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61'tSESSION THE UN GENERALASSEMBLY OF
STATEMENT BY MR. ASIM IFTIKITARAHMAD DELEGATE ON Agenda Item 32: Reportof the Special Committee rnvestigate to IsraeliPractices Affectingthe HumanRightsof the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories

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the SpecialPolitical and Decolonization(4th) Committee 7 November2006

New York

Mr. Chairman, 1. The Annual Report of the Special Committee and the briefing by its Chairman presenta somberpicture of the nature and scaleof Israeli policies and practicesaffecting the human rights of the Palestinianpeople and other Arabs of the occupied Territories. 2. Daily press and media reports project the same tragic state of affairs and plight of innocent civilians. The current escalationof violence, indiscriminate and disproportionateuseof military force, especially the recent firing at and killing and injuring of Palistinian women, a.re all the more reprehensible and condemnable acts.The loss of innocentcivilian life on the Israeli side is also condemnable. 3. We are deeply concerned by the continuing deterioration of the socio-economic and humanitarian situation in the occupied territories, especially their devastatingimpact on women and children. The impact is severe particularly during this period of hardshif and financial crisis, exacerbatedby the social and economic blockade and the withholdine of VAT and customspaymentsby Israel. 4. The continuing construction of the Wall, expansion of settlements,and restrictions on free accessand movement of Palestiniansby road closures, checkpoints and roads built for the exclusiveuse of the settlers,are human rights violations in themselves, and also result in other hardshipsincluding denial of access work, business,education,health and social seryicesas to well as depriving the Palestinianpeople of their sca.rce water resources.With regard to the Wall, we expect early establishmentof the Registerof Damage. 5. Extra-judicial killings, illegal detention, and torture and inhumane treatment of detainees are the worst signs of occupation. It is distressing that the number of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails - now more than 9000, has increasedduring the last one year. These include hundredsof child and female prisoners. 6. We call upon all sides to shun violence and respecttheir respectiveobligations under international human rights and humanitarianlaw. 7. We also sharethe Committee's concernsabout the human rights situation in the occupied SyrianGolan. 8. Particularly alarming is the SpecialCommittee's observationthat not since 1968 it has experiencedsuch anger and misery among the people in the occupied territories and disrespect for their basic human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Special Committee has also observed that the Palestinians the occupiedterritoriesfeel that their plight has beenneglected in by the international community. 9. It is unfortunate that the momentary sense of optimism generated last year by the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip fast dissipatedinto despairand renewed violence. Each passing day of violence and reprisalsis a set-back the questfor a peacefulsettlementof the proLl.-. to

Mr. Chairman, 10. For the violation of human rights of the Palestinianpeople to cease,end to occupationis a necessarypre-requisite. Pakistan's support for the legitimate struggle for self-determination and freedom of the Palestinian people and a viable independentPalestinian stateremains firm and steadfast.The United Nations also has a permanentresponsibility towards the question of Palestine until it is resolved in all its aspectsin a satisfactory manner in accordancewith international legitimacy. 11. Just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the ArabIsraeli conflict, is imperative for the attainmentof comprehensiveand lasting peaceand stability in the Middle East. The reality is that a durable solution cannot be imposed by force or unilateral actions.We must therefore restorethe hope for peaceand pave the way for dialogue. 12. the A comprehensiveapproach is required to address Arab-Israeli problems on all fronts.

13. On the Palestine-Israeltrack, simultaneousconfidence building measuresare neededto pave the way for negotiations. Israel should end its military campaign in Gaza; release Palestinianprisoners including cabinet membersand legislators; remove check points and other obstacles to facilitate access and movement of civilians and humanitarian workers; halt construction of the Wall; freeze settlementactivities and dismantle outposts constructedin West Bank since 2001; release customs and VAT paymentsto the Palestinian Authority; and accept negotiationswith the Palestinian Authority, led by PresidentAbbas. 14. The Palestine side should halt rocket attacks and violence; secure release of captured Israeli soldier; halt internecine fighting and achieve internal cohesion; and establisha national unity govemment,with authority to the PalestinianAuthority President Abbas, to negotiatewith Israel. 15. The intemational community on its part should oversee implementation of the above to confidencebuilding measures.It should also provide international assistance the Palestinians through the PalestinianAuthority or the unity government. 16. The above CBMs should lead to resumption of direct Israeli-PalestinianAuthority peace negotiations, based on previous agreements,relevant SC resolutions, the principle of land for peace,the Quartet road map, and the Arab PeaceInitiative, for a permanenttwo-State solution, with an independentand sovereign Palestinian State living side by side in peace and security with Israel. A new timeframe should be set for the attainment of the two-State solution. with the at resolution of the final statusissuesto be addressed the end. 17. Efforts would also need to be undertaken in parallel to achieve negotiatedlasting on and Israel-Syria tracks. settlements the Israel-Lebanon political will demonstrated by 18. We believethat with sincerity, commitmentand necessary progresscan all sides, and a fair and impartial supporting role of the international community, be madetowards long-term peace and stability in the Middle East.

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