u b l i c , G u i n e a , G u y a n a , H u n g a r y , I n d i a , I n d o n e s i a , Lao P e o p l e ' s D e m o c r a t i c R e p u b l i c , Madagascar, M a l a y s i a , M a l i , M a l t a , N i g e r i a , P a k i s t a n , Romania, S e n e g a l , S i e r r a L e o n e , T u n i s i a , T u r k e y , U k r a i n i a n S o v i e t S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c and Yugoslavia. 2. In i t s f i r s t r e p o r t , 1/ t h e C o m m i t t e e made a number o f r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s s p e c i f i c a l l y d e s i g n e d t o e n a b l e t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e t o a t t a i n and e x e r c i s e i t s i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s i n P a l e s t i n e as p r e v i o u s l y r e c o g n i z e d and d e f i n e d by t h e G e n e r c l Assembly. T h o s e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s w e r e f i r s t e n d o r s e d by t h e A s s e m b l y i n i t s r e s o l u t i o n 31/20 o f 24 November 1976 as a b a s i s f o r t h e s o l u t i o n o f t h e q u e s t i o n c f Palestine. 3. In i t s s u b s e q u e n t r e p o r t s t o t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y , 2/ t h e C o m m i t t e e reaffirmed i t s o r i g i n a l r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s and c a l l e d f o r t h e i r i m p l e m e n t a t i o n . On e a c h o c c a s i c r . t h e y h a v e b e e n e n d o r s e d o v e r w h e l m i n g l y by t h e A s s e m b l y , w h i c h has a l s o c o n t i n u e d t o r e n e w a n d , as n e c e s s a r y , e x p a n d t h e m a n d a t e o f t h e C o m m i t t e e . 4. H o w e v e r , d e s p i t e t h e i n c r e a s i n g u r g e n c y o f t h e a p p e a l s by t h e C o m m i t t e e and the g r a v e d e t e r i o r a t i o n of the s i t u a t i o n i n the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y , the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l has n o t y e t b e e n a b l e t o a c t on o r i m p l e m e n t t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s of the Committee. The C o m m i t t e e r e m a i n s c o n v i n c e d t h a t p o s i t i v e c o n s i d e r a t i o n and a c t i o n b y t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l on t h e s e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s w o u l d a d v a n c e p r o s p e c t s f o r t h e a t t a i n m e n t o f a c o m p r e h e n s i v e , j u s t and l a s t i n g s o l u t i o n t o t h e A r a b - I s r a e l i c o n f l i c t , the c o r e of w h i c h i s the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e . 5. The C o m m i t t e e ' s e f f o r t s t o p r o m o t e s u c h a s o l u t i o n a c q u i r e d e v e n g r e a t e r urgency in the year under r e v i e w because of the f u r t h e r e s c a l a t i o n of r e p r e s s i o n by I s r a e l , the o c c u p y i n g Power, i n i t s e f f o r t s to c r u s h the P a l e s t i n i a n u p r i s i n g , the i n t i f a d a l ^ , now i n i t s s e c o n d y e a r . D e s p i t e t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l o u t c r y o v e r g r a v e and r e p e a t e d v i o l a t i o n s o f human r i g h t s i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y and the a d o p t i o n by t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l o f r e s o l u t i o n s r e q u e s t i n g t h e o c c u p y i n g P o w e r t o a b i d e by i t s o b l i g a t i o n s u n d e r i n t e r n a t i o n a l l a w , I s r a e l has c o n t i n u e d and has i n c r e a s e d i t s a c t s o f r e p r e s s i o n and o p p r e s s i o n w i t h t h e h e l p o f i t s a r m e d f o r c e s and s e t t l e r s a g a i n s t t h e P a l e s t i n i a n c i v i l i a n p o p u l a t i o n r e s i s t i n g t h e o c c u p a t i o n . The C o m m i t t e e r e p e a t e d l y e x p r e s s e d i t s m o s t p r o f o u n d c o n c e r n a t t h e m o u n t i n g c a s u a l t i e s and s u f f e r i n g i n f l i c t e d on t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e , p a r t i c u l a r l y women nnd c h i l d r e n , and a t t h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f t e n s i o n and v i o l e n c e i n t h e r e g i o n , and warned t h a t I s r a e l ' s i n t r a n s i g e n c e would o n l y e x a c e r b a t e the s i t u a t i o n , jeopardize i n t e r n a t i o n a l e f f o r t s t o p r o m o t e a n e g o t i a t i n g p r o c e s s , and f u r t h e r e n d a n g e r i n t e r n a t i o n a l p e a c e and s e c u r i t y . The C o m m i t t e e r e a f f i r m e d t h a t no s o l u t i o n c o u l d be a c h i e v e d as l o n g as t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e was d e n i e d t h e e x e r c i s e o f i t s i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s i n P a l e s t i n e , i n c l u d i n g those to s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n without e x t e r n a l i n t e r f e r e n c e , t o n a t i o n a l i n d e p e n d e n c e and s o v e r e i g n t y , t o r e t u r n t o i t s homes and p r o p e r t y , and t o e s t a b l i s h i t s own i n d e p e n d e n t s o v e r e i g n S t a t e , and as l o n g as I s r a e l c o n t i n u e d t o o c c u p y t h e P a l e s t i n i a n and o t h e r A r a b t e r r i t o r i e s . 6. The C o m m i t t e e t h e r e f o r e c o n t i n u e d t o g i v e t h e h i g ) i e s t p r i o r i t y t o t h e u r g e n t need f o r e n s u r i n g t h e s a f e t y and p r o t e c t i o n o f P a l e s t i n i a n s u n d e r I s r a e l i o c c u p a t i o n and f o r a l l e v i a t i n g t h e i r s u f f e r i n g , w h i l e f u r t h e r i n t e n s i f y i n g i t s e f f o r t s t o p r o m o t e a c o m p r e h e n s i v e , j u s t and l a s t i n g s e t t l e m e n t i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h United Nations r e s o l u t i o n s . 7. The C o m m i t t e e w e l c o m e d t h e h i s t o r i c p e a c e i n i t i a t i v e l a u n c h e d by t h e P a l e s t i n e N a t i o n a l Council at i t s nineteenth e x t r a o r d i n a r y s e s s i o n , held at A l g i e r s i n November 1988, a n d , i n p a r t i c u l a r , t h e p r o c l a m a t i o n o f t h e S t a t e o f P a l e s t i n e as a b o l d and s i g n i f i c a n t c o n t r i b u t i o n t o w a r d s t h e a c h i e v e m e n t o f p e a c e i n t h e M i d d l e East. The C o m m i t t e e t o o k n o t e w i t h s a t i s f a c t i o n o f t h e i n i t i a t i o n o f a d i a l o g u e b e t w e e n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a and t h e P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n (PLO) as a p o s i t i v e m e a s u r e t h a t c o n t r i b u t e s t o r e d r e s s i n g t h e i m b a l a n c e b e t w e e n t h e p a r t i e s . I t e x p r e s s e d t h e hope t h a t t h e d i a l o g u e w o u l d l e a d t o t h e r e m o v a l o f o b s t a c l e s t o t h e c o n v e n i n g o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e on t h e M i d d l e E a s t and c a l l e d f o r i t s c o n t i n u a t i o n and t h e e x p a n s i o n o f i t s p o l i t i c a l s c o p e . The C o m m i t t e e c o n s i d e r e d t h a t i t was now i n c u m b e n t upon t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f I s r a e l t o r e s p o n d p o s i t i v e l y t o t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e a c e i n i t i a t i v e , w h i c h had t h e o v e r w h e l m i n g s u p p o r t of the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community. The C o m m i t t e e f u l l y s u p p o r t e d t h e c o u r a g e o u s i n t i f a d a h o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e , w h i c h c o n f i r m s i n no u n c e r t a i n t e r m s t h e P a l e s t i n i a n d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o r e s i s t , r e j e c t and p u t an end t o I s r a e l i o c c u p a t i o n o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y o c c u p i e d s i n c e 1967. The C o m m i t t e e c o n s i d e r e d t h a t t h e i n t i f a d a h and t h e s u b s e q u e n t d e v e l o p m e n t s , as w e l l as t h e g e n e r a l i m p r o v e m e n t i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c l i m a t e , had c r e a t e d a new momentum t o w a r d s a n e g o t i a t e d s e t t l e m e n t and t h a t t h i s h i s t o r i c o p p o r t u n i t y s h o u l d n o t be missed. 8. The C o m m i t t e e a c c o r d i n g l y r e i t e r a t e d i t s a p p e a l s t o t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l to take a c t i o n u r g e n t l y i n o r d e r t o s e c u r e U n i t e d N a t i o n s o b j e c t i v e s on t h e q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , i n p a r t i c u l a r through the convening of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on the M i d d l e E a s t , i n accordance w i t h the p r i n c i p l e s a f f i r m e d by the General Assembly i n i t s r e s o l u t i o n 43/176 of 15 December 1988. The Committee r e i t e r a t e d i t s f i r m c o n v i c t i o n t h a t the Conference p r o v i d e s the o n l y comprehensive, p r a c t i c a l and overwhelmingly a c c e p t e d framework f o r peace and s t r e s s e d once a g a i n the urgent need f o r a d d i t i o n a l c o n c r e t e and c o n s t r u c t i v e e f f o r t s by a l l concerned i n o r d e r to convene the Conference w i t h o u t f u r t h e r d e l a y . II. MANDATE OF THE COMMITTEE 9. The C o m m i t t e e ' s m a n d a t e f o r t h e y e a r 1989 i s c o n t a i n e d i n p a r a g r a p h s 3 t o 5 o f G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y r e s o l u t i o n 4 3 / 1 7 5 A o f 15 December 1 9 8 8 , b y w h i c h t h e A s s e m b l y : (a) R e q u e s t e d t h e Committee t o c o n t i n u e t o keep under r e v i e w t h e s i t u a t i o n r e l a t i n g t o t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e as w e l l a s t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e Programme o f A c t i o n f o r t h e A c h i e v e m e n t o f P a l e s t i n i a n R i g h t s 1 / a n d t o r e p o r t a n d make s u g g e s t i o n s t o t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y o r t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , as a p p r o p r i a t e . (b) A u t h o r i z e d t h e Committee t o c o n t i n u e t o e x e r t a l l e f f o r t s t o promote the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f i t s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g r e p r e s e n t a t i o n a t c o n f e r e n c e s and m e e t i n g s a n d t h e s e n d i n g o f d e l e g a t i o n s , t o make s u c h a d j u s t m e n t s i n i t s a p p r o v e d programme o f s e m i n a r s a n d s y m p o s i a a n d m e e t i n g s f o r n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s as i t may c o n s i d e r n e c e s s a r y , a n d t o r e p o r t t h e r e o n t o t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y a t i t s f o r t y - f o u r t h s e s s i o n and t h e r e a f t e r . (c) Requested t h e Committee t o c o n t i n u e t o extend i t s c o - o p e r a t i o n t o non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n t h e i r c o n t r i b u t i o n towards h e i g h t e n i n g i n t e r n a t i o n a l awareness o f t h e f a c t s r e l a t i n g t o t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e and c r e a t i n g a more f a v o u r a b l e a t m o s p h e r e f o r t h e f u l l i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e Committee's recommendations, and t o t a k e t h e n e c e s s a r y s t e p s t o expand i t s c o n t a c t s with those o r g a n i z a t i o n s . 10. By i t s r e s o l u t i o n 4 3 / 1 7 5 o f 15 D e c e m b e r 1 9 8 8 , t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y a l s o requested the Secretary-General, i n t e r a l i a , to provide the D i v i s i o n f o r P a l e s t i n i a n R i g h t s o f t h e S e c r e t a r i a t w i t h t h e necessary r e s o u r c e s and t o ensure that i tcontinues to discharge the tasks d e t a i l e d i n e a r l i e r r e s o l u t i o n s , i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e Committee and under i t s guidance. 11. By i t s r e s o l u t i o n 43/175 o f 15 D e c e m b e r 1988, t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y r e q u e s t e d the Department o f P u b l i c I n f o r m a t i o n o f t h e S e c r e t a r i a t , i n f u l l c o - o p e r a t i o n and c o - o r d i n a t i o n w i t h t h e C o m m i t t e e , t o c o n t i n u e i t s s p e c i a l i n f o r m a t i o n programme o n the q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e , w i t h p a r t i c u l a r emphasis on p u b l i c o p i n i o n i n Europe and North America. III. ORGANIZATION OF WORK A, 12. A t i t s 161st meeting, the f o l l o w i n g o f f i c e r s : Chairman; H.E. M r s . Election of officers 1989, the Committee d e c i d e d to re-elect o n 26 J a n u a r y Absa Claude Diallo (Senegal) (Cuba) (Afghanistan) (Malta) Vice-chairmen: H.E. M r . O s c a r O r a m a s - O l i v a H.E. M r . S h a h Mohammad D o s t Borg Olivier Rapporteur : 13. H.E. H.E. H.E. M r . A l e x a n d e r A t i t s 1 6 5 t h m e e t i n g , o n November 1989, t h e C o m m i t t e e e l e c t e d M r . N o o r Ahmad N o o r ( A f g h a n i s t a n ) a s V i c e - C h a i r m a n i n p l a c e o f M r . S h a h Mohammad D o s t ( A f g h a n i s t a n ) , who h a d d e p a r t e d f r o m New Y o r k . i t s programme o f 14. A t i t s 1 6 2 n d m e e t i n g , o n 10 M a r c h 1989, t h e C o m m i t t e e a d o p t e d work f o r 1989 i n i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f i t s mandate. B. Participation i n the work o f t h e Committee 15. A s i n p r e v i o u s y e a r s , t h e C o m m i t t e e r e c o n f i r m e d t h a t a l l S t a t e s Members o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s and Permanent Observers t o the U n i t e d N a t i o n s d e s i r i n g t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e w o r k o f t h e C o m m i t t e e a s o b s e r v e r s w e r e w e l c o m e t o do s o . Accordingly, ina l e t t e r d a t e d 10 M a r c h 1989, t h e C h a i r m a n o f t h e C o m m i t t e e s o i n f o r m e d t h e S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l , who s u b s e q u e n t l y t r a n s m i t t e d t h e l e t t e r , o n 29 M a r c h 1989, t o S t a t e s Members o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s a n d members o f t h e s p e c i a l i z e d a g e n c i e s , and t o i n t e r g o v e r n m e n t a l r e g i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s . The C o m m i t t e e a l s o d e c i d e d t o i n v i t e P a l e s t i n e , represented by the P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n , t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e w o r k o f t h e C o m m i t t e e a s a n o b s e r v e r , t o a t t e n d a l l i t s m e e t i n g s and t o make o b s e r v a t i o n s and p r o p o s a l s f o r t h ec o n s i d e r a t i o n o f the Committee. 16. D u r i n g 1989, t h e C o m m i t t e e a g a i n w e l c o m e d a s o b s e r v e r s a l l t h e S t a t e s and o r g a n i z a t i o n s t h a t h a d p a r t i c i p a t e d i n i t s w o r k i n t h e p r e c e d i n g y e a r . 1/ C. Re-establishment o f the Working Group 17. A t i t s 161st meeting, the Committee r e - e s t a b l i s h e d i t s W o r k i n g Group t o a s s i s t i n t h e p r e p a r a t i o n a n d e x p e d i t i o n o f t h e w o r k o f t h e Committee. The Working Group was c o n s t i t u t e d a s b e f o r e u n d e r t h e c h a i r m a n s h i p o f Mr. Alexander Borg O l i v i e r ( M a l t a ) , o n t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t a n y C o m m i t t e e member o r o b s e r v e r c o u l d p a r t i c i p a t e i nits proceedings, i / M r . P r a m a t h e s h Rath ( I n d i a ) was r e - e l e c t e d V i c e - c h a i r m a n o f the Working Group. S u b s e q u e n t l y , a t i t s 165th meeting, the C o m m i t t e e e l e c t e d Mr. D i n e s h Kumar J a i n ( I n d i a ) as V i c e - C h a i r m a n o f the Working G r o u p i n p l a c e o f Mr. R a t h , who h a d d e p a r t e d f r o m New York. -4- IV. ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE A. A c t i o n taken i n accordance w i t h General Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 4 3 / 1 7 5 A o f 15 December 1988 Palestine Committee 1. Review of the s i t u a t i o n r e l a t i n g to the q u e s t i o n of and e f f o r t s t o i m p l e m e n t t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s o f t h e 18. In a c c o r d a n c e w i t h i t s mandate, i n the p a s t y e a r , the Committee c o n t i n u e d to k e e p u n d e r r e v i e w t h e s i t u a t i o n r e l a t i n g t o t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e and t o e x e r t a l l e f f o r t s t o p r o m o t e t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f i t s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s as r e p e a t e d l y e n d o r s e d by t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y . 19. In response to u r g e n t developments a f f e c t i n g the i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e , t h e C h a i r m a n o f t h e C o m m i t t e e , on r e p e a t e d o c c a s i o n s , b r o u g h t s u c h d e v e l o p m e n t s t o t h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l and t h e P r e s i d e n t o f the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , u r g i n g the a d o p t i o n of a p p r o p r i a t e measures i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h U n i t e d N a t i o n s r e s o l u t i o n s ( s e e s e c t . A.2 (a) b e l o w ) . 20. The C o m m i t t e e was a l a r m e d a t t h e f u r t h e r o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y as a r e s u l t o f I s r a e l to s u p p r e s s the P a l e s t i n i a n i n t i f a d a h , armed f o r c e and s e t t l e r v i g i l a n t i s m , and o t h e r a g g r a v a t i o n of the s i t u a t i o n i n the the i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f e f f o r t s by i n c l u d i n g the i n c r e a s i n g r e s o r t to Draconian measures. 21. The C o m m i t t e e m o n i t o r e d t h e s i t u a t i o n i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y c n an o n g o i n g b a s i s t h r o u g h t h e m e d i a , t h e r e p o r t s o f U n i t e d N a t i o n s o r g a n s and a g e n c i e s , as w e l l as i n f o r m a t i o n c o l l e c t e d by n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l organizations, i n d i v i d u a l e x p e r t s and p e r s o n s f r o m t h e o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y who p a r t i c i p a t e d i n m e e t i n g s h e l d u n d e r t h e a u s p i c e s o f t h e C o m m i t t e e , G o v e r n m e n t s and o t h e r s o u r c e s . 22. The C o m m i t t e e n o t e d t h a t t h e i n t i f a d e h , t h e u p r i s i n g o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e a g a i n s t m i l i t a r y o c c u p a t i o n and g r a d u a l a n n e x a t i o n by I s r a e l o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y o c c u p i e d s i n c e 1967, had c o n t i n u e d d e s p i t e o v e r w h e l m i n g o d d s s i n c e 9 December 1987. P a l e s t i n i a n s , o f t e n c h i l d r e n and y o u t h s , h a v e c o n t i n u e d t o c h a l l e n g e the I s r a e l i o c c u p y i n g f o r c e s w i t h s t o n e s , b a r r i c a d e s , b u r n i n g t y r e s and o t h e r means. In o r d e r to suppress the i n t i f a d a h , the I s r a e l i t r o o p s have r e s o r t e d t o e x c e s s i v e and i n d i s c r i m i n a t e use o f f o r c e , w h i c h was r e p o r t e d t o h a v e b e e n c o n d o n e d and e v e n e n c o u r a g e d a t t h e h i g h e s t l e v e l o f g o v e r n m e n t , w i t h t h e a p p a r e n t i n t e n t t o p u n i s h and i n t i m i d a t e t h e p o p u l a t i o n , r e s u l t i n g i n an e x t e n s i v e and u n p r e c e d e n t e d r a n g e o f human r i g h t s v i o l a t i o n s . Live ammunition, i n c l u d i n g rubber ·Hid p l a s t i c b u l l e t s f i r e d a t c l o s e r a n g e , was u s e d l i b e r a l l y and i n c r e a s i n g l y , e v e n in n o n - l i f e - t h r e a t e n i n g situations. T h e r e was an a p p a r e n t l y d e l i b e r a t e m i s u s e o f t e a r g a s , f i r e d , f o r e x a m p l e , i n t o h o s p i t a l s o r homes. T h o u s a n d s o f P a l e s t i n i a n s were the v i c t i m s o f b e a t i n g s , d e l i b e r a t e l y aimed a t b r e a k i n g b o n e s , w h i l e i n the hnnds o f t h e army o r s e c u r i t y p e r s o n n e l . As a t 15 S e p t e m b e r 1989, a c c o r d i n g to the D a t a B a s e P r o j e c t on P a l e s t i n i a n Human R i g h t s , a r e s p e c t e d human r i g h t s o r g a n i z a t i o n , t h e number o f P a l e s t i n i a n s s h o t t o d e a t h by t h e I s r a e l i f o r c e s o r armed s e t t l e r s had r e a c h e d a t o t a l o f 537 i d e n t i f i e d c a s e s . Another 212 P a l e s t i n i a n s had d i e d f r o m b e a t i n g s , s u f f o c a t i o n f r o m t e a r g a s , and o t h e r c a u s e s r e l a t e d t o a c t i o n s by t h e o c c u p y i n g f o r c e s . The C o m m i t t e e was p a r t i c u l a r l y a l a r m e d a t w h a t a p p e a r e d t o be t h e d e l i b e r a t e t a r g e t i n g o f c h i l d r e n i n s u c h a t t a c k s , as a t l e a s t 20 p e r c e n t o f t h e f a t a l i t i e s w e r e c h i l d r e n u n d e r 16. That p e r c e n t a g e had i n c r e a s e d t o 28 p e r c e n t s i n c e M a r c h 1989 and 46 p e r c e n t d u r i n g t h e month o f A u g u s t 1989. -5- 23. I n a d d i t i : , ! ^ o / ^ L O . S I d e m o n s t r a t i o n s , mass s t r i k e s a n d t a x b o y c o t t s h a v e b e e n . o r g a n i z e d by P a l e s t i n i a n s i n t h e o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y , and hundreds o f p o p u l a r c o m m i t t e e s h a v e b e e n s e t up w i t h t h e o b j e c t i v e o f c r e a t i n g a l t e r n a t i v e s t r u c t u r e s to the I s r a e l i C i v i l A d m i n i s t r a t i o n . I n i t i a l l y o r g a n i z e d t o p r o v i d e food and m e d i c a l s u p p l i e s t o r e f u g e e camps u n d e r c u r f e w , t h o s e c o m m i t t e e s w e r e t h e n r e p o r t e d t o have grown and t o have expanded t h e i r g o a l s . T h e y became r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e c o - o r d i n a t i o n o f s t r i k e a c t i v i t i e s , a l t e r n a t i v e e d u c a t i o n , h e a l t h needs, guard d u t i e s a n d t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f a s u r v i v a l economy c e n t r e d o n a r e t u r n t o f a m i l y agriculture. A number o f P a l e s t i n i a n e m p l o y e e s o f t h e I s r a e l i C i v i l A d m i n i s t r a t i o n , p a r t i c u l a r l y p o l i c e o f f i c i a l s , have r e s i g n e d from t h e i r p o s t s . 24. T h e I s r a e l i a u t h o r i t i e s h a v e r e s o r t e d t o i n c r e a s i n g l y h a r s h m e a s u r e s i n t h e i r attempt t o suppress such a c t i v i t i e s . A number o f P a l e s t i n i a n n e w s p a p e r s a n d i n s t i t u t i o n s w e r e c l o s e d down a n d t h e p o p u l a r c o m m i t t e e s p r o s c r i b e d . Currency r e s t r i c t i o n s w e r e i n t r o d u c e d t o c o n t r o l money g o i n g t o f a m i l i e s a n d i n s t i t u t i o n s i n the o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y . New i d e n t i t y c a r d s w e r e i s s u e d i n t h e G a z a S t r i p t o m o n i t o r t h e p o p u l a t i o n more c l o s e l y . S i x t y P a l e s t i n i a n s w e r e d e p o r t e d i n v i o l a t i o n o f t h e f o u r t h Geneva C o n v e n t i o n r e l a t i v e t o t h e P r o t e c t i o n o f C i v i l i a n P e r s o n s i n Time o f War, o f 12 A u g u s t 1 9 4 9 , a n d numerous S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n s . V i l l a g e s , t o w n s a n d r e f u g e e camps h a v e b e e n p u t u n d e r p r o l o n g e d c u r f e w , som'«times f o r a month o r more, d u r i n g w h i c h t i m e e l e c t r i c i t y , w a t e r and t e l e p h o n e s have o f t e n been d i s c o n n e c t e d and food and m e d i c a l s u p p l i e s i n t e r r u p t e d . At l e a s t 100,000 p r o d u c t i v e t r e e s h a v e b e e n u p r o o t e d a n d c r o p s r u i n e d . T h e r e was a d r a m a t i c i n c r e a s e i n t h e number o f h o u s e d e m o l i t i o n s i n t h e p a s t y e a r , a s a f o r m o f punishment o f e n t i r e v i l l a g e s f o r supporting the i n t i f a d a h . A t l e a s t 236 P a l e s t i n i a n homes w e r e d e s t r o y e d f o r " s e c u r i t y " r e a s o n s b e t w e e n December 1987 and A u g u s t 1 9 8 9 , w h i l e a n o t h e r 675 b u i l d i n g s w e r e d e s t r o y e d o n t h e p r e t e x t t h a t they had been b u i l t i l l e g a l l y . 25. The Committee n o t e d t h a t , i n t h e i r e f f o r t s t o s u p p r e s s t h e P a l e s t i n i a n l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e i n t i f a d a h , t h e I s r a e l i a u t h o r i t i e s h a d w a g e d c a m p a i g n s o f mass arrests. I t was e s t i m a t e d t h a t , a s a t S e p t e m b e r 1 9 8 9 , more t h a n 4 0 , 0 0 0 P a l e s t i n i a n s h a d b e e n i n p r i s o n a t o n e t i m e o r a n o t h e r , o f whom o n l y 18,000 h a d a c t u a l l y been sentenced. The I s r a e l i a u t h o r i t i e s h a d a l s o i n c r e a s i n g l y r e l i e d o n the use o f a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d e t e n t i o n w i t h o u t charges o r t r i a l . I t was r e p o r t e d t h a t , i n M a r c h 1 9 8 8 , t h e power t o i s s u e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d e t e n t i o n o r d e r s was extended t o a l l o f f i c e r s w i t h t h e rank o f c o l o n e l and above. A t t h e same t i m e , p r e v i o u s l y e x i s t i n g j u d i c i a l s a f e g u a r d s , w h i c h gave t h e d e t a i n e e s a measure o f p r o t e c t i o n , were removed. Lawyers r e p r e s e n t i n g P a l e s t i n i a n d e t a i n e e s have maintained t h a t t h e w i t h h o l d i n g o f evidence f o r " s e c u r i t y reasons" and a d m i n i s t r a t i v e and o t h e r p r a c t i c a l o b s t a c l e s imposed by t h e I s r a e l i a u t h o r i t i e s h a v e made i t n e a r l y i m p o s s i b l e t o r e p r e s e n t t h e i r c l i e n t s p r o p e r l y . I n August, the s t a n d a r d p e r i o d o f a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d e t e n t i o n was d o u b l e d f r o m s i x m o n t h s t o a y e a r . I t was r e p o r t e d t h a t a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d e t e n t i o n was i n c r e a s i n g l y u s e d t o d e t a i n prisoners o f conscience. A l l s e c t o r s o f P a l e s t i n i a n s o c i e t y were i n c l u d e d , such as trade u n i o n i s t s , students, j o u r n a l i s t s , doctors, lawyers, academics, teachers, members o f v o l u n t a r y o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d human r i g h t s w o r k e r s , a s w e l l a s l a b o u r e r s and t h e u n e m p l o y e d . A b o u t 13,600 P a l e s t i n i a n s , i n c l u d i n g c h i l d r e n , w e r e r e p o r t e d t o be i n d e t e n t i o n a s a t S e p t e m b e r 1 9 8 9 , 4,400 o f whom w e r e h e l d u n d e r h a r s h c o n d i t i o n s a t t h e A n s a r I I I camp i n t h e N e g e v d e s e r t i n I s r a e l , w h e r e t h e y h a d b e e n t a k e n i n v i o l a t i o n o f t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e f o u r t h Geneva C o n v e n t i o n . 26. the T h e C o m m i t t e e was g r a v e l y c o n c e r n e d a t t h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f v i o l a t i o n s o f P a l e s t i n i a n s ' r i g h t t o education during t h e second year o f t h e i n t i f a d a h . -6- M e a s u r e s t a k e n by t h e o c c u p y i n g P o w e r i n c l u d e d t h e c o m p l e t e c l o s u r e o f u n i v e r s i t i e s ,uid t h e l o n g - t e r m and r e p e a t e d c l o s u r e o f s c h o o l s , t h e p r o h i b i t i o n o f home s t u d y and c o m p e n s a t i o n c l a s s e s i n a l t e r n a t i v e l o c a t i o n s , t h e u s e o f s c h o o l s as m i l i t a r y o u t p o s t s , t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f s c h o o l p r o p e r t y , and m i l i t a r y r a i d s on s c h o o l s and alternative classes. A r r e s t s , d e p o r t a t i o n s and a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d e t e n t i o n w e r e u s e d a g a i n s t f a c u l t y , a d m i n i s t r a t o r s and s t u d e n t s . I t was e s t i m a t e d t h a t p r i m a r y and s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l c h i l d r e n , numbering about 400,000, had been t a u g h t s c h o o l f o r o n l y a b o u t f i v e m o n t h s a l t o g e t h e r d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d f r o m t h e autumn o f 1987 to J u n e 1989. A b o u t 100,000 c h i l d r e n b e t w e e n 6,to 8 y e a r s o f age had b e e n u n a b l e t o begin f i r s t grade. A b o u t 20,000 u n i v e r s i t y s t u d e n t s had t h e i r e d u c a t i o n completely interrupted. The C o m m i t t e e n o t e d w i t h g r e a t c o n c e r n t h e a s s e s s m e n t by e d u c a t o r s t h a t t h e i m p o s i t i o n o f t h o s e r e s t r i c t i o n s p e n a l i z e s p r e s e n t and f u t u r e g e n e r a t i o n s o f P a l e s t i n i a n s and w i l l c r e a t e s e r i o u s d y s f u n c t i o n s i n t h e e d u c a t i o n a l s y s t e m t h a t w i l l be e x t r e m e l y d i f f i c u l t t o c o m p e n s a t e a t a l a t e r s t a g e . 27. The C o m m i t t e e f u r t h e r n o t e d t h a t t h e h e a l t h s i t u a t i o n i n t h e occupied P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y had c o n t i n u e d t o d e t e r i o r a t e and was a m a t t e r o f t h e m o s t serious concern. I t was r e p o r t e d t h a t , s i n c e t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e occupation, I s r a e l i p o l i c i e s had r e s u l t e d i n a l a c k o f b a s i c s a n i t a r y i n f r a s t r u c t u r e and h e a l c h services. The number o f h e a l t h p e r s o n n e l and h o s p i t a l b e d s , t h e q u a n t i t y and q u a l i t y o f s e r v i c e s , t h e m e d i c a l e q u i p m e n t and s u p p l i e s , w e r e i n c r e a s i n g l y i n s u f f i c i e n t t o meet t h e n e e d s o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p o p u l a t i o n . T h e r e was no s t r u c t u r e d h e a l t h s y s t e m and no l o n g - t e r m h e a l t h p l a n n i n g s p e c i f i c t o t h e occupied t e r r i t o r y and i n d e p e n d e n t o f t h e I s r a e l i s y s t e m , w h i c h d r a i n e d t h e r e s o u r c e s o f t h e occupied t e r r i t o r y without providing corresponding services. The e s t i m a t e d 40,000 P a l e s t i n i a n s i n j u r e d d u r i n g t h e i n t i f a d a h , who w e r e i n n e e d o f p h y s i o t h e r a p e u t i c a l r e h a b i l i t a t i o n , had c r e a t e d enormous s t r a i n s on t h e a l r e a d y i n a d e q u a t e f a c i l i t i e s . The C o m m i t t e e a l s o n o t e d w i t h g r e a t c o n c e r n c o n t i n u i n g r e p o r t s t h a t a c c e s s t o m e d i c a l c a r e , e v e n i n e m e r g e n c y c a s e s , was o f t e n r e n d e r e d d i f f i c u l t by t r a v e l r e s t r i c t i o n s and c u r f e w s i m p o s e d by t h e o c c u p y i n g P o w e r , and t h a t h o s p i t a l s h a d b e e n a t t a c k e d and p a t i e n t s a r r e s t e d . 28. The C o m m i t t e e a l s o n o t e d w i t h c o n c e r n t h a t , i n h i s r e p o r t on t h e s i t u a t i o n o f w o r k e r s o f t h e o c c u p i e d A r a b t e r r i t o r i e s , b a s e d on t h e r e s u l t s o f a f a c t - f i n d i n g m i s s i o n t o the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y , the D i r e c t o r - G e n e r a l of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a b o u r O r g a n i z a t i o n ( I L O ) , ^/ had s t a t e d t h a t e c o n o m i c and o t h e r m e a s u r e s t a k e n by t h e I s r a e l i a u t h o r i t i e s t o s u p p r e s s t h e i n t i f a d a h h a d l e d t o a s u b s t a n t i a l d e t e r i o r a t i o n i n t h e s t a n d a r d o f l i v i n g o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e - by as much as 50 p e r c e n t , a c c o r d i n g t o some o b s e r v e r s . P a l e s t i n i a n e m p l o y e e s and w o r k e r s w e r e o f t h e o p i n i o n t h a t any d e v e l o p m e n t f o r t h e i r b e n e f i t had b e e n r e d u c e d ·^o a minimum i n r e c e n t y e a r s , and t h a t any e f f o r t s t h a t t h e y t h e m s e l v e s h a d u n d e r t a k e n f o r g e n u i n e d e v e l o p m e n t had b e e n s l o w e d o r w r e c k e d i n o r d e r t o k e e p t h e P a l e s t i n i a n economy as d e p e n d e n t as p o s s i b l e on t h a t o f I s r a e l . Palestinian w o r k e r s c o n t i n u e d t o s u f f e r f r o m f u n d a m e n t a l i n e q u i t i e s i n t r a i n i n g and e m p l o y m e n t o p p o r t u n i t i e s and i n t h e l e v e l and c o n d i t i o n s o f e m p l o y m e n t and s o c i a l insurance s y s t e m , c o n t r i b u t i n g t o t h e i r v u l n e r a b i l i t y and d e p e n d e n c e . The Israeli a u t h o r i t i e s had a l s o c o n t i n u e d t o e n g a g e i n g r a v e i n f r i n g e m e n t s o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n s ' r i g h t t o f r e e d o m o f a s s o c i a t i o n , i n c l u d i n g r a i d s on and c l o s u r e o f t r a d e u n i o n p r e m i s e s , a r r e s t , house a r r e s t , e x p u l s i o n or t h r e a t of e x p u l s i o n , a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d e t e n t i o n and p h y s i c a l h a r a s s m e n t and i n t e r r o g a t i o n o f t r a d e unionists. 29. T a k i n g i n t o account the c o n t i n u i n g s e r i o u s a g g r a v a t i o n of the s i t u a t i o n i n the o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y , w h i c h a f f e c t e d e v e r y a s p e c t o f P a l e s t i n i a n l i f e and s o c i e t y . -7- t h e C o m m i t t e e d e p l o r e d t h a t I s r a e l , t h e o c c u p y i n g P o w e r , had d e n i e d e n t r y t o t h e t e r r i t o r y t o a number o f U n i t e d N a t i o n s b o d i e s and a g e n c i e s s e e k i n g t o i n v e s t i g a t e the s i t u a t i o n , i n p a r t i c u l a r , the S p e c i a l Committee to I n v e s t i g a t e I s r a e l i P r a c t i c e s A f f e c t i n g t h e Human R i g h t s o f t h e P o p u l a t i o n o f t h e O c c u p i e d Territories, t h e C o m m i s s i o n on t h e S t a t u s o f Women and t h e S p e c i a l C o m m i t t e e o f E x p e r t s o f t h e W o r l d H e a l t h O r g a n i z a t i o n (WHO). The R a p p o r t e u r and e x p e r t m i s s i o n s o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s E d u c a t i o n a l , S c i e n t i f i c and C u l t u r a l O r g a n i z a t i o n (UNESCO) t o i n v e s t i g a t e t h e needs o f P a l e s t i n i a n e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s had a l s o been u n a b l e t o v i s i t t h e occupied P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y . The C o m m i t t e e a s s o c i a t e d i t s e l f w i t h t h e c a l l made i n G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y r e s o l u t i o n 4 3 / 2 3 3 o f 20 A p r i l 1989 f o r t h e S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l t o s u b m i t p e r i o d i c r e p o r t s on d e v e l o p m e n t s i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y . 30. The C o m m i t t e e w i s h e s t o draw o n c e a g a i n t h e m o s t u r g e n t a t t e n t i o n o f t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y and t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l t o t h e p o l i c i e s and p r a c t i c e s o f I s r a e l , the o c c u p y i n g Power, w h i c h a r e i n f l a g r a n t v i o l a t i o n of the Geneva C o n v e n t i o n r e l a t i v e t o t h e P r o t e c t i o n o f C i v i l i a n P e r s o n s i n T i m e o f War, o f 12 A u g u s t 1949, and w h i c h p r e v e n t t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e f r o m a t t a i n i n g i t s i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s , and thwart i n t e r n a t i o n a l e f f o r t s to b r i n g about a p e a c e f u l s e t t l e m e n t of the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , the core of the A r a b - I s r a e l i c o n f l i c t i n the M i d d l e E a s t . The C o m m i t t e e r e i t e r a t e s i t s m o s t u r g e n t a p p e a l t o t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l and t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i t y as a w h o l e t o t a k e a l l n e c e s s a r y m e a s u r e s t o e n s u r e t h e s a f e t y and p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n s i n t h e o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y , p e n d i n g t h e w i t h d r a w a l o f I s r a e l i f o r c e s and t h e a c h i e v e m e n t o f a s e t t l e m e n t . 31. The C o m m i t t e e f u r t h e r c o n s i d e r e d t h a t , a b o v e and b e y o n d p r o t e c t i v e and emergency r e l i e f m e a s u r e s , the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community must t a k e a l l p o s s i b l e m e a s u r e s t o h a l t t h e c u r r e n t e c o n o m i c c r i s i s and t o d e v e l o p socio-economic s t r u c t u r e s t h a t w i l l l e a d t o t h e g e n u i n e and a u t o n o m o u s d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e o c c u p i e d Palestinian territory. The P a l e s t i n i a n s t r u g g l e f o r i n d e p e n d e n t n a t i o n h o o d r e q u i r e s , and i s e n t i t l e d t o , t h e f u l l s u p p o r t and c o n c r e t e a s s i s t a n c e o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s system, i n accordance w i t h the r e l e v a n t p r o v i s i o n s of the C h a r t e r of t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s and U n i t e d N a t i o n s r e s o l u t i o n s . In t h a t c o n n e c t i o n , the C o m m i t t e e n o t e d t h a t , i n r e s o l u t i o n 43/178 o f 20 December 1988, entitled " A s s i s t a n c e t o the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e " , the General Assembly a f f i r m e d t h a t the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e c a n n o t d e v e l o p t h e i r n a t i o n a l economy as l o n g as t h e I s r a e l i o c c u p a t i o n p e r s i s t s and i t e x p r e s s e d a w a r e n e s s o f t h e i n c r e a s i n g n e e d t o p r o v i d e e c o n o m i c and s o c i a l a s s i s t a n c e t o t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e . The r e s o l u t i o n c o n t a i n e d a mamber o f r e q u e s t s f o r a c t i o n b y t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s s y s t e m a n d by G o v e r n m e n t s a n d i n t e r g o v e r n m e n t a l and n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s . The C o m m i t t e e a l s o n o t e d w i t h a p p r e c i a t i o n t h e e f f o r t s o f t h e E c o n o m i c and S o c i a l C o u n c i l and t h e r e l e v a n t U n i t e d N a t i o n s a g e n c i e s and b o d i e s , as w e l l as t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s e m a n a t i n g f r o m meetings of non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s o r g a n i z e d under i t s a u s p i c e s . The C o m m i t t e e c a l l e d on a l l c o n c e r n e d t o s u s t a i n and i n c r e a s e t h e i r a s s i s t a n c e t o t h e P a l e s t i n i a n people, i n c l o s e c o - o p e r a t i o n w i t h the P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n , as a n e c e s s a r y a c c o m p a n i m e n t o f r e n e w e d e f f o r t s t o a c h i e v e a p o l i t i c a l s o l u t i o n to the P a l e s t i n e q u e s t i o n . -8- 2. R e a c t i o n s t o clevelopments a f f e c t i n g t h e i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e and t h e P r e s i d e n t of the Security (a) Communications t o the S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l CouhCil 32. In response to the d e t e r i o r a t i n g s i t u a t i o n i n the occupied P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y i n t h e c o u r s e o f t h e year under r e v i e w , t h e Chairman o f t h e Committee r e p e a t e d l y drew t h e most u r g e n t a t t e n t i o n o f t h e S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l and o f t h e P r e s i d e n t o f the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l t o developments i n the area and, i n p a r t i c u l a r , t o t h e e s c a l a t i o n o f r e p r e s s i o n by t h e I s r a e l i m i l i t a r y a u t h o r i t i e s , u r g i n g t h e a d o p t i o n o f a p p r o p r i a t e measures i n accordance w i t h h u m a n i t a r i a n p r i n c i p l e s and United Nations resolutions. The C h a i r m a n d e t a i l e d v a r i o u s i n s t a n c e s o f k i l l i n g a n d m a i m i n g o f P a l e s t i n i a n s b y t h e I s r a e l i armed f o r c e s a n d s e t t l e r s , mass a r r e s t s , house d e m o l i t i o n s and o t h e r forms o f c o l l e c t i v e p u n i s h m e n t , d e p o r t a t i o n s , and o t h e r g r a v e v i o l a t i o n s o f t h e human a n d i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n s i n t h e o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y by I s r a e l , t h e o c c u p y i n g P o w e r . The C h a i r m a n r e p e a t e d l y pointed out t h a t t h o s e p o l i c i e s and p r a c t i c e s were i n c o n t r a v e n t i o n o f t h e f o u r t h Geneva C o n v e n t i o n , i n t e r n a t i o n a l human r i g h t s i n s t r u m e n t s a n d U n i t e d N a t i o n s r e s o l u t i o n s , and p o s e d f u r t h e r o b s t a c l e s t o i n t e r n a t i o n a l e f f o r t s t o p r o m o t e a c o m p r e h e n s i v e , j u s t and l a s t i n g s o l u t i o n t o t h e P a l e s t i n e q u e s t i o n . The C h a i r m a n r e i t e r a t e d t h e C o m m i t t e e ' s a p p e a l s t o t h e S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l and t o t h e P r e s i d e n t o f t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l t o t a k e a l l p o s s i b l e measures f o r e n s u r i n g t h e s a f e t y and p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n c i v i l i a n s under o c c u p a t i o n , and t o i n t e n s i f y a l l e f f o r t s t o w a r d s t h e c o n v e n i n g o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace C o n f e r e n c e on t h e M i d d l e E a s t , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y r e s o l u t i o n 43/176 o f 15 December 1 9 8 8 . 33. T h e l e t t e r s f r o m t h e C h a i r m a n o f t h e C o m m i t t e e w e r e c i r c u l a t e d as o f f i c i a l documents o f t h e G e n e r a l Assembly, under t h e agenda item e n t i t l e d " Q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e " , and o f t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , and a r e c o n t a i n e d i n t h e f o l l o w i n g documents: A/43/946-S/20315; A/43/992-S/20372; A/43/994-S/20424; A/43/999-S/20505; A / 4 3 / 1 0 0 4 - S / 2 0 5 6 3 a n d C o r r . l ; /43/1005-S/20952 ; A / 4 3 / 1 0 0 8 - S / 2 0 6 2 3 ; A/43/1009-S/20668 ; A/43/1011-S/20714; A/44/209-S/20564 and A/44/547-S/20860. (b) Action taken w i t h i n the Security Council 34. I n a d d i t i o n t o t r a n s m i t t i n g l e t t e r s t o t h e S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l and t h e P r e s i d e n t of t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , t h e Committee f o l l o w e d c l o s e l y t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e C o u n c i l on m a t t e r s r e l a t i n g t o t h e Committee's mandate, and p a r t i c i p a t e d i n C o u n c i l d e b a t e s as n e c e s s a r y . 3'"). I n a l e t t e r d a t e d 8 F e b r u a r y 1989 ( S / 2 0 4 5 4 ) , t h e P e r m a n e n t R e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f T u n i s i a , C h a i r m a n o f t h e Arab Group f o r t h e month o f F e b r u a r y , r e f e r r i n g t o t h e l e t t e r d a t e d 7 F e b r u a r y 1989 f r o m t h e P e r m a n e n t O b s e r v e r M i s s i o n o f P a l e s t i n e (/44/117-S/20451), r e q u e s t e d a n u r g e n t m e e t i n g o f t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l i n o r d e r t o consider the s i t u a t i o n i n the occupied P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y . The r e q u e s t was s u p p o r t e d by t h e Chairman o f t h e Committee on t h e E x e r c i s e o f t h e I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n P e o p l e i n a l e t t e r d a t e d 9 F e b r u a r y 1989 ( S / 2 0 4 5 5 ) , i n w h i c h she a l s o r e i t e r a t e d t h e Committee's most s e r i o u s c o n c e r n a t t h e d e t e r i o r a t i o n of t h e s i t u a t i o n i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y . The S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l c o n s i d e r e d t h e i t e m a t f i v e m e e t i n g s h e l d b e t w e e n 10 a n d 17 F e b r u a r y 1 9 8 9 . 36. The C h a i r m a n o f t h e C o m m i t t e e i n t e r v e n e d i n t h e d e b a t e a t t h e 2 8 4 5 t h m e e t i n g o f t h e C o u n c i l ( s e e S / P V . 2 8 4 5 ) , h e l d o n 10 F e b r u a r y 1 9 8 9 , a n d s t a t e d t h a t , s i n c e -9- t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e i i i t i X a d a h , t h e r e hnd b e o i i a t l e a s t 494 f a t a l i t i e s and t h o u s a n d s i n j u r e d , m o s t l y c h i l d r e n and y o u n q p e o p l e . T h e s i t u a t i o n demanded an u r g e n t and a p p r o p r i a t e r e s p o n s e f r o m t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i t y t o e n s u r e c o m p l i a n c e by I s r a e l w i t h i t s o b l i g a t i o n s as an o c c u p y i n g P o w e r . T h e r e was a v i t a l n e e d t o r e a c h a n e g o t i a t e d , j u s t and l a s t i n g s e t t l e m e n t o f t h e M i d d l e East problem. The C o m m i t t e e i n v i t e d t h e C o u n c i l t o e n t e r i n t o an i n - d e p t h d e b a t e on t h e b e s t means o f t r a n s l a t i n g i n t o c o n c r e t e r e a l i t y t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e a c e i n i t i a t i v e . The U n i t e d N a t i o n s h a d an o b l i g a t i o n t o e n s u r e t h e r e a l i z a t i o n o f t h e l e g i t i m a t e a s p i r a t i o n s and i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e . I t was also incumbent upon the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l t o implement the recommendations o f the G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y on t h e P a l e s t i n e q u e s t i o n t h a t had b e e n a d o p t e d by e v e r - i n c r e a s i n g m a j o r i t i e s , p a r t i c u l a r l y t h o s e c a l l i n g f o r an i n t e r n a t i o n a l p e a c e c o n f e r e n c e on t h e Middle East, 37. A t i t s 2 8 5 0 t h m e e t i n g , on 17 F e b r u a r y 1989, t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l c o n s i d e r e d a d r a f t r e s o l u t i o n ( S / 2 0 4 6 3 ) s u b m i t t e d by A l g e r i a , C o l o m b i a , E t h i o p i a , M a l a y s i a , N e p a l , S e n e g a l and Y u g o s l a v i a . By t h a t d r a f t r e s o l u t i o n , t h e C o u n c i l w o u l d h a v e : s t r o n g l y d e p l o r e d I s r a e l ' s p e r s i s t e n t p o l i c i e s and p r a c t i c e s a g a i n s t t h e P a l e s t i n i a n people i n the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s , e s p e c i a l l y the v i o l a t i o n o f hximan r i g h t s , and t h e c o n t i n u i n g d i s r e g a r d by I s r a e l , t h e o c c u p y i n g P o w e r , o f t h e r e l e v a n t d e c i s i o n s o f t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l ; c o n f i r m e d o n c e more t h e a p p l i c a b i l i t y o f t h e f o u r t h G e n e v a C o n v e n t i o n t o t h a t t e r r i t o r y ; c a l l e d upon I s r a e l , t h e o c c u p y i n g P o w e r , t o a b i d e by t h e r e l e v a n t S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n s and t o c o m p l y w i t h i t s o b l i g a t i o n s u n d e r t h e C o n v e n t i o n ; c a l l e d f o r t h e e x e r c i s e o f maximum r e s t r a i n t t o c o n t r i b u t e t o w a r d s t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f p e a c e ; e x p r e s s e d i t s d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o work towards the achievement, under the a u s p i c e s of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s , o f a c o m p r e h e n s i v e , j u s t and l a s t i n g s e t t l e m e n t o f t h e M i d d l e East c o n f l i c t , an i n t e g r a l p a r t o f w h i c h i s t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p r o b l e m ; r e q u e s t e d the Secretary-General t o f o l l o w the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of the r e s o l u t i o n , i n c l u d i n g e x a m i n i n g t h e s i t u a t i o n i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s by a l l means a v a i l a b l e t o h i m and t o r e p o r t t o t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l ; and d e c i d e d t o k e e p t h e s i t u a t i o n under review. 38. A t t h e same m e e t i n g , t h e d r a f t r e s o l u t i o n was v o t e d u p o n . The r e s u l t o f t h e v o t i n g was 14 t o 1, w i t h no a b s t e n t i o n s ; t h e d r a f t r e s o l u t i o n was n o t a d o p t e d , o w i n g t o t h e n e g a t i v e v o t e o f a p e r m a n e n t member o f t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l . 39. I n a l e t t e r d a t e d 31 May 1989, a d d r e s s e d t o t h e P r e s i d e n t o f t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l ( S / 2 0 6 6 2 ) , the Permanent R e p r e s e n t a t i v e of the Sudan t o the U n i t e d N a t i o n s , i n h i s c a p a c i t y as C h a i r m a n o f t h e G r o u p o f A r a b S t a t e s a t t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s f o r t h e m o n t h o f May 1989, r e q u e s t e d t h a t an u r g e n t m e e t i n g o f t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l be convened to d i s c u s s the s i t u a t i o n i n the occupied P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y . The S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l resumed i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n of the i t e m at f i v e m e e t i n g s , h e l d b e t w e e n and 9 J u n e 1989. 40. The C h a i r m a n o f t h e C o m m i t t e e i n t e r v e n e d i n t h e d e b a t e a t t h e 2 8 6 3 r d m e e t i n g o f t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l ( s e e S/PV.2863) h e l d on 6 J u n e 1989, and s t a t e d t h a t i t was h i g h time f o r the C o u n c i l , r e s p o n s i b l e f o r the maintenance of i n t e r n a t i o n a l peace, t o i n c r e a s e i t s i n v o l v e m e n t by m a k i n g a p o s i t i v e c o n t r i b u t i o n t o i n t e r n a t i o n a l e f f o r t s t o b r i n g a b o u t a j u s t and l a s t i n g p e a c e i n t h e M i d d l e E a s t . Appropriate a c t i o n by t h e C o u n c i l c o u l d do much t o r e l i e v e t h e s u f f e r i n g o f P a l e s t i n i a n c i v i l i a n s , i n c l u d i n g women and c h i l d r e n , as r e q u e s t e d by t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y i n i t s r e s o l u t i o n 4 3 / 2 3 3 and i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s and observations c o n t a i n e d i n t h e r e p o r t p r e p a r e d by t h e S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l p u r s u a n t t o S e c u r i t y -10- C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n 605 ( 1 9 8 7 ) o f 22 December 1 9 8 7 . She c a l l e d o n t h e C o u n c i l t o support the growing i n t e r n a t i o n a l s o l i d a r i t y i n favour of the r e s t o r a t i o n o f the i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e and t o a c t on t h e recommendations o f the G e n e r a l Assembly f o r t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a j u s t and l a s t i n g peace, i n p a r t i c u l a r t h o s e i n Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176. The P a l e s t i n i a n l e a d e r s h a v e r e s o l u t e l y a d o p t e d a c o u r a g e o u s p o l i c y o f o p e n n e s s , and have done t h e i r p a r t ; t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l community had t h e d u t y t o p r e v a i l upon I s r a e l t o r e s p o n d i n a p o s i t i v e way, f o r no r e p r e s s i o n c o u l d o v e r c o m e t h e i n t i f a d a h . 41. A t i t s 2864th m e e t i n g , on 7 June 1989, t h e C o u n c i l c o n s i d e r e d a d r a f t r e s o l u t i o n (S/20677) s u b m i t t e d by A l g e r i a , C o l o m b i a , E t h i o p i a , M a l a y s i a , N e p a l , S e n e g a l a n d Y u g o s l a v i a . By t h a t d r a f t r e s o l u t i o n , t h e C o u n c i l w o u l d h a v e : s t r o n g l y d e p l o r e d I s r a e l i p o l i c i e s a n d p r a c t i c e s v i o l a t i n g t h e human r i g h t s o f t h e t ' a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e i n t h e o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y ; c a l l e d u p o n I s r a e l , as t h e o c c u p y i n g P()wer a n d a s a H i g h C o n t r a c t i n g P a r t y t o t h e G e n e v a C o n v e n t i o n r e l a t i v e t o t h e P r o t e c t i o n o f C i v i l i a n P e r s o n s i n Time o f War, o f 12 A u g u s t 1 9 4 9 , t o a c c e p t t h e de j u r e a p p l i c a b i l i t y o f t h e C o n v e n t i o n t o t h e P a l e s t i n i a n a n d o t h e r A r a b t e r r i t o r i e s o c c u p i e d s i n c e 1967, i n c l u d i n g J e r u s a l e m ; r e c a l l e d t h e o b l i g a t i o n s o f a l l t h e High C o n t r a c t i n g P a r t i e s , under a r t i c l e 1 o f t h e C o n v e n t i o n , t o ensure r e s p e c t f o r t h e C o n v e n t i o n i n a l l c i r c u m s t a n c e s ; demanded t h a t I s r a e l d e s i s t f o r t h w i t h from d e p o r t i n g P a l e s t i n i a n c i v i l i a n s from t h e o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y and ensure t h e s a f e and immediate r e t u r n o f t h o s e a l r e a d y d e p o r t e d ; e x p r e s s e d g r e a t concern about the prolonged c l o s u r e of s c h o o l s i n p a r t s of the o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y and c a l l e d u p o n I s r a e l t o p e r m i t t h e i m m e d i a t e r e o p e n i n g o f t h o s e s c h o o l s ; requested the Secretary-General to continue to monitor the s i t u a t i o n i nthe o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y b y a l l means a v a i l a b l e t o h i m , a n d t o make t i m e l y r e p o r t s t o t h e C o u n c i l , t h e f i r s t s u c h r e p o r t t o be s u b m i t t e d no l a t e r t h a n 23 J u n e 1 9 8 9 ; a n d d e c i d e d t o k e e p t h e s i t u a t i o n i n t h e P a l e s t i n i a n a n d o t h e r A r a b t e r r i t o r i e s o c c u p i e d by I s r a e l s i n c e 1967, i n c l u d i n g J e r u s a l e m , under r e v i e w . 42. A t i t s 2867th m e e t i n g , t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l proceeded t o v o t e on t h e d r a f t r e s o l u t i o n (S/20677). The r e s u l t o f t h e v o t i n g was 14 t o 1, w i t h no a b s t e n t i o n s . I t was n o t a d o p t e d , o w i n g t o t h e n e g a t i v e v o t e o f a p e r m a n e n t member o f t h e Security Council. 43. I n a l e t t e r d a t e d 30 J u n e 1 9 8 9 , a d d r e s s e d t o t h e P r e s i d e n t o f t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l (S/20709), t h e Permanent R e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e S y r i a n Arab R e p u b l i c t o t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s , i n h i s c a p a c i t y as Chairman o f t h e Group o f A r a b S t a t e s a t t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s f o r t h e month o f June 1989, r e q u e s t e d t h e c o n v e n i n g o f an i m m e d i a t e meeting o f the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l to consider the s i t u a t i o n i n the occupied P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y , i n p a r t i c u l a r t h e d e p o r t a t i o n o f P a l e s t i n i a n c i v i l i a n s from the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y . 44. A t i t s 2 8 7 0 t h m e e t i n g , h e l d on 6 J u l y 1989, t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l h a d b e f o r e i t ^ d r a f t r e s o l u t i o n (S/20710) s u b m i t t e d by A l g e r i a , C o l o m b i a , E t h i o p i a , M a l a y s i a , \ N e p a l , S e n e g a l a n d Y u g o s l a v i a . The d r a f t r e s o l u t i o n was a d o p t e d b y 14 v o t e s t o none, w i t h 1 a b s t e n t i o n , as S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n 636 ( 1 9 8 9 ) o f 6 J u l y 1 9 8 9 . Ry t h a t r e s o l u t i o n , t h e C o u n c i l d e e p l y r e g r e t t e d t h e c o n t i n u i n g d e p o r t a t i o n b y I s r a e l , t h e o c c u p y i n g Power, o f P a l e s t i n i a n c i v i l i a n s ; c a l l e d upon I s r a e l t o e n s u r e the s a f e and immediate r e t u r n t o t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s o f those d e p o r t e d and t o d e s i s t f o r t h w i t h from d e p o r t i n g any o t h e r P a l e s t i n i a n c i v i l i a n s ; r e a f f i r m e d t h a t t h e Geneva C o n v e n t i o n r e l a t i v e t o t h e P r o t e c t i o n o f C i v i l i a n P e r s o n s i n T i m e o f War, o f 12 A u g u s t 1 9 4 9 , was a p p l i c a b l e t o t h e P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s , o c c u p i e d by I s r a e l s i n c e 1967, i n c l u d i n g J e r u s a l e m , and t o t h e o t h e r o c c u p i e d Arab t e r r i t o r i e s ; and d e c i d e d t o keep t h e s i t u a t i o n under r e v i e w . -11- 45. I n a l e t t e r d a t e d 29 A u g u s t 1989 a d d r e s s e d t o t h e P r e s i d e n t o f t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l (S/20817), the Charge d ' a f f a i r e s a . i . of the Permanent M i s s i o n of Q a t a r to t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s , on b e h a l f o f t h e G r o u p o f A r a b S t a t e s , r e q u e s t e d t h e convening o f an u r g e n t m e e t i n g o f t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l i n o r d e r t o c o n s i d e r t h e s i t u a t i o n i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y , and i n p a r t i c u l a r t h e d e p o r t a t i o n o f P a l e s t i n i a n c i v i l i a n s from the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y . 46. The S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l met on 30 A u g u s t 1989, a t i t s 2 8 8 3 r d m e e t i n g , and h a d b e f o r e i t a d r a f t r e s o l u t i o n ( S / 2 0 8 2 0 ) s u b m i t t e d by A l g e r i a , C o l o m b i a , E t h i o p i a , M a l a y s i a , N e p a l , S e n e g a l and Y u g o s l a v i a . The d r a f t r e s o l u t i o n was a d o p t e d b y 14 v o t e s , w i t h 1 a b s t e n t i o n , as S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n 641 ( 1 9 8 9 ) o f 30 A u g u s t 1989. By t h a t r e s o l u t i o n , t h e C o u n c i l d e p l o r e d t h e c o n t i n u e d d e p o r t a t i o n by I s r a e l , t h e o c c u p y i n g P o w e r , o f P a l e s t i n i a n c i v i l i a n s ; c a l l e d u p o n I s r a e l t o e n s u r e t h e s a f e and i m m e d i a t e r e t u r n t o t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s o f t h o s e d e p o r t e d and t o d e s i s t f u r t h e r f r o m d e p o r t i n g any o t h e r P a l e s t i n i a n c i v i l i a n s ; r e a f f i r m e d t h a t the Geneva C o n v e n t i o n r e l a t i v e t o the P r o t e c t i o n of C i v i l i a n P e r s o n s i n T i m e o f War, o f 12 A u g u s t 1949, i s a p p l i c a b l e t o t h e P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s , o c c u p i e d by I s r a e l s i n c e 1967, i n c l u d i n g J e r u s a l e m , and t o t h e o t h e r o c c u p i e d A r a b t e r r i t o r i e s ; and d e c i d e d t o k e e p t h e s i t u a t i o n u n d e r r e v i e w . 47. I n a l e t t e r d a t e d 3 November 1989, a d d r e s s e d t o t h e P r e s i d e n t o f t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l (S/20942), the Permanent R e p r e s e n t a t i v e of Kuwait to the U n i t e d N a t i o n s , i n his c a p a c i t y as C h a i r m a n o f t h e G r o u p o f A r a b S t a t e s f o r t h e m o n t h o f November 1989, r e q u e s t e d an i m m e d i a t e m e e t i n g o f t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l i n o r d e r t o c o n s i d e r the c u r r e n t s i t u a t i o n i n the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y . The S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s u m e d i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e i t e m a t t h r e e m e e t i n g s h e l d on 6 and 7 November 1989. 48. The C h a i r m a n o f t h e C o m m i t t e e i n t e r v e n e d i n t h e d e b a t e a t t h e 2 8 8 8 t h m e e t i n g ( s e e S / P V . 2 8 8 8 ) , o n 6 November 1989, and s t a t e d t h a t , d e s p i t e r e p e a t e d i n d i g n a n t p r o t e s t s b y t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i t y and t h e t i r e l e s s e f f o r t s o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s and i t s S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l , t h e human r i g h t s s i t u a t i o n o f t h e c i v i l i a n p o p u l a t i o n i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s had been s t e a d i l y deteriorating. The C o m m i t t e e ' s c o n c e r n was a l l t h e more a c u t e s i n c e t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l had s t i l l n o t s u c c e e d e d i n a g r e e i n g to measures t o g u a r a n t e e the s e c u r i t y o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n c i v i l i a n s , i n p a r t i c u l a r women and c h i l d r e n . The C h a i r m a n a p p e a l e d t o t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l t o become more i n v o l v e d i n t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e and t o i n i t i a t e and o v e r s e e t h e peace p r o c e s s i n t h e r e g i o n , and i n p a r t i c u l a r t o work r e s o l u t e l y w i t h the S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l to o r g a n i z e the I n t e r n a t i o n a l P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e on t h e M i d d l e E a s t i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176. The U n i t e d N a t i o n s h a d more t h a n e v e r b e f o r e t h e d u t y and t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o p r o m o t e t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f p e a c e and c o e x i s t e n c e b e t w e e n t h e P a l e s t i n i a n and I s r a e l i p e o p l e s . 49. A t i t s 2 8 8 9 t h m e e t i n g , on 7 November 1989, t h e C o u n c i l c o n s i d e r e d a d r a f t r e s o l u t i o n (S/20945/Rev.1) s u b m i t t e d by A l g e r i a , C o l o m b i a , E t h i o p i a , M a l a y s i a , N e p a l , S e n e g a l and Y u g o s l a v i a . By t h a t d r a f t r e s o l u t i o n , t h e C o u n c i l w o u l d h a v e : s t r o n g l y d e p l o r e d t h o s e p o l i c i e s and p r a c t i c e s o f I s r a e l , t h e o c c u p y i n g Power, w h i c h v i o l a t e d t h e human r i g h t s o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e , i n p a r t i c u l a r t h e s i e g e o f t o w n s , t h e r a n s a c k i n g o f homes, and i l l e g a l and a r b i t r a r y c o n f i s c a t i o n o f p r o p e r t y and v a l u a b l e s ; c a l l e d u p o n I s r a e l t o d e s i s t f r o m s u c h p r a c t i c e s a n d a c t i o n s , t o l i f t i t s s i e g e and t o r e t u r n t h e c o n f i s c a t e d p r o p e r t y ; r e a f f i r m e d t h e a p p l i c a b i l i t y o f t h e f o u r t h G e n e v a C o n v e n t i o n t o t h e P a l e s t i n i a n and o t h e r A r a b t e r r i t o r i e s o c c u p i e d b y I s r a e l s i n c e 1967, and c a l l e d on I s r a e l , t h e o c c u p y i n g -12- Power, t o a b i d e b y t h a t C o n v e n t i o n ; c a l l e d upon a l l H i g h C o n t r a c t i n g P a r t i e s t o that Convention t o ensure r e s p e c t f o r i t , i n c l u d i n g the o b l i g a t i o n o f the occupying Power t o t r e a t t h e p o p u l a t i o n o f t h e o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y h u m a n e l y a t a l l t i m e s a n d i n a l l c i r c u m s t a n c e s ; and requested the S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l t o conduct o n - s i t e m o n i t o r i n g o f the p r e s e n t s i t u a t i o n i n the P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y o c c u p i e d s i n c e 1967, i n c l u d i n g J e r u s a l e m , b y a l l means a v a i l a b l e t o h i m , a n d t o s u b m i t p e r i o d i c r e p o r t s t h e r e o n , the f i r s t such r e p o r t as soon as p o s s i b l e . 50. A t t h e same m e e t i n g , t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l p r o c e e d e d t o v o t e o n t h e d r a f t r e s o l u t i o n (S/20945/Rev.1). T h e r e s u l t o f t h e v o t i n g was 14 t o 1, w i t h no abstentions. The d r a f t r e s o l u t i o n was n o t a d o p t e d , o w i n g t o t h e n e g a t i v e v o t e o f a p e r m a n e n t member o f t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l . {) A c t i o n taken w i t h i n the General Assembly 51. I n i t s r e s o l u t i o n s 43/48 o f 30 November 1988 a n d 4 3 / 4 9 o f 2 December 1988, t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y c o n s i d e r e d the d e c i s i o n o f the h o s t c o u n t r y t o deny a n e n t r y v i s a to the Chairman o f the E x e c u t i v e Committee o f the P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n , and d e c i d e d t o c o n s i d e r the agenda item e n t i t l e d " Q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e " i n p l e n a r y m e e t i n g s a t t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s O f f i c e a t G e n e v a f r o m 13 t o 15 December 1988. A t i t s 78th p l e n a r y meeting, the Assembly heard a h i s t o r i c statement by the Chairman o f the E x e c u t i v e Committee o f the P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n Organization. The Committee e n d o r s e d the P a l e s t i n i a n peace i n i t i a t i v e c o n t a i n e d i n that statement. 52. A t i t s 82nd p l e n a r y m e e t i n g , o n 15 December 1988, t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y a d o p t e d f i v e r e s o l u t i o n s on the q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e . By r e s o l u t i o n s 4 3 / 1 7 5 A, a n d C, the Assembly renewed the r e s p e c t i v e mandates o f the Committee, the D i v i s i o n f o r P a l e s t i n i a n R i g h t s a n d t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f P u b l i c I n f o r m a t i o n ( s e e p a r a s . 9-11 above). By i t s r e s o l u t i o n 43/176, the Assembly o u t l i n e d p r i n c i p l e s f o r t h e achievement o f a comprehensive peace through the convening o f the I n t e r n a t i o n a l P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e o n t h e M i d d l e E a s t ( s e e p a r a . 57 b e l o w ) . By i t s r e s o l u t i o n 43/177, the Assembly acknowledged the p r o c l a m a t i o n o f the S t a t e o f P a l e s t i n e b y the P a l e s t i n e N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l o n 15 November 1988; a f f i r m e d t h e n e e d t o e n a b l e t h e P a l e s t i n i a n people t o e x e r c i s e t h e i r s o v e r e i g n t y over t h e i r t e r r i t o r y o c c u p i e d s i n c e 1967; a n d d e c i d e d t h a t t h e d e s i g n a t i o n " P a l e s t i n e " s h o u l d b e u s e d i n p l a c e o f the d e s i g n a t i o n " P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n " i n the U n i t e d N a t i o n s system, w i t h o u t p r e j u d i c e t o t h e o b s e r v e r s t a t u s a n d f u n c t i o n s o f t h e PLO w i t h i n t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s s y s t e m , i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h r e l e v a n t U n i t e d N a t i o n s r e s o l u t i o n s and p r a c t i c e . On 14 December 1988, t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n n o u n c e d i t s d e c i s i o n t o open a s u b s t a n t i v e d i a l o g u e w i t h the P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n Oiganization. T h a t p o s i t i v e d e v e l o p m e n t was w e l c o m e d b y a l l S t a t e s p a r t i c i p a t i n g in the p l e n a r y m e e t i n g s o f the G e n e r a l Assembly h e l d a t Geneva. 54. The G e n e r a l Assembly s u b s e q u e n t l y d e c i d e d t o r e t a i n the i t e m on the agenda o f i t s f o r t y - t h i r d s e s s i o n ( G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y d e c i s i o n 4 3 / 4 5 9 o f 22 D e c e m b e r 1 9 8 8 ) . The G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y r e s u m e d i t s c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e i t e m , e n t i t l e d " Q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e " , o n 18 A p r i l 1989, a t t h e r e q u e s t o f t h e P e r m a n e n t R e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f Saudi A r a b i a i n h i s c a p a c i t y as Chairman o f the Arab Group a t the U n i t e d N a t i o n s , c o n t a i n e d i n a l e t t e r d a t e d 17 A p r i l 1989 ( A / 4 3 / 1 0 0 7 ) , a n d i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h G e n e r a l Assembly d e c i s i o n 43/459, by w h i c h the Assembly r e t a i n e d t h a t i t e m on the a g e n d a o f i t s f o r t y - t h i r d s e s s i o n . The A s s e m b l y c o n s i d e r e d t h e i t e m a t t h r e e m e e t i n g s , h e l d o n 18 a n d 19 A p r i l 1989. -13- 55. The C h a i r m a n o f t h e C o m m i t t e e i n t e r v e n e d i n t h e d e b a t e o f t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y a t i t s 92nd p l e n a r y m e e t i n g , on 18 A p r i l 1909 ( s e e A / 4 3 / P V . 9 2 ) and s t r e s s e d t h a t t h e s i t u a t i o n i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y had c o n t i n u e d t o w o r s e n o w i n g t o I s r a e l ' s i n t r a n s i g e n c e . The C h a i r m a n r e p o r t e d t o t h e A s s e m b l y o n v a r i o u s i n s t a n c e s o f k i l l i n g s and d e s t r u c t i o n t h a t h a d t a k e n p l a c e s i n c e t h e b e g i n n i n g o f 1989 and t h a t h a d b e e n d e t a i l e d i n l e t t e r s w r i t t e n on b e h a l f o f t h e C o m m i t t e e . The Committee s t r o n g l y p r o t e s t e d the f u r t h e r e s c a l a t i o n of r e p r e s s i o n i n r e c e n t days and t h e g r o w i n g r o l e o f armed I s r a e l i s e t t l e r s , and w i s h e d t o a p p e a l t o t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l community t o r e d o u b l e i t s e f f o r t s t o ensure the p r o t e c t i o n of P a l e s t i n i a n s , t h e w i t h d r a w a l o f I s r a e l f r o m t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y , and t h e c o n v e n i n g o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e on t h e M i d d l e E a s t i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176. 56. On 20 A p r i l 1989, a t i t s 9 4 t h p l e n a r y m e e t i n g , t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y a d o p t e d r e s o l u t i o n 43/233 by a v o t e o f 129 t o 2, w i t h 1 a b s t e n t i o n . By t h a t r e s o l u t i o n , t h e A s s e m b l y condemned t h o s e p o l i c i e s and p r a c t i c e s o f I s r a e l , t h e o c c u p y i n g P o w e r , w h i c h v i o l a t e t h e human r i g h t s o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e i n t h e o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y ; demanded t h a t I s r a e l a b i d e s c r u p u l o u s l y by t h e G e n e v a C o n v e n t i o n r e l a t i v e t o t h e P r o t e c t i o n o f C i v i l i a n P e r s o n s i n Time o f War, o f 12 A u g u s t 1 9 4 9 ; r e q u e s t e d t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l to c o n s i d e r w i t h urgency the s i t u a t i o n i n the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y w i t h a view to c o n s i d e r i n g measures needed to p r o v i d e i n t e r n a t i o n a l p r o t e c t i o n f o r t h e P a l e s t i n i a n c i v i l i a n s i n t h e P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y o c c u p i e d by I s r a e l s i n c e 1967, i n c l u d i n g J e r u s a l e m ; s t r e s s e d t h e u r g e n t n e e d t o e x p e d i t e t h e c o n v e n i n g o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e on t h e M i d d l e E a s t , u n d e r t h e a u s p i c e s o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s and i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f A s s e m b l y r e s o l u t i o n 4 3 / 1 7 6 o f 15 D e c e m b e r 1988; and r e q u e s t e d t h e S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l t o s u b m i t p e r i o d i c r e p o r t s on d e v e l o p m e n t s i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y . 3. A c t i o n t a k e n b y t h e C o m m i t t e e t o p r o m o t e t h e c o n v e n i n g of t h e p r o p o s e d I n t e r n a t i o n a l P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e on t h e M i d d l e E a s t i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y r e s o l u t i o n 4 3 / 1 7 6 of 15 D e c e m b e r 1988 57. By i t s r e s o l u t i o n 4 3 / 1 7 6 , t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y a f f i r m e d t h e u r g e n t n e e d to a c h i e v e a j u s t and comprehensive s e t t l e m e n t of the A r a b - I s r a e l i c o n f l i c t , the core o f w h i c h i s t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e , c a l l e d f o r t h e c o n v e n i n g of t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e on t h e M i d d l e E a s t , u n d e r t h e a u s p i c e s of t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s , w i t h the p a r t i c i p a t i o n of a l l p a r t i e s to the c o n f l i c t , i n c l u d i n g the P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n , on an e q u a l f o o t i n g , and t h e f i v e p e r m a n e n t members o f t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , b a s e d on S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n s 242 ( 1 9 6 7 ) o f 22 November 1967 and 338 ( 1 9 7 3 ) o f 22 O c t o b e r 1973 and t h e l e g i t i m a t e n a t i o n a l r i g h t s o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e , p r i m a r i l y t h e r i g h t t o s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n , and a f f i r m e d the f o l l o w i n g p r i n c i p l e s f o r the achievement of comprehensive peace: the w i t h d r a w a l o f I s r a e l f r o m t h e P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y o c c u p i e d s i n c e 1967, including J e r u s a l e m , and f r o m t h e o t h e r o c c u p i e d A r a b t e r r i t o r i e s ; g u a r a n t e e i n g a r r a n g e m e n t s f o r s e c u r i t y o f a l l S t a t e s i n t h e r e g i o n , i n c l u d i n g t h o s e named i n r e s o l u t i o n 181 ( I I ) o f 29 November 1947, w i t h i n s e c u r e and i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y r e c o g n i z e d boundaries; r e s o l v i n g the problem of P a l e s t i n e refugees i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 194 ( I I I ) o f 11 December 1948, and s u b s e q u e n t r e l e v a n t r e s o l u t i o n s ; d i s m a n t l i n g t h e I s r a e l i s e t t l e m e n t s i n t h e t e r r i t o r i e s o c c u p i e d s i n c e 1967; and g u a r a n t e e i n g f r e e d o m o f a c c e s s t o H o l y P l a c e s , r e l i g i o u s b u i l d i n g s and s i t e s . The A s s e m b l y a l s o n o t e d t h e e x p r e s s e d d e s i r e and e n d e a v o u r s t o p l a c e t h e P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y o c c u p i e d s i n c e 1967, i n c l u d i n g J e r u s a l e m , u n d e r t h e s u p e r v i s i o n of t h e -14- U i i i L o d N a t i o n s f o r n l i m i t e d p e r i o d , as p a r t o f t h e p e a c e p r o c e s s ; r e q u e s t e d t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l t o c o n s i d e r measures needed t o convene t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace Conference on t h e M i d d l e E a s t , i n c l u d i n g t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a p r e p a r a t o r y c o m m i t t e e , and t o c o n s i d e r g u a r a n t e e s f o r s e c u r i t y measures a g r e e d upon by t h e C o n f e r e n c e f o r a l l S t a t e s i n t h e r e g i o n ; and r e q u e s t e d t h e S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l t o c o n t i n u e h i s e f f o r t s w i t h t h e p a r t i e s c o n c e r n e d , and i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , t o f a c i l i t a t e t h e c o n v e n i n g o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e , and t o submit p r o g r e s s r e p o r t s on d e v e l o p m e n t s i n t h i s m a t t e r . 50. I n t h e l i g h t o f t h a t r e s o l u t i o n , t h e Committee once a g a i n , i n a d o p t i n g i t s programme o f w o r k , d e c i d e d t h a t , i n i t s a c t i v i t i e s d u r i n g 1 9 8 9 , i t w o u l d c o n t i n u e , as a m a t t e r o f t h e u t m o s t p r i o r i t y , t o e x e r t a l l e f f o r t s t o p r o m o t e t h e e a r l y c o n v e n i n g o f t h e p r o p o s e d I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace C o n f e r e n c e on t h e M i d d l e E a s t . I t a l s o d e c i d e d t o c o n t i n u e t o g i v e the h i g l i e s t p r i o r i t y t o t h e need f o r e n s u r i n g t h e s a f e t y and p r o t e c t i o n o f P a l e s t i n i a n s under I s r a e l i o c c u p a t i o n , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h the p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e Geneva C o n v e n t i o n r e l a t i v e t o t h e P r o t e c t i o n o f C i v i l i a n P e r s o n s i n T i m e o f War, o f 12 A u g u s t 1 9 4 9 . 59. The C o m m i t t e e was g r e a t l y s t r e n g t h e n e d i n i t s r e s o l v e b y t h e o v e r w h e l m i n g consensus i n favour of a comprehensive n e g o t i a t e d settlement through the convening o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e op t h e M i d d l e E a s t a n d b y t h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i ' : n o f e f f o r t s among t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i t y a s a w h o l e a i m e d a t m e e t i n g t h e n e e d s o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e u n d e r o c c u p a t i o n , as r e f l e c t e d i n p a r t i c u l a r b y t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s a d o p t e d by t h e r e g i o n a l s e m i n a r s a n d b y s y m p o s i a a n d m e e t i n g s o f n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s on t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e o r g a n i z e d u n d e r i t s a u s p i c e s ( s e e s e c t . IV. b e l o w ) . 60. The C o m m i t t e e n o t e d t h a t t h e S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l , i n h i s r e p o r t o n t h e w o r k o f t h e O r g a n i z a t i o n , 7/ s t a t e d t h a t h o p e s f o r e a r l y p r o g r e s s i n t h e p e a c e p r o c e s s h a d s a d l y g i v e n way t o m i s t r u s t a n d d o u b t among t h e p a r t i e s c o n c e r n e d . Bilateral e f f o r t s t o promote a d i a l o g u e between I s r a e l i s and P a l e s t i n i a n s had been unsuccessful. The S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l ' s c o n s t a n t a t t e m p t s t o p a v e t h e way t o a n e f f e c t i v e n e g o t i a t i n g p r o c e s s , i n c l u d i n g c o n t a c t s w i t h t h e p a r t i e s concerned and t h e p e r m a n e n t members o f t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , h a d a l s o p r o v e d i n c o n c l u s i v e . I n l i g h t o f t h e p e r s i s t e n c e o f w i d e s p r e a d v i o l a t i o n s o f human r i g h t s i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s , the S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l reminded a l l concerned o f t h e urgent need f o r an e f f e c t i v e n e g o t i a t i n g p r o c e s s based on S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n s 242 ( 1 9 6 7 ) a n d 338 ( 1 9 7 3 ) a n d t a k i n g f u l l y i n t o a c c o u n t t h e l e g i t i m a t e r i g h t s o f the P a l e s t i n i a n people, i n c l u d i n g t h a t of s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n . f i ] . The C o m m i t t e e was o f t h e v i e w t h a t t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n o f t h e i n t i f a d a h a n d t h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f r e p r e s s i v e m e a s u r e s by I s r a e l , t h e o c c u p y i n g P o w e r , h a d c r e a t e d a c r i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n t h a t made i t i m p e r a t i v e t o a d v a n c e t o w a r d s a c o m p r e h e n s i v e , j u s t and l a s t i n g s e t t l e m e n t o f t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e , t h e c o r e o f t h e A r a b - I s r a e l i c o n f l i c t i n the Middle East. A t t h e same t i m e , e v e n t s d u r i n g t h e y e a r had a l s o b r o u g h t a b o u t a new i n t e r n a t i o n a l momentum t o w a r d s a n e g o t i a t e d s e t t l e m e n t under t h e a u s p i c e s o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s . The C o m m i t t e e a c c o r d i n g l y c o n t i n u e d t o s t r e s s t h e u r g e n t need f o r t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l and t h e p a r t i e s d i r e c t l y concerned to s e i z e t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y t o take p o s i t i v e a c t i o n towards t h e convening o f the Conference. -15- 4. Attendance at i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n f e r e n c e s a n d ni(^e_ting_s 62. I n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e C o m m i t t e e ' s m a n d a t e , i t was r e p r e s e n t e d a t t h e f o l l o w i n g i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n f e r e n c e s and m e e t i n g s d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d s i n c e i t s p r e v i o u s r e p o r t t o the General Assembly: (a) S p e c i a l m e e t i n g s o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s C o u n c i l f o r N a m i b i a t o commemorate t h e Week o f S o l i d a r i t y w i t h t h e p e o p l e o f N a m i b i a a n d t h e i r l i b e r a t i o n movement, t h e S o u t h W e s t A f r i c a P e o p l e ' s O r g a n i z a t i o n (SWAPO), h e l d i n New Y o r k o n 27 O c t o b e r 1 9 8 8 ; (b) E i g h t e e n t h Islamic Conference of F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r s , 13 t o 16 M a r c h 1 9 8 9 ; held at Riyadh from ( c ) M i n i s t e r i a l M e e t i n g o f t h e C o - o r d i n a t i n g B u r e a u o f t h e Movement o f N o n - A l i g n e d C o u n t r i e s , h e l d a t H a r a r e f r o m 17 t o 19 May 1989; (d) F i f t i e t h o r d i n a r y s e s s i o n of the C o u n c i l of M i n i s t e r s , h e l d at Addis A b a b a f r o m 17 t o 22 J u l y 1 9 8 9 , a n d t w e n t y - f i f t h o r d i n a r y s e s s i o n o f t h e A s s e m b l y o f Heads o f S t a t e and Government o f t h e O r g a n i z a t i o n o f A f r i c a n U n i t y , h e l d a t A d d i s A b a b a f r o m 24 t o 26 J u l y 1 9 8 9 ; (e) I n t e r n a t i o n a l n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n c o n f e r e n c e on " N o n - a l i g n m e n t i n i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s " , s p o n s o r e d by t h e I n d i a n I n s t i t u t e f o r N o n - A l i g n e d S t u d i e s , New D e l h i , a n d h e l d f r o m 28 t o 30 J u l y 1 9 8 9 ; (f) Solemn m e e t i n g o f the U n i t e d N a t i o n s C o u n c i l o f N a m i b i a Day, New Y o r k , 25 A u g u s t 1989; f o r Namibia i n commemoration (g) I n t e r n a t i o n a l symposium on t h e r o l e o f f o r e i g n a s s i s t a n c e i n m e e t i n g t h e economic and s o c i a l d e v e l o p m e n t r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e : from o c c u p a t i o n t o i n d e p e n d e n c e , s p o n s o r e d by t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l a n d t h e E u r o p e a n C o - o r d i n a t i n g C o m m i t t e e s f o r n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s on t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e and t h e S o c i e t y f o r A u s t r o - A r a b R e l a t i o n s , and h e l d a t V i e n n a on 27 A u g u s t 1 9 8 9 ; ( h ) N i n t h C o n f e r e n c e o f H e a d s o f S t a t e o r G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e Movement o f N o n - A l i g n e d C o u n t r i e s , h e l d a t B e l g r a d e from 4 t o 7 September 1989. 5. A c t i o n t a k e n b y U n i t e d N a t i o n s b o d i e s , t h e Movement o f N o n - A l i g n e d C o u n t r i e s and i n t e r g o v e r n m e n t a l organizations 63. The C o m m i t t e e c o n t i n u e d t o f o l l o w w i t h g r e a t i n t e r e s t t h e a c t i v i t i e s r e l a t i n g t o t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e o f t h e Movement o f N o n - A l i g n e d C o u n t r i e s , U n i t e d N a t i o n s b o d i e s and i n t e r g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s . The C o m m i t t e e e s p e c i a l l y n o t e d the g r o w i n g c o n c e r n a t a l l l e v e l s of the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community about t h e d e t e r i o r a t i o n o f t h e s i t u a t i o n i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s and i n t h e r e g i o n as a w h o l e , o w i n g t o t h e p o l i c i e s and p r a c t i c e s o f I s r a e l , a n d t h e i n c r e a s i n g sense o f urgency w i t h w h i c h the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community a d d r e s s e d the n e e d t o e n s u r e t h e s a f e t y and p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e u n d e r o c c u p a t i o n , and t o advance t o w a r d s a c o m p r e h e n s i v e , j u s t and l a s t i n g s e t t l e m e n t o f the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e . The C o m m i t t e e w e l c o m e d t h e g r o w i n g s e n t i m e n t a n d -16- mnmeiitum i n f a v o u r o f t h e c o n v e n i n g o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e o n t h e M i d d l e E a s t i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176. The C o m m i t t e e noted i n p a r t i c u l a r the f o l l o w i n g documents: (a) R e s o l u t i o n s adopted by the I n t e r - P a r l i a m e n t a r y Union a t the Conference h e l d a t S o f i a from 19 to 24 September 1988 (A/43/759, annex); (b) Communiqué on the s i t u a t i o n i n the P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s o c c u p i e d by I s r a e l , i s s u e d on 26 October 1988 i n New York by the C o - o r d i n a t i n g Bureau o f the Movement of N o n - A l i g n e d C o u n t r i e s (A/43/781-S/20258, annex); (c) D e c l a r a t i o n made on 21 November 1988 by the Twelve S t a t e s members of the European Community on the d e c i s i o n s of the P a l e s t i n i a n N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l (A/43/853-S/20287, annex); (d) Communiqué of the Non-Aligned Committee o f Nine on P a l e s t i n e , i s s u e d a t Geneva on 14 December 1988 (A/43/950, annex); (e) Statement on the s i t u a t i o n i n the M i d d l e E a s t made a t Athens on 16 December 1988 by the Twelve S t a t e s members of the European Community (A/43/987-S/20343, annex); (f) F i n a l communiqué of the n i n t h s e s s i o n of the Supreme C o u n c i l o f the C o - o p e r a t i o n C o u n c i l f o r the Arab S t a t e s o f the G u l f , h e l d a t Manama from 19 to 22 December 1988 (A/44/84-S/20407, annex I ) ; (g) F i n a l communiqué i s s u e d by the S p e c i a l Arab M i n i s t e r i a l Committee to Support the I n t i f a d a h , meeting a t T u n i s on 12 January 1989 (A/44/83-S/20406, annex); (h) R e s o l u t i o n s adopted by the Commission on Human R i g h t s a t i t s f o r t y - f i f t h s e s s i o n , h e l d at Geneva from 30 January to 10 March 1989 ( r e s o l u t i o n s 1989/2 A and and 1989/19); fi/ (i) R e s o l u t i o n 43/XII/89 adopted by the Union o f A f r i c a n P a r l i a m e n t s T w e l f t h G e n e r a l Assembly, h e l d a t Yaounde on 2 and 3 March 1989; at i t s (j) Communiqué on the q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e , i s s u e d i n New York on 15 March 1989 by the C o - o r d i n a t i n g Bureau o f the Movement o f N o n - A l i g n e d C o u n t r i e s (A/43/1000-S/20533, annex); (k) F i n a l communiqué of the E i g h t e e n t h I s l a m i c Conference of F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r s ( S e s s i o n of I s l a m i c F r a t e r n i t y and S o l i d a r i t y ) , h e l d a t Riyadh, from 13 to 16 March 1989 (A/44/235-S/20600, annex); (1) R e s o l u t i o n adopted by the I n t e r - P a r l i a m e n t a r y Union a t the C o n f e r e n c e h e l d a t Budapest from 10 to 18 March 1989 (A/44/240 and C o r r . l , annex); (m) F i n a l documents of the M i n i s t e r i a l M e e t i n g o f the C o - o r d i n a t i n g Bureau o f the Movement of N o n - A l i g n e d C o u n t r i e s , h e l d at Harare from 17 to 19 May 1989 (A/44/409-S/20743 and C o r r . l and 2, annex); (n) R e s o l u t i o n s adopted by the Economic and S o c i a l C o u n c i l a t i t s f i r s t and second r e g u l a r s e s s i o n s ( r e s o l u t i o n s 1989/34 o f 24 May 1989, 1989/86 and 1989/96 of 26 J u l y 1989); -17- () s t a t e m e n t i s s u e d on 31 May 1989 i n M a d r i d by t h e T w e l v e S t a t e s members o f t h e E u r o p e a n C o m m u n i t y on t h e c l o s i n g o f t h e s c h o o l s o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s R e l i e f and W o r k s A g e n c y f o r P a l e s t i n e R e f u g e e s i n t h e N e a r E a s t i n t h e W e s t Bank (A/44/299-S/20667, annex); (p) D e c l a r a t i o n on t h e M i d d l e E a s t a d o p t e d by t h e H e a d s o f S t a t e o r G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e T w e l v e S t a t e s members o f t h e E u r o p e a n C o m m u n i t y a t t h e E u r o p e a n C o u n c i l h e l d i n M a d r i d on 26 and 27 J u n e 1989 ( A / 4 4 / 3 5 4 - S / 2 0 7 0 3 , a n n e x ) ; (q) J o i n t communiqué o f t h e T w e n t y - s e c o n d M i n i s t e r i a l M e e t i n g o f t h e A s s o c i a t i o n o f S o u t h - E a s t A s i a n N a t i o n s , h e l d a t B a n d a r S e r i B e g a w a n , on 3 4 J u l y 1989 ( A / 4 4 / 4 1 5 - S / 2 0 7 4 9 , a n n e x ) ; and (r) Communiqué o f t h e M e e t i n g o f t h e P o l i t i c a l C o n s u l t a t i v e C o m m i t t e e o f S t a t e s P a r t i e s t o t h e Warsaw T r e a t y , h e l d a t B u c h a r e s t on 7 and 8 J u l y 1989 (A/44/386, annex I ) ; (s) R e s o l u t i o n a d o p t e d by t h e C o u n c i l o f M i n i s t e r s o f t h e O r g a n i z a t i o n o f A f r i c a n U n i t y a t i t s f i f t i e t h o r d i n a r y s e s s i o n , h e l d a t A d d i s A b a b a f r o m 17 t o 22 J u l y 1989 (A/44/, a n n e x I , r e s o l u t i o n C M / R e s . l 2 1 2 ( L ) ) ; the (t) D e c l a r a t i o n o f t h e N i n t h C o n f e r e n c e o f Heads o f S t a t e o r G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e Movement o f N o n - A l i g n e d C o u n t r i e s , h e l d a t B e l g r a d e , f r o m 4 t o 7 S e p t e m b e r 1989 (A/44/551-S/20870, a n n e x ) . B. A c t i o n t a k g n by t h g C o m m i t t g g i n accordançg w i t h C e n e r a l A s s e m b l y r e s o l u t i o n s 4 3 / 1 7 5 A and o f 15 D e c e m b e r 1988 1. Co-operation with non-governmental organizations 64. D u r i n g the p e r i o d under r e v i e w the Committee, i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h i t s mandate u n d e r r e s o l u t i o n 4 3 / 1 7 5 A, c o n t i n u e d t o e x t e n d i t s c o - o p e r a t i o n t o n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n t h e i r c o n t r i b u t i o n to h e i g h t e n i n g i n t e r n a t i o n a l awareness of the f a c t s r e l a t i n g t o t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e and i n c r e a t i n g a m o r e f a v o u r a b l e atmosphere f o r t h e f u l l i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f the C o m m i t t e e ' s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s , and c o n t i n u e d t o take the n e c e s s a r y steps to expand i t s c o n t a c t s w i t h those organizations. 65. I n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h i t s m a n d a t e u n d e r G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y r e s o l u t i o n 4 3 / 1 7 5 B, t h e D i v i s i o n f o r P a l e s t i n i a n R i g h t s , i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e C o m m i t t e e and u n d e r i t s g u i d a n c e , o r g a n i z e d the f o l l o w i n g a c t i v i t i e s f o r non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s d u r i n g 1988 i n i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h o s e o b j e c t i v e s : r e g i o n a l symposia f o r non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n A f r i c a (combined w i t h the r e g i o n a l seminar). N o r t h A m e r i c a and E u r o p e ; an i n t e r n a t i o n a l m e e t i n g o f n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s ; and two p r e p a r a t o r y m e e t i n g s , f o r t h e N o r t h A m e r i c a n s y m p o s i u m and t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l m e e t i n g , r e s p e c t i v e l y . The n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s s y m p o s i u m f o r t h e A s i a n r e g i o n w i l l be h e l d a t M a l a y s i a f r o m 18 t o 22 December 1989. The n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s s y m p o s i u m f o r t h e L a t i n A m e r i c a n and C a r i b b e a n r e g i o n , o r i g i n a l l y s c h e d u l e d t o be h e l d a t B u e n o s A i r e s f r o m 31 J u l y t o 4 A u g u s t 1989, h a s b e e n p o s t p o n e d , i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e G o v e r n m e n t of Argentina. -18- 66. In accordance w i t h i t s d e c i s i o n to c o n t i n u e to give utmost p r i o r i t y to e f f o r t s t o p r o m o t e t h e e a r l y c o n v e n i n g o f t h e p r o p o s e d I n t e r n a t i o n a l P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e on the M i d d l e E a s t , i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176, the C o m m i t t e e d e c i d e d t h a t n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l s y m p o s i a and m e e t i n g s s h o u l d c o n t i n u e t o e m p h a s i z e t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f c o n v e n i n g t h e C o n f e r e n c e and s t r u c t u r e d t h e p r o g r a m m e s for those a c t i v i t i e s a c c o r d i n g l y . In the l i g h t of the e x t r e m e l y g r a v e s i t u a t i o n i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y and t h e new s i t u a t i o n c r e a t e d by t h e i n t i f a d a h and t h e p r o c l a m a t i o n o f t h e i n d e p e n d e n t S t a t e o f P a l e s t i n e , and s u b s e q u e n t d e v e l o p m e n t s , the Committee d e c i d e d to i n c l u d e c o n s i d e r a t i o n of t h o s e t o p i c s i n the programmes o f the m e e t i n g s f o r n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s . 67. The C o m m i t t e e was g r e a t l y e n c o u r a g e d by t h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f a c t i v i t i e s and programmes of the n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g the s e n d i n g o f f a r t - f i n d i n g m i s s i o n s to the a r e a , i n t e n s i f i e d e f f o r t s to promote g r e a t e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e i s s u e and s u p p o r t f o r t h e c o n v e n i n g o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e on t h e M i d d l e E a s t , as w e l l as r e l i e f e f f o r t s t o a s s i s t P a l e s t i n i a n s i n the u p r i s i n g . The C o m m i t t e e n o t e d w i t h s a t i s f a c t i o n t h e c o n t i n u i n g and g r o w i n g i n v o l v e m e n t o f I s r a e l i o r g a n i z a t i o n s and J e w i s h o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n N o r t h A m e r i c a and Western Europe i n these e f f o r t s . (a) African R e g i o n a l NGO Symposium 68. The A f r i c a n R e g i o n a l NGO S y m p o s i u m was h e l d a t C a i r o f r o m 18 t o 21 D e c e m b e r 1988 t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e A f r i c a n R e g i o n a l S e m i n a r ( s e e b e l o w , paras. 86-88). The n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n (NGO) Symposium c o n s i d e r e d t o p i c s of t h r e e p a n e l s j o i n t l y w i t h the seminar. Two w o r k s h o p s s p e c i f i c a l l y r e l a t e d t o non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n a c t i v i t i e s were e s t a b l i s h e d f o r non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n p a r t i c i p a n t s to consider non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n m o b i l i z a t i o n and a c t i o n i n A f r i c a on t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e . the 69. The C o m m i t t e e n o t e d t h a t t h e S y m p o s i u m a d o p t e d a d e c l a r a t i o n e x p r e s s i n g f u l l s u p p o r t f o r t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e a c e i n i t i a t i v e and t h e p r o c l a m a t i o n o f t h e S t a t e o f P a l e s t i n e and c a l l i n g upon a l l G o v e r n m e n t s t o r e c o g n i z e t h a t S t a t e and on a l l g o v e r n m e n t a l and n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s t o e x t e n d c o n c r e t e a s s i s t a n c e towards i t s e s t a b l i s h m e n t . The d e c l a r a t i o n a l s o c a l l e d f o r t h e p r o m p t c o n v e n i n g o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e on t h e M i d d l e E a s t u n d e r U n i t e d N a t i o n s a u s p i c e s , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y r e s o l u t i o n 4 3 / 1 7 6 , and e x p r e s s e d t h e commitment of n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s to a r o u s e i n t e r n a t i o n a l p u b l i c o p i n i o n i n favour of that o b j e c t i v e . The d e c l a r a t i o n f u r t h e r c a l l e d f o r t h e p l a c i n g o f t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y under U n i t e d N a t i o n s s u p e r v i s i o n f o r a l i m i t e d p e r i o d as an e s s e n t i a l p a r t o f t h e p e a c e p r o c e s s and f o r t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f U n i t e d N a t i o n s r e s o l u t i o n s f o r the a t t a i n m e n t of the i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n people. ( F o r t h e f u l l t e x t o f t h e d e c l a r a t i o n , see a n n e x I I I t o t h e present report.) (b) N o r t h A m e r i c a n R e g i o n a l NGO S y m p o s i u m and Preparatory Meeting 70. The P r e p a r a t o r y M e e t i n g f o r t h e N o r t h A m e r i c a n R e g i o n a l NGO S y m p o s i u m was held a t U n i t e d N a t i o n s H e a d q u a r t e r s on 13 and 14 F e b r u a r y 1989 and was a t t e n d e d by t h e members o f t h e N o r t h A m e r i c a n C o - o r d i n a t i n g Committee f o r Non-Governmental O r g a n i z a t i o n s on t h e Q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e and by a d e l e g a t i o n o f t h e C o m m i t t e e . The m e e t i n g e l a b o r a t e d t h e v a r i o u s a s p e c t s o f t h e programme f o r t h e S y m p o s i u m t o be h e l d i n 1989 and t h e m o d a l i t i e s f o r e x p a n d i n g t h e n e t w o r k o f n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s a c t i v e on t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e i n N o r t h A m e r i c a . -19- 71. The N o r t h A m e r i c a n R e g i o n a l NGO S-^Tnposiiim was h e l d a t U n i t e d N a t i o n s H e a d q u a r t e r s f r o m 21 t o 23 J u n e 1989, i m m e d i a t e l y f o l l o w i n g t h e N o r t h A m e r i c a n R e g i o n a l S e m i n a r , w i t h w h i c h i t was c o m b i n e d i n t h e i n t e r e s t o f e c o n o m y and i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e p r a c t i c e f o l l o w e d i n p r e v i o u s y e a r s ( s e e p a r a s . 89 a n d 90 below). The S y m p o s i u m was a t t e n d e d by r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f 73 n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s as p a r t i c i p a n t s , and 33 n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s as o b s e r v e r s f r o m t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s and C a n a d a , by a d e l e g a t i o n o f t h e C o m m i t t e e , and by a number o f o b s e r v e r s f r o m G o v e r n m e n t s , i n t e r g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s . U n i t e d N a t i o n s b o d i e s and n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n m o v e m e n t s . 72. Two m a i n p a n e l s w e r e e s t a b l i s h e d : I . The i n t i f a d a h : c r e a t i n g a new c o n t e x t f o r p e a c e ; and I I . C o n v e n i n g t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h U n i t e d N a t i o n s G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176: I m p l i c a t i o n s f o r I s r a e l and t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s of the P r o c l a m a t i o n of the S t a t e of P a l e s t i n e , the P a l e s t i n i a n peace i n i t i a t i v e and t h e i n t i f a d a h . The programme f o r t h e S y m p o s i u m a l s o i n c l u d e d e i g h t a c t i o n - o r i e n t e d workshops. 73. The C o m m i t t e e n o t e d t h a t t h e Symposium a d o p t e d a d e c l a r a t i o n w e l c o m i n g t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e a c e i n i t i a t i v e as a c o n c r e t e c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a j u s t and l a s t i n g p e a c e i n t h e r e g i o n and c a l l i n g u p o n t h e G o v e r n m e n t s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d I s r a e l t o a c c e p t t h a t i n i t i a t i v e by s u p p o r t i n g t h e i m m e d i a t e c o n v e n i n g o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e on t h e M i d d l e E a s t i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176. The d e c l a r a t i o n f u r t h e r c a l l e d f o r i m m e d i a t e m e a s u r e s b y t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s s y s t e m and o t h e r s i n o r d e r t o e n s u r e t h e p r o t e c t i o n of P a l e s t i n i a n s i n the occupied t e r r i t o r y . The C o m m i t t e e a l s o n o t e d t h a t , t h r o u g h t h e i r d i s c u s s i o n s i n the d i f f e r e n t a c t i o n - o r i e n t e d workshops, the non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s h a d f u r t h e r d e v e l o p e d p r a c t i c a l o r g a n i z i n g s t r a t e g i e s and s u p p o r t p r o j e c t s f o r c o n c e r t e d a c t i o n by N o r t h A m e r i c a n n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s . (For t h e t e x t o f t h e d e c l a r a t i o n , see annex V t o t h e p r e s e n t r e p o r t . ) (c) E u r o p e a n R e g i o n a l NGO Symposium 74. The E u r o p e a n R e g i o n a l NGO S y m p o s i u m was h e l d a t V i e n n a on 28 a n d 29 A u g u s t 1989, i m m e d i a t e l y p r e c e d i n g t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s m e e t i n g , w i t h w h i c h i t was c o m b i n e d i n t h e i n t e r e s t of economy and e f f i c i e n c y ( s e e p a r a s . 80 and 82 b e l o w ) . I n t h a t c o n n e c t i o n , the Committee e x p r e s s e d i t s a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r t h e d e c i s i o n o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t of A u s t r i a to p r o v i d e the f a c i l i t i e s o f t h e A u s t r i a n C e n t r e f r e e o f c h a r g e f o r both m e e t i n g s . 75. The programme f o r t h e Symposium was e l a b o r a t e d by t h e members of the E u r o p e a n C o - o r d i n a t i n g C o m m i t t e e f o r NGOs on t h e Q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e C o m m i t t e e d e l e g a t i o n a t t e n d i n g t h e P r e p a r a t o r y M e e t i n g f o r the i n t e r n a t i o n a l n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n m e e t i n g h e l d a t V i e n n a o n 20 a n d 21 M a r c h 1 9 8 9 . 76. The Symposium was a t t e n d e d by r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f 82 n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s as p a r t i c i p a n t s and 132 n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s as o b s e r v e r s , as w e l l as b y a d e l e g a t i o n o f t h e C o m m i t t e e and g o v e r n m e n t a l a n d i n t e r g o v e r n m e n t a l o b s e r v e r s . U n i t e d N a t i o n s b o d i e s and n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n m o v e m e n t s . 77. The Symposium c o n s i d e r e d t h e t o p i c s o f two p a n e l s : I. "The d y n a m i c s of the i n t i f a d a h and c o n s e q u e n c e s f o r NGO a c t i v i t i e s " and I I . "The I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace C o n f e r e n c e on t h e M i d d l e E a s t and t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f P a l e s t i n i a n self-determination: the r o l e of Europe". The programme f o r the S y m p o s i u m a l s o i n c l u d e d f i v e a c t i o n - o r i e n t e d vrorkshops. -20- 78. The Committee n o t e d t h a t t h e Symposium a d o p t e d a d e c l a r a t i o n t h a t welcomed t h e P a l e s t i n i a n peace i n i t i a t i v e and t h e o p e n i n g o f a d i a l o g u e between t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d t h e PLO, a n d s t r e s s e d t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f c o n v e n i n g t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace C o n f e r e n c e on t h e M i d d l e E a s t i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176. The d e c l a r a t i o n c a l l e d f o r a g r e a t e r c o n t r i b u t i o n b y E u r o p e a n G o v e r n m e n t s to the peace p r o c e s s , i n c l u d i n g r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n S t a t e . I t rejected the p l a n f o r e l e c t i o n s i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y p r o p o s e d by t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f I s r a e l as a c o v e r f o r t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n o f o c c u p a t i o n a n d r e p r e s s i o n , and e x p r e s s e d c o n c e r n o v e r human r i g h t s v i o l a t i o n s b y t h e o c c u p y i n g P o w e r . I t c a l l e d upon E u r o p e a n Governments t o t a k e e f f e c t i v e m e a s u r e s t o e n s u r e r e s p e c t by I s r a e l o f t h e f o u r t h Geneva C o n v e n t i o n , and c a l l e d upon t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l t o take urgent measures, i n c l u d i n g deployment of a U n i t e d N a t i o n s peace-keeping f o r c e , to e n s u r e t h e p r o t e c t i o n and s e c u r i t y o f P a l e s t i n i a n s under o c c u p a t i o n . The d e c l a r a t i o n a l s o c a l l e d upon U n i t e d N a t i o n s a g e n c i e s t o i n t e n s i f y t h e i r e f f o r t s t o a d d r e s s t h e e d u c a t i o n a l , m e d i c a l and g e n e r a l s o c i o - e c o n o m i c needs o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n people. ( F o r t h e t e x t o f t h e d e c l a r a t i o n , see annex V I t o t h e p r e s e n t report.) (d) International Meeting of Non-Governmental O r g a n i z a t i o n s and P r e p a r a t o r y Meeting 79. The P r e p a r a t o r y M e e t i n g f o r t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l M e e t i n g o f N o n - G o v e r n m e n t a l O r g a n i z a t i o n s was h e l d a t V i e n n a on 20 a n d 21 M a r c h 1988 a n d was a t t e n d e d b y members o f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l a n d E u r o p e a n c o - o r d i n a t i n g c o m m i t t e e s f o r n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s o n t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e , a s w e l l a s a number o f non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n o b s e r v e r s from o t h e r r e g i o n s . The P r e p a r a t o r y M e e t i n g e l a b o r a t e d t h e d e t a i l s o f t h e programmes f o r t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l M e e t i n g o f N o n - G o v e r n m e n t a l O r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d t h e E u r o p e a n NGO S y m p o s i u m , t o be h e l d i n 1 9 8 9 , and d i s c u s s e d f u t u r e c o - o p e r a t i o n a n d a c t i o n b y n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s a t the i n t e r n a t i o n a l and European l e v e l s . 80. The I n t e r n a t i o n a l M e e t i n g o f N o n - G o v e r n m e n t a l O r g a n i z a t i o n s was h e l d a t V i e n n a f r o m 30 A u g u s t t o 1 S e p t e m b e r 1989 a n d was a t t e n d e d b y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s f r o m 213 n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s as p a r t i c i p a n t s a n d 138 n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s as o b s e r v e r s from a l l r e g i o n s , i n c l u d i n g s e v e r a l from I s r a e l and t h e occupied P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s . The C o m m i t t e e was p l e a s e d t h a t a number o f prominent p o l i t i c a l p e r s o n a l i t i e s had a c c e p t e d i t s i n v i t a t i o n t o a t t e n d and address the m e e t i n g . 81. The m e e t i n g h a d as a m a i n theme " I n t i f a d a h : the continuing struggle of the P a l e s t i n i a n People f o r independence". The f o l l o w i n g p a n e l was e s t a b l i s h e d : "Two p e o p l e s , two S t a t e s : f u t u r e r e l a t i o n s " . S i x a c t i o n - o r i e n t e d workshops and a number o f s p e c i a l - i n t e r e s t g r o u p s a l s o met w i t h i n t h e f r a m e w o r k o f t h e m e e t i n g . 2. The C o m m i t t e e n o t e d t h a t t h e m e e t i n g a d o p t e d a d e c l a r a t i o n t h a t e x p r e s s e d f u l l s u p p o r t f o r t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p r o c l a m a t i o n o f independence and t h a t c a l l e d on a l l (Governments t o r e c o g n i z e t h e i n d e p e n d e n t S t a t e o f P a l e s t i n e a n d t h e PLO a s t h e s o l e l e g i t i m a t e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e p e o p l e and S t a t e o f P a l e s t i n e . The d e c l a r a t i o n f u r t h e r c a l l e d f o r t h e e a r l y c o n v e n i n g o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace C o n f e r e n c e on t h e M i d d l e E a s t , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h G e n e r a l Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176, and r e j e c t e d the e l e c t i o n p l a n p u t f o r w a r d by t h e Government o f I s r a e l , as d e s i g n e d t o p r e v e n t independence and t o l e a d t o t h e a n n e x a t i o n o f t h e o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y . The d e c l a r a t i o n a l s o e x p r e s s e d c o n c e r n a t t h e i n c r e a s i n g human r i g h t s v i o l a t i o n s i n t h e o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y and c a l l e d f o r e f f e c t i v e i n t e r n a t i o n a l p o l i t i c a l and economic p r e s s u r e o n I s r a e l , as w e l l as f o r t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a U n i t e d N a t i o n s p r e s e n c e . -21- i n o r d e i - t o e n s u r e cc^nrp 1 i a n c e w i t l i t h e f o u r t h G e n e v a C o n v e n t i o n . It also called f o r c o m p r e h e n s i v e i n v o l v e m e n t by t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s s y s t e m i n t h e h e a l t h and s o c i o - e c o n o m i c f i e l d s , i n c o - o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e PLO and P a l e s t i n i a n non-governmental o r g a n i s a t i o n s , i n o r d e r t o m e e t t h e g r o w i n g e m e r g e n c y and development needs of the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e . (For the t e x t of the d e c l a r a t i o n , see annex V I I t o the p r e s e n t r e p o r t . ) 2. Seminars 83. D u r i n g the p e r i o d under r e v i e w , the D i v i s i o n f o r P a l e s t i n i a n R i g h t s c o n t i n u e d t o o r g a n i z e s e m i n a r s i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e C o m m i t t e e and u n d e r i t s g u i d a n c e , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h i t s m a n d a t e u n d e r G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y r e s o l u t i o n 3 4 / 6 5 D and subsequent r e s o l u t i o n s . The r e g i o n s c o v e r e d d u r i n g t h e r e p o r t i n g p e r i o d w e r e A f r i c a and N o r t h A m e r i c a . The C o m m i t t e e e x p r e s s e d a p p r e c i a t i o n t o t h e G o v e r n m e n t s o f M a l a y s i a and A r g e n t i n a f o r a g r e e i n g t o p r o v i d e t h e v e n u e f o r t h e A s i a n S e m i n a r and NGO S y m p o s i u m and t h e L a t i n A m e r i c a n and C a r i b b e a n S e m i n a r and NGO Symposium, respectively. T h o s e m e e t i n g s c o u l d n o t be h e l d w i t h i n t h e r e p o r t i n g p e r i o d f o r reasons beyond the Committee's c o n t r o l . The A s i a n R e g i o n a l S e m i n a r and NGO Symposium i s s c h e d u l e d t o t a k e p l a c e a t K u a l a Lumpur f r o m 18 t o 22 December 1989. The L a t i n A m e r i c a n and C a r i b b e a n R e g i o n a l S e m i n a r and NGO Symposium, o r i g i n a l l y s c h e d u l e d t o t a k e p l a c e i n B u e n o s A i r e s f r o m 31 J u l y t o 4 A u g u s t 1989, was p o s t p o n e d , i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h the Government of A r g e n t i n a . 84. The C o m m i t t e e d e c i d e d t h a t t h e r e g i o n a l s e m i n a r s w o u l d e m p h a s i z e t h e u r g e n c y o f c o n v e n i n g t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e on t h e M i d d l e E a s t ; t h e i n t i f a d a h i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y and i t s i m p a c t on t h e a c h i e v e m e n t o f a comprehensive s e t t l e m e n t of the M i d d l e East c o n f l i c t ; the r o l e of the Palestine L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n i n t h e s o c i a l , c u l t u r a l , e c o n o m i c and p o l i t i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e ; and t h e m o b i l i z a t i o n o f p u b l i c o p i n i o n i n t h e region concerned f o r the r e a l i z a t i o n of the i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e . 85. The C o m m i t t e e was p l e a s e d by t h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e s e m i n a r s o f p r o m i n e n t p o l i t i c a l p e r s o n a l i t i e s , p a r l i a m e n t a r i a n s and p o l i c y - m a k e r s , as w e l l as p e r s o n s f r o m t h e a c a d e m i c c o m m u n i t y and o t h e r e x p e r t s , as t h i s s h o w e d t h e g r o w i n g c o n c e r n of the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community a t a l l l e v e l s over the s i t u a t i o n i n the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y , and t h e C o m m i t t e e ' s d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o p r o m o t e p r o g r e s s towards a s o l u t i o n of the P a l e s t i n e q u e s t i o n . (a) African Regional Seminar, C a i r o , 18 to 22 December 1988 86. The C o m m i t t e e g r e a t l y a p p r e c i a t e d t h e o f f e r o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f E g y p t t o p r o v i d e a venue f o r the A f r i c a n R e g i o n a l Seminar (the T w e n t y - f i r s t U n i t e d N a t i o n s S e m i n a r on t h e Q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e ) , w h i c h was h e l d j o i n t l y w i t h t h e A f r i c a n NGO Symposium. 87. The s e m i n a r e s t a b l i s h e d t h e t o p i c s o f t h r e e p a n e l s : Panel I. "The uprising i n the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s : the urgency of c o n v e n i n g the I n t e r n a t i o n a l P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e on t h e M i d d l e E a s t i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h U n i t e d N a t i o n s General Assembly r e s o l u t i o n s " ; Panel I I . "The r o l e o f t h e P a l e s t i n e Liberation Organization; and P a n e l I I I . "The m o b i l i z a t i o n o f A f r i c a n p u b l i c o p i n i o n f o r t h e r e a l i z a t i o n of the i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e " . -22- . The C o m m i t t e e n o t e d t h a t t h e s e m i n a r a d o p t e d c o n c l u s i o n s and r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s in wliich p a r t i c i p a n t s e x p r e s s e d t h e i r c o n v i c t i o n t h a t r e c e n t developments r e g a r d i n g t h e A r a b - I s r a e l i c o n f l i c t and i t s c o r e , t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e , h a d c r e a t e d a new momentum f o r b r i n g i n g a b o u t a s o l u t i o n on t h e b a s i s o f r e s o l u t i o n s o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s and w i t h i n i t s f r a m e w o r k . The s e m i n a r w e l c o m e d t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e a c e i n i t i a t i v e and t h e p r o c l a m a t i o n o f an i n d e p e n d e n t P a l e s t i n i a n S t a t e as a p o s i t i v e c o n t r i b u t i o n t o w a r d s a p e a c e f u l s e t t l e m e n t o f t h e c o n f l i c t i n t h e r e g i o -. The d e c i s i o n o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a t o i n i t i a t e a d i a l o g u e w i t h t h e P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n was a l s o w e l c o m e d as a p o s i t ; - ' r development. I s r a e l was c a l l e d u p o n t o r e s p o n d p o s i t i v e l y t o t h e s t a n d t a k e n by t l i e PLO and t o r e c o g n i z e t h e n a t i o n a l a s p i r a t i o n s o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n s i n t h e occupied P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y . The p a r t i c i p a n t s o f t h e S e m i n a r f u r t h e r expresss^^^ f u l l s u p p o r t f o r t h e p r i n c i p l e s c o n t a i n e d i n G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y r e s o l u t i o n 43/176 a b a s i s f o r the achievement of a comprehensive peace. They urged t h a t e v e r y a s s i s t a n c e s h o u l d be p r o v i d e d by t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i t y t o t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e i n i t s e n d e a v o u r s t o end t h e o c c u p a t i o n and t o s e t up t h e i n f r a s t r u c t u r e ' ^ j r an i n d e p e n d e n t and s o v e r e i g n P a l e s t i n i a n S t a t e . Pending the a t t a i n m e n t of a s e t t l e m e n t , t h e S e m i n a r a p p e a l e d t o t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s t o t a k e u r g e n t m e a s u r e s tp r o t e c t the P a l e s t i n i a n s under o c c u p a t i o n . ( F o r t h e t e x t o f t h e c o n c l u s i o n s and r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s , see annex I I t o t h e p r e s e n t r e p o r t . ) (b) North American Regional S e m i n a r , New York, 19 and 20 J u n e 1989 89. The N o r t h A m e r i c a n R e g i o n a l S e m i n a r ( t h e T w e n t y - s e c o n d U n i t e d N a t i o n s S e m i n a r on t h e Q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e ) was h e l d a t U n i t e d N a t i o n s H e a d q u a r t e r s i n New Y o r k on 19 and 20 J u n e 1989. The S e m i n a r c o n s i d e r e d t h e s u b j e c t s o f two p a n e l s , as follows: P a n e l I ( a ) : "The u r g e n c y o f c o n v e n i n g t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e on t h e M i d d l e E a s t " ; P a n e l I ( b ) : "The i n t i f a d a h i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y and i t s i m p a c t on t h e a c h i e v e m e n t o f a c o m p r e h e n s i v e s e t t l e m e n t o f t h e M i d d l e E a s t c o n f l i c t " ; and P a n e l I I : "The r o l e o f t h e P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n i n t h e s o c i a l , c u l t u r a l , e c o n o m i c and p o l i t i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t of the P a l e s t i n i a n people". 90. The C o m m i t t e e n o t e d t h a t , i n t h e c o n c l u s i o n s and r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s o f t h e s e m i n a r , t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s w e l c o m e d t h e p r o c l a m a t i o n o f a P a l e s t i n i a n S t a t e and s u b s e q u e n t d e v e l o p m e n t s as i m p o r t a n t l a n d m a r k s i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l e n d e a v o u r s towards a c h i e v i n g a j u s t s e t t l e m e n t of the q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e . The s e m i n a r urged the Government of the U n i t e d S t a t e s of A m e r i c a t o c o n t i n u e i t s c o n t a c t s w i t h t h e PLO and t o b r o a d e n t h e p o l i t i c a l s c o p e o f t h e d i a l o g u e . I t c o n s i d e r e d t h a t the s o - c a l l e d p e a c e i n i t i a t i v e p r o p o s e d by t h e I s r a e l i a u t h o r i t i e s was i n a d e q u a t e and c a l l e d on I s r a e l t o t e r m i n a t e i t s o c c u p a t i o n and t o a c c e p t t h e t e r m s f o r a l a s t i n g settlement. I t urged the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l to e x p e d i t e the convening of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e on t h e M i d d l e E a s t and t o a d o p t i n t e r i m m e a s u r e s , i n c l u d i n g the development of a U n i t e d N a t i o n s peace-keeping f o r c e , to s a f e g u a r d the p h y s i c a l s e c u r i t y of P a l e s t i n i a n s i n the o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r y . The v i o l a t i o n s o f luiman r i g h t s , r e p r e s s i v e e c o n o m i c m e a s u r e s and t h e c l o s u r e o f s c h o o l s i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y w e r e c o n d e m n e d , and t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s s y s t e m was c a l l e d upon t o p r o v i d e u r g e n t h u m a n i t a r i a n a s s i s t a n c e and t o i n t e n s i f y i t s e f f o r t s towards a genuine development of the occupied t e r r i t o r y . (For the t e x t of the c o n c l u s i o n s a n d r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s , s e e a n n e x IV t o t h e p r e s e n t r e p o r t . ) -23- 3. 0_t he r a t i i t i_e_s 91. The C o m m i t t e e t o o k n o t e w i t h a p p r e c i a t i o n t h a t t h e D i v i s i o n f o r P a l e s t i n i a n R i g h t s , i n accordance w i t h i t s mandate, would c o n t i n u e t o p r e p a r e t h e f o l l o w i n g p u b l i c a t i o n s , under t h e guidance o f t h e Committee: (a) M o n t h l y b u l l e t i n s c o v e r i n g a c t i o n by t h e Committee, o t h e r U n i t e d N a t i o n s o r g a n s , and i n t e r g o v e r n m e n t a l and n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e question of Palestine; (b) Reports of r e g i o n a l seminars, r e g i o n a l symposia o f non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s and i n t e r n a t i o n a l meetings o f non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n s , and s p e c i a l b u l l e t i n s o n t h e o b s e r v a n c e o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Day o f S o l i d a r i t y w i t h t h e P a l e s t i n i a n People; (c) C o m p i l a t i o n s on an a n n u a l b a s i s o f t h e r e l e v a n t G e n e r a l Assembly and t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l ; resolutions a d o p t e d by the (d) M o n i t o r i n g o f A r a b i c , E n g l i s h a n d Hebrew p r e s s a n d m e d i a o n d e v e l o p m e n t s r e l a t i n g t o t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e and t h e i s s u e o f m o n t h l y r e p o r t s f o r t h e use of t h e Committee. 92. T h e C o m m i t t e e f u r t h e r n o t e d t h a t t h e D i v i s i o n h a d p u b l i s h e d a s t u d y e n t i t l e d The N e e d f o r C o n v e n i n g t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e o n t h e M i d d l e E a s t ( i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y r e s o l u t i o n 38/58 C ) . The s t u d y e n t i t l e d T h ^ O r i g i n s a n d E v o l u t i o n o f t h e P a l e s t i n e P r o b l e m ( P a r t I V ) , c o v e r i n g t h e p e r i o d 1984 t o December 1 9 8 8 , h a s a l s o b e e n c o m p l e t e d a n d w i l l be a d d e d t o t h e t h r e e p r e v i o u s l y published parts. The c o n s o l i d a t e d volume o f t h e s t u d y w i l l c o n s i s t o f f o u r p a r t s c o v e r i n g t h e p e r i o d 1917 t o 1 9 8 8 . The s t u d y o n t h e p l i g h t o f P a l e s t i n i a n c h i l d r e n in the occupied P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y i s currently being f i n a l i z e d . Two u p d a t e d i s s u e s ( M a r c h and A u g u s t ) o f t h e i n f o r m a t i o n n o t e on t h e work o f t h e Committee and o f t h e D i v i s i o n w e r e a l s o p r e p a r e d a n d i s now a v a i l a b l e i n t h e s i x o f f i c i a l l a n g u a g e s o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s , as w e l l as i n German a n d J a p a n e s e . An i n f o r m a t i o n n o t e , e n t i t l e d "The U n i t e d N a t i o n s a n d n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s o n t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e " , was a l s o c o m p l e t e d a n d w i l l be made a v a i l a b l e i n t h e s i x o f f i c i a l l a n g u a g e s o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s as w e l l a s i n German a n d J a p a n e s e . 93. T h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Day o f S o l i d a r i t y w i t h the P a l e s t i n i a n P e o p l e was o b s e r v e d on 29 N o v e m b e r 1988 a t U n i t e d N a t i o n s H e a d q u a r t e r s i n New Y o r k a n d a t the U n i t e d N a t i o n s O f f i c e s a t Geneva and V i e n n a . The C o m m i t t e e n o t e d w i t h a p p r e c i a t i o n t h a t t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Day h a d a l s o b e e n commemorated i n many o t h e r c i t i e s t h r o u g h o u t the w o r l d i n 1988. -24- V. ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF P U B L I C INFORMATION I N ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 43/17 5 94. The C o n u n i t t e e n o t e d w i t h a p p r e c i a t i o n t h a t , d u r i n g t h e p a s t y e a r , t h e Department o f P u b l i c I n f o r m a t i o n o f the S e c r e t a r i a t c o n t i n u e d i t s i n f o r m a t i o n programme o n t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e w i t h a v i e w t o f u r t h e r i n g t h e w o r l d - w i d e d i s s e m i n a t i o n o f a c c u r a t e , o b j e c t i v e and c o m p r e h e n s i v e i n f o r m a t i o n on t h e question. The D e p a r t m e n t ' s c o n t i n u i n g m a n d a t e o n t h e a r e a d e r i v e d f r o m G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y r e s o l u t i o n 4 3 / 1 7 5 o f 15 December 1 9 8 8 , b y w h i c h t h e A s s e m b l y r e q u e s t e d i t t o c o n t i n u e i t s s p e c i a l i n f o r m a t i o n programme o n t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e d u r i n g t h e b i e n n i u m 1988-1989. 95. I n response t o the request o f the General Assembly, the Department o f P u b l i c I n f o r m a t i o n has d i s s e m i n a t e d p r e s s r e l e a s e s , p u b l i c a t i o n s and a u d i o - v i s u a l m a t e r i a l and h a s a l s o o r g a n i z e d f a c t - f i n d i n g news m i s s i o n s a n d r e g i o n a l a n d n a t i o n a l encounters f o r j o u r n a l i s t s . 96. F u l l c o v e r a g e by p r e s s r e l e a s e s was p r o v i d e d a t t h e f o r t y - t h i r d s e s s i o n o f t h e G e n e r a l Assembly, i n c l u d i n g i t s m e e t i n g s a t Geneva, t h e m e e t i n g s o f t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , t h e C o m m i s s i o n o n Human R i g h t s a n d o t h e r i n t e r g o v e r n m e n t a l b o d i e s as t h e y d e a l t w i t h t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e , and o f t h e S p e c i a l Committee t o I n v e s t i g a t e I s r a e l i P r a c t i c e s A f f e c t i n g t h e Human R i g h t s o f t h e P o p u l a t i o n o f t h e O c c u p i e d T e r r i t o r i e s and t h e Committee on t h e E x e r c i s e o f t h e I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n People. 97. The D e p a r t m e n t ' s c o v e r a g e o f t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e d u r i n g t h e p a s t y e a r f o c u s e d i n c r e a s i n g l y o n news i t e m s a n d i n f o r m a t i o n c o n c e r n i n g t h e s i t u a t i o n i n t h e o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r i e s , a n d e f f o r t s t o c o n v e n e an i n t e r n a t i o n a l p e a c e c o n f e r e n c e o n the M i d d l e E a s t under U n i t e d N a t i o n s a u s p i c e s . 98. The D e p a r t m e n t d i s s e m i n a t e d i n f o r m a t i o n t h r o u g h a r t i c l e s , p r e s s r e l e a s e s , b r o c h u r e s and b o o k l e t s . The UN C h r o n i c l e r e p o r t e d e x t e n s i v e l y o n t h e c o n s i d e r a t i o n g i v e n t o t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e and o t h e r r e l a t e d i t e m s by t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y at i t s f o r t y - t h i r d s e s s i o n and by t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , p a r t i c u l a r l y s i n c e t h e beginning of the u p r i s i n g i n the occupied t e r r i t o r i e s . I n t h e l a t e s t volume o f t h e Y e a r b o o k o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s , due t o be i s s u e d s h o r t l y , a 2 2 - p a g e s e c t i o n i s devoted to the question of P a l e s t i n e , which i s a l s o d e a l t w i t h i n s e c t i o n s c o n c e r n i n g r e f u g e e s , human r i g h t s a n d t h e s i t u a t i o n i n t h e o c c u p i e d territories. The c o m m e m o r a t i o n o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Day o f S o l i d a r i t y w i t h t h e P a l e s t i n i a n P e o p l e b y t h e C o m m i t t e e on t h e E x e r c i s e o f t h e I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n P e o p l e a t H e a d q u a r t e r s w i t h o t h e r U n i t e d N a t i o n s o f f i c e s was f u l l y covered. The D e p a r t m e n t h a s a l s o d i s s e m i n a t e d i n f o r m a t i o n o n t h e s e m i n a r s a n d s y m p o s i a t h a t w e r e h e l d i n d i f f e r e n t w o r l d c a p i t a l s by t h e C o m m i t t e e o n t h e Exercise of the I n a l i e n a b l e Rights of the P a l e s t i n i a n People. An i n f o r m a t i o n o f f i c e r t r a v e l l e d w i t h t h e S p e c i a l Committee t o I n v e s t i g a t e I s r a e l i P r a c t i c e s A f f e c t i n g t h e Human R i g h t s o f t h e P o p u l a t i o n o f t h e O c c u p i e d T e r r i t o r i e s d u r i n g i t s f a c t - f i n d i n g news m i s s i o n t o T u n i s , D a m a s c u s , Amman a n d C a i r o i n May 1989 a n d r e p o r t e d on t e s t i m o n y taken from i n h a b i t a n t s o f t h e o c c u p i e d territories. 99. The D e p a r t m e n t c o n t i n u e d t o d i s t r i b u t e i t s b o o k l e t e n t i t l e d The U n i t e d N a t i o n s and t h e Q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e , an u p d a t e d a n d r e v i s e d v e r s i o n o f w h i c h i s s c h e d u l e d by t h e e n d o f t h e y e a r . -25- 100. Two new b o o k l e t s w e r e i s s u e d d u r i n g 1 9 8 9 . The f i r s t b o o k l e t , e n t i t l e d FQtL_the Rights of Palestinians: The Work o f t h e C o m i ^ i t t e e on t h e E x e r c i s e o f t h e I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n P e o p l e , d e a l s w i t h t h e work o f t h e Committee on t h e E x e r c i s e o f t h e I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n P e o p l e . The s e c o n d one, e n t i t l e d Human R i g h t s f o r t h e P a l e s t i n i a n s : The Work o f t h e S p e c i a l C o m m i t t e e t o I n v e s t i g a t e I s r a e l i P r a c t i c e s A f f e c t i n g t h e Human R i g h t s o f t h e P o p u l a t i o n o f the O c c u p i e d T e r r i t o r i e s , d e a l s w i t h t h e work o f t h e S p e c i a l C o m m i t t e e . Both b o o k l e t s w e r e p r o d u c e d i n A r a b i c , E n g l i s h , F r e n c h , German a n d S p a n i s h a n d d i s s e m i n a t e d on a w o r l d - w i d e b a s i s . 101. A new p o s t e r o n t h e p r o p o s e d I n t e r n a t i o n a l P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e o n t h e M i d d l e was p r o d u c e d a n d g i v e n t h e w i d e s t p o s s i b l e c i r c u l a t i o n . East 102. A l l a s p e c t s o f t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e , i n c l u d i n g t h e m e e t i n g s o f t h e G e n e r a l Assembly h e l d a t Geneva, P a l e s t i n i a n r e f u g e e s , P a l e s t i n i a n r i g h t s , t h e i n t i f a d a h , t h e s i t u a t i o n o f t h e o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r i e s , t h e meetings o f t h e Committee on t h e E x e r c i s e o f t h e I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n P e o p l e a n d t h e p r o s p e c t s f o r an i n t e r n a t i o n a l peace c o n f e r e n c e on t h e M i d d l e E a s t , were c o v e r e d e x t e n s i v e l y i n news, c u r r e n t a f f a i r s m a g a z i n e s , a n d o t h e r r a d i o p r o g r a m m e s o f t h e Department o f P u b l i c I n f o r m a t i o n . 103. I n a d d i t i o n t o i t e m s i n t h e news a n d i n news m a g a z i n e s , t h e D e p a r t m e n t p r o d u c e d a s p e c i a l s e r i e s o f f o u r r a d i o f e a t u r e s i n F r e n c h , n a m e l y , "The P a l e s t i n i a n U p r i s i n g " ( p a r t s 1 a n d 2) a n d "The I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e o n P e a c e i n the M i d d l e E a s t " ( p a r t s 1 and 2). The w e e k l y i n - d e p t h r a d i o p r o g r a m m e , e n t i t l e d Perspective included f i v e features devoted e x c l u s i v e l y to the question of P a l e s t i n e , n a m e l y , " H u m a n i t a r i a n a s s i s t a n c e t o P a l e s t i n i a n r e f u g e e s " , "The P a l e s t i n i a n u p r i s i n g a n d t h e p r o s p e c t s f o r an i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n f e r e n c e " , "The G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y a t G e n e v a a c k n o w l e d g e s a P a l e s t i n i a n S t a t e " , "The q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e a n d t h e c o n t i n u i n g s e a r c h f o r p e a c e " a n d "The s i t u a t i o n i n t h e o c c u p i e d territories". The p r o g r a i n m e , a d a p t e d i n t o o f f i c i a l a n d n o n - o f f i c i a l l a n g u a g e s , i n c l u d i n g B a n g l a , C h i n e s e , F r e n c h , H i n d i , R u s s i a n , S w a h i l i a n d T u r k i s h , was disseminated world wide. T h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Day o f S o l i d a r i t y w i t h t h e P a l e s t i n i a n P e o p l e was f e a t u r e d i n t h e w e e k l y r a d i o p r o g r a m m e s i n A r a b i c , E n g l i s h a n d T u r k i s h . An i n t e r v i e w w i t h M r . G i o r g i o G i a c o m e l l i , C o m m i s s i o n e r - G e n e r a l o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s R e l i e f a n d W o r k s A g e n c y f o r P a l e s t i n e R e f u g e e s i n t h e N e a r E a s t (UNRWA), o n t h e A g e n c y ' s w o r k was a l s o f e a t u r e d i n t h e w e e k l y r a d i o m a g a z i n e s i n E n g l i s h , Hindi and S w a h i l i . The A r a b i c a n d M i d d l e E a s t U n i t p r o d u c e d s e v e n f e a t u r e s d e v o t e d e x c l u s i v e l y t o the q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e , i n c l u d i n g the s i t u a t i o n i n the Arab o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r i e s and h i g h l i g h t s o f t h e G e n e r a l Assembly s e s s i o n a t Geneva. F o u r e d i t i o n s o f t h e w e e k l y r a d i o programme i n S p a n i s h d e a l t w i t h t h e p r o c l a m a t i o n of a P a l e s t i n i a n S t a t e , t h e r i g h t s o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e , P a l e s t i n i a n r e f u g e e s and t h e i n t i f a d a h . E x t e n s i v e r a d i o c o v e r a g e i n S p a n i s h was a l s o g i v e n t o t h e L a t i n A m e r i c a n R e g i o n a l J o u r n a l i s t s E n c o u n t e r o n t h e Q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e , w h i c h was h e l d f r o m 26 t o 28 J u l y 1989 a t K i n g s t o n , J a m a i c a . The N o r t h A m e r i c a n R e g i o n a l S e m i n a r o n t h e Q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e , h e l d i n New Y o r k , was c o v e r e d i n t h e w e e k l y news m a g a z i n e s i n E n g l i s h , F r e n c h a n d P o r t u g u e s e . 104. A 1 5 - m i n u t e e d u c a t i o n a l v i d e o f o r h i g h - s c h o o l s t u d e n t s , w i t h a n a c c o m p a n y i n g s t u d y pamphlet f o r t e a c h e r s on t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e , i s c u r r e n t l y i n production i n three languages f o rd i s t r i b u t i o n world wide. 105. F u l l t e l e v i s i o n c o v e r a g e was p r o v i d e d o f m e e t i n g s o f t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y a n d S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l on t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e . T e l e v i s i o n c o v e r a g e was a l s o -26- p r o v i d e d o f meetings o f t h e Committee on t h e E x e r c i s e o f t h e I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s o f tlie P a l e s t i n i a n P e o p l e and t h e seminars h e l d under i t s a u s p i c e s , as w e l l as o t h e r o f f i c i a l events. The c o m m e m o r a t i o n o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l D a y o f S o l i d a r i t y w i t h t h e P a l e s t i n i a n P e o p l e , as w e l l as t h e o p e n i n g ceremony o f t h e photo e x h i b i t on t h e i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e , were a l s o f u l l y c o v e r e d . A total of 138 v i d e o news p a c k a g e s o n t h e v a r i o u s a s p e c t s o f t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e w e r e d i s s e m i n a t e d w o r l d wide through i n t e r n a t i o n a l s y n d i c a t o r s . Furthermore, three e d i t i o n s o f t h e w e e k l y v i d e o p r o g r a m m e , e n t i t l e d "UN i n A c t i o n " , w h i c h i s b r o a d c a s t w o r l d w i d e i n A r a b i c , C h i n e s e , E n g l i s h , F r e n c h , J a p a n e s e , R u s s i a n a n d S p a n i s h , as w e l l a s b y C a b l e News N e t w o r k (CNN) i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , w e r e d e v o t e d t o v a r i o u s a s p e c t s o f t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e , n a m e l y , " P a l e s t i n i a n women"; "UNRWA r e b u i l d s camps i n L e b a n o n " a n d "The U n i t e d N a t i o n s e x p a n d s h u m a n i t a r i a n a s s i s t a n c e t o t h e Gaza S t r i p " . Members o f d e l e g a t i o n s w e r e a l s o p r o v i d e d w i t h v i d e o c a s s e t t e d u b s and e x c e r p t s o n t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e a n d o t h e r r e l a t e d i t e m s . Cassette copies and l i n e f e e d s w e r e made a v a i l a b l e t o m a j o r t e l e v i s i o n networks. 106. As i n p r e v i o u s y e a r s , t h e D e p a r t m e n t o n c e a g a i n o r g a n i z e d a c t i v i t i e s t o a c q u a i n t t h e media w i t h t h e f a c t s and d e v e l o p m e n t s p e r t a i n i n g t o t h e q u e s t i o n o f Palestine. A team o f 13 h i g h - l e v e l j o u r n a l i s t s p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t h e news m i s s i o n t o t h e M i d d l e E a s t o r g a n i z e d by t h e D e p a r t m e n t . B e t w e e n 7 a n d 23 May 1989, they v i s i t e d T u n i s , D a m a s c u s , Amman a n d C a i r o . T h e r e was no r e p l y t o a f o r m a l r e q u e s t t o t h e P e r m a n e n t M i s s i o n o f I s r a e l f o r t h e news m i s s i o n t o v i s i t I s r a e l a n d t h e West Bank. The news m i s s i o n p r o v i d e d t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s w i t h a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o g a i n f i r s t - h a n d k n o w l e d g e a n d i m p r e s s i o n s on v a r i o u s a s p e c t s o f t h e P a l e s t i n e q u e s t i o n . D u r i n g t h e m i s s i o n , t h e j o u r n a l i s t s met a n d i n t e r v i e w e d l e a d e r s a n d s e n i o r o f f i c i a l s o f E g y p t , J o r d a n , t h e S y r i a n A r a b R e p u b l i c , T u n i s i a a n d t h e PLO. N u m e r o u s f i e l d v i s i t s , p a r t i c u l a r l y t o P a l e s t i n i a n r e f u g e e camps, w e r e a l s o organized. P a r t i c u l a r l y because o f t h e s i t u a t i o n i n t h e o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r i e s , t h e m i s s i o n r e c e i v e d e x t e n s i v e media coverage i n a l l t h e c o u n t r i e s v i s i t e d . Numerous a r t i c l e s were l a t e r p u b l i s h e d by t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s on t h e b a s i s o f t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e and i n t e r v i e w s c o n d u c t e d d u r i n g t h e m i s s i o n . 107. The D e p a r t m e n t a l s o o r g a n i z e d two r e g i o n a l e n c o u n t e r s f o r j o u r n a l i s t s o n t h e question of Palestine, bringing high-level j o u r n a l i s t s together with experts i n the f i e l d f o r b r i e f , i n - d e p t h , i n f o r m a l and c a n d i d d i s c u s s i o n s o f t h e v a r i o u s aspects of t h e P a l e s t i n i a n problem. The f i r s t e n c o u n t e r was h e l d a t S i n g a p o r e , f r o m 30 J a n u a r y t o 1 F e b r u a r y 1989, a n d was a t t e n d e d b y 20 j o u r n a l i s t s f r o m many A s i a n c o u n t r i e s , r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e p r i n t , r a d i o and t e l e v i s i o n media i n A s i a and t h e Pacific. T h e s e c o n d e n c o u n t e r was o r g a n i z e d a t K i n g s t o n , J a m a i c a , f r o m 26 t o 28 J u l y 1989. A b o u t 18 j o u r n a l i s t s f r o m N o r t h a n d L a t i n A m e r i c a p a r t i c i p a t e d . 108. The D e p a r t m e n t a l s o o r g a n i z e d t h r e e s e r i e s o f n a t i o n a l e n c o u n t e r s , i n w h i c h s m a l l , b a l a n c e d p a n e l s o f e x p e r t s h e l d m e e t i n g s i n t h e form o f i n - d e p t h p r e s s conferences. I n E u r o p e , one n a t i o n a l e n c o u n t e r w i t h n a t i o n a l j o u r n a l i s t s and f o r e i g n c o r r e s p o n d e n t s was h e l d i n L o n d o n a n d t w o a t B e r l i n b e t w e e n 16 a n d 19 J a n u a r y 1989. A s i a n n a t i o n a l e n c o u n t e r s w e r e h e l d a t New D e l h i , B a n g k o k , S y d n e y , C a n b e r r a , W e l l i n g t o n a n d T o k y o , b e t w e e n 24 J a n u a r y a n d 13 F e b r u a r y 1 9 8 9 . N a t i o n a l e n c o u n t e r s f o r L a t i n A m e r i c a w e r e h e l d b e t w e e n 19 a n d 24 J u l y 1 9 8 9 a t Bogota, Q u i t o and S a n t i a g o . 109. U n i t e d N a t i o n s i n f o r m a t i o n c e n t r e s t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d c o n t i n u e d t o c a r r y o u t i n f o r m a t i o n a c t i v i t i e s i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e a n d made a v a i l a b l e t o t h e p u b l i c U n i t e d N a t i o n s i n f o r m a t i o n m a t e r i a l s o n t h e s u b j e c t . The i n f o r m a t i o n c e n t r e s u n d e r t o o k v a r i o u s a c t i v i t i e s i n o b s e r v a n c e o f 29 N o v e m b e r a s -27- t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Day o f S o l i d a r i t y w i t h t h e P a l e s t i n i a n P e o p l e . T h e y made a v a i l a b l e p u b l i c a t i o n s p r e p a r e d f o r , and uiider the guidance o f , the Committee on the E x e r c i s e o f the I n a l i e n a b l e R i g h t s o f the P a l e s t i n i a n People and d i s t r i b u t e d i n f o r m a t i o n c i r c u l a r s i n the o f f i c i a l languages o f the U n i t e d N a t i o n s as w e l l as l o c a l languages. E x h i b i t i o n s were h e l d , f i l m s screened, and events o r g a n i z e d i n v a r i o u s c e n t r e s i n c o - o p e r a t i o n w i t h the d i p l o m a t i c c o r p s , UNRWA and n a t i o n a l parliaments. -28- VI. RECOt-MEHDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE 110. T h e y e a r u n d e r r e v i e w b r o u g h t a b o u t e v e n t s o f momentous s i g n i f i c a n c e i n t h e l o n g h i s t o r y o f t h e s t r u g g l e o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e t o r e g a i n and e x e r c i s e i t s inalienable rights. The c o n t i n u i n g u p r i s i n g o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e a g a i n s t o v e r 20 y e a r s o f I s r a e l i o c c u p a t i o n a n d o p p r e s s i o n , t h e p r o c l a m a t i o n o f t h e S t a t e o f P a l e s t i n e , and t h e P a l e s t i n i a n peace i n i t i a t i v e announced by President Yasser Arafat a t the meetings of the f o r t y - t h i r d session of the General A s s e m b l y , h e l d a t G e n e v a i n December 1 9 8 8 , h a v e c r e a t e d new c o n d i t i o n s a n d o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r c o n c e r t e d i n t e r n a t i o n a l a c t i o n aimed a t a c h i e v i n g a c o m p r e h e n s i v e , j u s t and l a s t i n g s e t t l e m e n t o f t h e p r o b l e m . The g r o w i n g d e t e r i o r a t i o n o f t h e s i t u a t i o n i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y , where h u n d r e d s o f P a l e s t i n i a n s h a v e b e e n k i l l e d a n d t e n s o f t h o u s a n d s w o u n d e d , maimed a n d d e t a i n e d s i n c e the b e g i n n i n g of the i n t i f a d a h , i s a matter o f utmost concern that i m p o s e s a m o r a l d u t y on t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s a n d t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i t y as a w h o l e t o b r i n g a b o u t e x p e d i t i o u s l y s u c h a s e t t l e m e n t , as w e l l as t o e n s u r e t h e s a f e t y and p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e under o c c u p a t i o n . 111. T h e C o m m i t t e e c o n s i d e r s t h a t i t i s i n c u m b e n t u p o n t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l t o t a k e c o n c r e t e and e f f e c t i v e a c t i o n t o s e c u r e t h o s e g o a l s . The C o m m i t t e e b e l i e v e s that the recommendations c o n t a i n e d i n i t s f i r s t r e p o r t , a/ w h i c h have been r e p e a t e d l y e n d o r s e d b y t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y by o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t i e s , p r o v i d e a c o n s t r u c t i v e programme f o r t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e e x e r c i s e o f t h e i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n people. The C o m m i t t e e h a s a c c o r d i n g l y a n n e x e d t h o s e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s t o the p r e s e n t r e p o r t ( s e e annex I ) and c a l l s f o r u r g e n t p o s i t i v e a c t i o n t h e r e o n by the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l . The C o m m i t t e e f u r t h e r r e a f f i r m s t h e v a l i d i t y o f t h e D e c l a r a t i o n a n d Programme o f A c t i o n a d o p t e d b y t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e o n t h e Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , h e l d a t G e n e v a i n 1 9 8 3 , / w h i c h made a v a l u a b l e c o n t r i b u t i o n towards the achievement of P a l e s t i n i a n r i g h t s . The C o m m i t t e e r e a f f i r m s t h a t t h o s e recommendations a r e s o l i d l y f o u n d e d on f u n d a m e n t a l and i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y a c c e p t e d p r i n c i p l e s and t h a t t h e r e c o g n i t i o n , a t t a i n m e n t and e x e r c i s e of t h e i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e a r e i n d i s p e n s a b l e conditions i n the s o l u t i o n of the question of P a l e s t i n e , the core of the A r a b - I s r a e l i c o n f l i c t i n the Middle East. The C o m m i t t e e f u r t h e r r e a s s e r t s t h a t t h e I s r a e l i e v a c u a t i o n o f t h e t e r r i t o r i e s o c c u p i e d by f o r c e and i n v i o l a t i o n o f t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f t h e C h a r t e r o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s and r e l e v a n t r e s o l u t i o n s o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s i s a c o n d i t i o s i n e qua non f o r t h e e x e r c i s e by t h e P a l e s t i n i a n people of i t s i n a l i e n a b l e rights i n Palestine. 112. The C o m m i t t e e r e a f f i r m s t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n s e n s u s t h a t t h e P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n i s t h e s o l e and l e g i t i m a t e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e , whose p a r t i c i p a t i o n o n a n e q u a l f o o t i n g i s i n d i s p e n s a b l e i n any e f f o r t s and d e l i b e r a t i o n s aimed a t t h e a c h i e v e m e n t o f a c o m p r e h e n s i v e , j u s t and l a s t i n g peace i n t h e M i d d l e East. The C o m m i t t e e w e l c o m e s t h e D e c l a r a t i o n o f I n d e p e n d e n c e a d o p t e d by t h e P a l e s t i n e N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l a t i t s m e e t i n g h e l d a t A l g i e r s o n 15 November 1 9 8 8 , a n d r e i t e r a t e s t h a t t h e p r o c l a m a t i o n o f t h e independent Arab S t a t e o f P a l e s t i n e i s i n f u l f i l m e n t o f General Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 181 ( I I ) o f 29 November 1 9 4 7 . A c c o r d i n g l y , t h e Committee c o n s i d e r s t h a t t h e S t a t e o f P a l e s t i n e s h o u l d be a c c o r d e d i t s r i g h t f u l p l a c e w i t h i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l community and t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s O r g a n i z a t i o n . The C o m m i t t e e n o t e s t h e w i d e s p r e a d i n t e r n a t i o n a l s u p p o r t f o r t h e P a l e s t i n i a n peace i n i t i a t i v e and i t d e e p l y r e g r e t s t h a t I s r a e l has so f a r f a i l e d t o r e s p o n d p o s i t i v e l y t o i t and h a s c o n t i n u e d t o refuse t o acknowledge the i n a l i e n a b l e n a t i o n a l r i g h t s of the P a l e s t i n i a n people. -29- The C o m m i t t e e a c c o r d i n g l y u r g e s i n t e r n a t i o n a l consensus. Israel to reverse i t s position and to j o i n the 113. The C o m m i t t e e c o n s i d e r s t h a t i t h a s now become i m p e r a t i v e f o r t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l t o take p o s i t i v e a c t i o n towards the convening of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Peace C o n f e r e n c e on t h e M i d d l e E a s t on t h e b a s i s o f t h e f r a m e w o r k and e l e m e n t s s e t o u t i n G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y r e s o l u t i o n 4 3 / 1 7 6 o f 15 December 1988, w h i c h has t h e o v e r w h e l m i n g s u p p o r t of the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community. The C o m m i t t e e r e a f f i r m s t h e p r i n c i p l e s f o r the a c h i e v e m e n t o f a c o m p r e h e n s i v e peace c o n t a i n e d i n Assembly r e s o l u t i o n 43/176, namely: the w i t h d r a w a l of I s r a e l from the P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y o c c u p i e d s i n c e 1967, i n c l u d i n g J e r u s a l e m , and f r o m t h e o t h e r o c c u p i e d A r a b t e r r i t o r i e s ; guaranteeing arrangements f o r s e c u r i t y of a l l S t a t e s i n the r e g i o n , i n c l u d i n g those named i n A s s e m b l y r e s o l u t i o n 181 ( I I ) , w i t h i n s e c u r e and i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y r e c o g n i z e d b o u n d a r i e s ; r e s o l v i n g the problem of the P a l e s t i n e refugees i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h A s s e m b l y r e s o l u t i o n 194 ( I I I ) o f 11 December 1948, and s u b s e q u e n t r e l e v a n t r e s o l u t i o n s ; d i s m a n t l i n g the I s r a e l i s e t t l e m e n t s i n the t e r r i t o r i e s o c c u p i e d s i n c e 1967; and g u a r a n t e e i n g f r e e d o m o f a c c e s s t o H o l y P l a c e s , r e l i g i o u s b u i l d i n g s and sites. 114. I n t h e p a s t y e a r , t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n s e n s u s i n f a v o u r o f t h e c o n v e n i n g o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e has c l e a r l y b e e n f u r t h e r c o n s o l i d a t e d . The C o m m i t t e e a c c o r d i n g l y u r g e s t h e S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l t o do e v e r y t h i n g i n h i s power t o ensure t h a t a c t i v e c o n s u l t a t i o n s are undertaken w i t h i n the framework of the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l f o r that purpose. The C o m m i t t e e i n t e n d s t o c o n t i n u e t o i n t e n s i f y i t s e f f o r t s t o w a r d s t h a t o b j e c t i v e and t o make i t o n c e a g a i n t h e f o c a l p o i n t o f i t s w o r k programme i n t h e c o m i n g y e a r . 115. N o t i n g t h a t t h e S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l h a s r e p o r t e d t h a t h i s a t t e m p t s t o p a v e t h e way t o an e f f e c t i v e n e g o t i a t i n g p r o c e s s h a v e u n t i l now p r o v e d i n c o n c l u s i v e , t h e C o m m i t t e e recommends t h a t t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y s h o u l d c a l l o n c e a g a i n u p o n t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , a n d i n p a r t i c u l a r t h e p e r m a n e n t members, t o c o n s i d e r m e a s u r e s n e e d e d t o c o n v e n e t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e on t h e M i d d l e E a s t , i n c l u d i n g t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a p r e p a r a t o r y c o m m i t t e e , and t o c o n s i d e r g u a r a n t e e s f o r s e c u r i t y m e a s u r e s i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h A s s e m b l y r e s o l u t i o n 43/176, t o renew t h e mandate o f the S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l t o c o n t i n u e h i s e f f o r t s w i t h the p a r t i e s concerned and, i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h the S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , t o f a c i l i t a t e the c o n v e n i n g o f t h e Conference. 116. The C o m m i t t e e p r o t e s t s i n t h e s t r o n g e s t t e r m s t h e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f r e p r e s s i o n by I s r a e l , t h e o c c u p y i n g Power, a g a i n s t P a l e s t i n i a n s i n t h e o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y , i n c l u d i n g c h i l d r e n , p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e l i b e r a l use o f l i v e a m m u n i t i o n , random b e a t i n g s , r a i d s and mass a r r e s t s , t h e i n c r e a s e d u s e o f a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d e t e n t i o n , d e p o r t a t i o n s and c o l l e c t i v e p u n i s h m e n t . The C o m m i t t e e condemns t h e u n c h e c k e d v i o l e n c e by I s r a e l i s e t t l e r s . I t a l s o condemns t h e m e a s u r e s t a k e n b y t h e o c c u p y i n g Power t o d e p r i v e t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p o p u l a t i o n o f t h e i r r i g h t t o e d u c a t i o n , as w e l l as a d m i n i s t r a t i v e , e c o n o m i c and o t h e r m e a s u r e s t a k e n t o c o n t r o l a l l a s p e c t s o f P a l e s t i n i a n l i f e and t o p r e v e n t t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a u t o n o m o u s s o c i o - e c o n o m i c s t r u c t u r e s . The C o m m i t t e e w e l c o m e s t h e a c t i o n t a k e n b y G o v e r n m e n t s , n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s and o t h e r b o d i e s t o d e n o u n c e t h o s e m e a s u r e s , a n d w e l c o m e s t h e p a r t i a l o p e n i n g o f s c h o o l s as a r e s u l t o f t h a t international pressure. The C o m m i t t e e r e c a l l s S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n s 636 ( 1 9 8 9 ) o f 6 J u l y 1989 and 641 ( 1 9 8 9 ) o f 30 A u g u s t 1989 a n d c a l l s u p o n a l l c o n c e r n e d t o r e d o u b l e t h e i r e f f o r t s t o e x p o s e , p r o t e s t and p u t an e n d t o t h o s e I s r a e l i p o l i c i e s and p r a c t i c e s , w h i c h a r e i n v i o l a t i o n o f t h e G e n e v a C o n v e n t i o n -30- r e l a t i v e t o t h e P r o t e c t i o n o f C i v i l i a n P e r s o n s i n Time o f War, o f 12 A u g u s t 1 9 4 9 . G i v e n t h e g r a v e s i t u a t i o n c r e a t e d by s u c h p o l i c i e s a n d p r a c t i c e s , t h e C o m m i t t e e c a l l s o n c e a g a i n upon t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l t o c o n s i d e r u r g e n t l y m e a s u r e s n e e d e d t o provide i n t e r n a t i o n a l p r o t e c t i o n to the P a l e s t i n i a n c i v i l i a n s i n the P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y o c c u p i e d b y I s r a e l s i n c e 1967, i n c l u d i n g J e r u s a l e m . The C o m m i t t e e a l s o c a l l s f o r a p p r o p r i a t e i n t e r n a t i o n a l a c t i o n to a l l e v i a t e the s u f f e r i n g s of the P a l e s t i n i a n s l i v i n g u n d e r o c c u p a t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y women a n d c h i l d r e n . 117. The C o m m i t t e e f u r t h e r r e a s s e r t s t h a t t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s h a s a h i s t o r i c a l d u t y and r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o r e n d e r a l l a s s i s t a n c e n e c e s s a r y t o promote t h e autonomous economic development of the occupied P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r y i n p r e p a r a t i o n f o r the attainment of independence i n accordance w i t h the r e l e v a n t U n i t e d Nations resolutions. The C o m m i t t e e a c c o r d i n g l y r e i t e r a t e s i t s c a l l upon t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s s y s t e m , as w e l l as o n G o v e r n m e n t s a n d o n i n t e r g o v e r n m e n t a l and n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s , t o s u s t a i n a n d i n c r e a s e t h e i r e c o n o m i c and s o c i a l a s s i s t a n c e to the P a l e s t i n i a n people, i n close co-operation w i t h the Palestine Liberation Organization. 118. The C o m m i t t e e n o t e d w i t h s a t i s f a c t i o n t h e i n c r e a s e d a w a r e n e s s a n d m o b i l i z a t i o n of i n t e r n a t i o n a l p u b l i c o p i n i o n i n s u p p o r t o f t h e a t t a i n m e n t o f t h e i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e and o f U n i t e d N a t i o n s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s f o r a c o m p r e h e n s i v e , j u s t and l a s t i n g s o l u t i o n o f t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e . The C o m m i t t e e b e l i e v e s t h a t i t s programme o f r e g i o n a l s e m i n a r s and m e e t i n g s a n d s y m p o s i a o f n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s , as w e l l as t h e j o u r n a l i s t s ' e n c o u n t e r s and o t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s s p o n s o r e d b y t h e C o m m i t t e e , h a v e p l a y e d a v a l u a b l e r o l e i n t h i s p r o c e s s , a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e t o s t r i v e t o a c h i e v e maximum e f f e c t i v e n e s s i n c a r r y i n g o u t t h i s programme a n d t o i n t e n s i f y i t s e f f o r t s i n t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of i t s mandates. Notes I/ O f f i c i a l Records of the g e n e r a l Assembly, T h i r t y - f i r s t S e s s i o n , Supplement No. 3 5 (A/31/35). 2/ Ihlu., T h i r t y - s e c o n d S e s s i o n , Supplement No. 35 (A/32/35); ihlu.. T h i r t y - t h i r d S e s s i o n . Supplement No. 35 (A/33/35); i b i d . . T h i r t y - f o u r t h S e s s i o n , Supplement MQ. 35 (A/34/35 and C o r r . l ) ; i l i i d . , T h i r t y - f i f t h S e s s i o n . Supplement No. 35 (A/35/35); i b i d - . T h i r t y - s i x t h S e s s i o n . Supplement No. 35 (A/36/35); i b i d - , T h i r t y - s e v e n t h S e s s i o n . Supplement No. 35 (A/37/35 and C o r r . l ) ; ihiu> T h i r t y - e i g h t h S e s s i o n . Supplement No. 35 ( A / 3 8 / 3 5 ) ; i b i d . , T h i r t y - n i n t h S e s s i o n , Supplement No. 3 5 (A/39/35); i b i d . , F o r t i e t h S e s s i o n . Supplement No. 35 (A/40/35); ibijS., F o r t y - f i r s t S e s s i o n , Supplement No. 35 (A/41/35); i b i d . , F p r t y - s e c o n d Ses^sion, Supplement N Q , 35 (A/42/35); i b i d . , F o r t y - t h i r d S e s s i o n . Supplement No. 35 (A/43/35). 1/ Report of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Conference on the Q u e s t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , Geneva. 29 August-7 September 1983 ( U n i t e d N a t i o n s p u b l i c a t i o n . S a l e s No. E.83.I.21), chap. I, s e c t . B. -31- Notes (continued) 4/ The o b s e r v e r s a t t h e m e e t i n g s o f t h e C o m m i t t e e w e r e a s f o l l o w s : Algeria, Bangladesh, B u l g a r i a , China, Czechoslovakia, Ecuador, Egypt, I r a q , Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, L i b y a n Arab J a m a h i r i y a , M a u r i t a n i a , Morocco, N i c a r a g u a , N i g e r , S r i Lanka, S y r i a n A r a b R e p u b l i c , U n i t e d A r a b E m i r a t e s , V i e t Nam, t h e L e a g u e o f A r a b S t a t e s a n d the O r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e I s l a m i c Conference. P a l e s t i n e , r e p r e s e n t e d by t h e P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n , as t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e , t h e p r i n c i p a l p a r t y t o t h e q u e s t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e , was a l s o a n o b s e r v e r . 5/ The c u r r e n t membership o f t h e W o r k i n g Group i s as f o l l o w s : Afghanistan, C u b a , German D e m o c r a t i c R e p u b l i c , G u i n e a , G u y a n a , I n d i a , M a l t a , P a k i s t a n , S e n e g a l , T u n i s i a , Turkey, U k r a i n i a n S o v i e t S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c and P a l e s t i n e , r e p r e s e n t e d by the P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n , as t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e p e o p l e d i r e c t l y concerned. 6/ I n t e r n a t i o n a l Labour Conference, 76th D i r e c t o r - G e n e r a l , appendices (Vol. 2 ) . g g S S i p n , Report tUg 7/ O f f i c i a l R e c o r d ? o f t h e G e n e r a l A g g e m b l y , F