*J:o'"tomark committeerJl:*ffi ;.li'n'ffi ITIl:i#fl5:1JI:"T1"+:ffi including East Jerusalem
anniversary the Israeli occupationof the Palestinian of Territory, This week marks the 4Oth including East Jerusalem.Following the end of the June 1967hostilities,the SecurityCouncil in among other things,the inadmissibilityof the acquisitionof territory by war resolution242 emphasized, and affirmed the need for a withdrawal of Israel from territoriesoccupiedin the conflict, and the right of boundaries.That resolutionand every statein the areato live in peacewithin secureand recognised to many othersadoptedsinceJune 1967 have not been implemented date. The military occupationof the unprecedented modernhistory, continuesto this very in Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, day. The Bureau of the Committeeon the Exerciseof the lnalienableRights of the Palestinian People Territory, including East Jerusalem, the root causeof is reiterates that the occupationof the Palestinian peoplefrom exercisingtheir the conflict. The occupationhasprevented Palestinian the Israeli-Palestinian nationalindependence sovereignty, and and to inalienablerights, namely the right to self-determination, just returnto their homesand propertyfrom which they had beendisplaced. A comprehensive, and peoplehave been lastingpeacein the region will remain elusiveuntil the nationalrights of the Palestinian realized. people. of to The four decades occupationhave brought misery and dispossession the Palestinian are to collectivepunishment,the useof excessive The Palestinians subjected daily abuseand harassment, of and and indiscriminateforce, extrajudicialkillings, and destruction property,civilian infrastructure and human agriculturalland. The occupationis markedby total disregardfor internationalhumanitarian rights law and relevantUnited Nations resolutions.For forty years,Israel,the occupyingPower has land by establishing and expandingsettlements and, more recently,by continuedto alter the Palestinian constructinga wall in the West Bank, including aroundEastJerusalem.This situationhas led to an ever escalating spiral of violence in the area,which the internationalcommunity unequivocallydeploresand condemns. The Bureauof the CommitteeremindsIsrael,the occupyingPower, of the needto fulfil its obligationsunder internationallaw and fully adhereto the GenevaConventions,as well as to the Advisory Opinion of the InternationalCourt of Justiceregardingthe constructionof the wall. Israelmust Territory it has occupiedsince 1967. ceaseand reverseall illegal actionsin the Palestinian of community On this day, we are noting with greatregretthat the engagement the international to has not brought about an end to the occupation. The situationon the ground continues endanger internationalpeaceand security. It is incumbenton the SecurityCouncil to ensurea speedyand full of implementation its own resolutions.The Council shoulddecideon effective stepsto protectthe civilian population,end hostilitiesand guide the parties,with the active involvementof the Quartetand settlement that will end the occupationand result in an independent, regionalactors,to a negotiated democratic,and viable PalestinianStateliving side by side in peaceand securitywith Israeland its other peoplecan exercisetheir inalienablerights, the neighbours.Until such a time and until the Palestinian to Committeewill continueto pursuethe importantmandateentrusted it by the GeneralAssembly.

Statementby the Bureau of the

6 June2007