A/37/PV.92 General Assembly

I should like to draw the Assembly's attention to draft resolution A/37/L.46, circulated this morning, which concerns a further appeal for clemency in favour of South African freedom fighters. In view ofthe urgency of tnis question, the President proposes, taking into account the request submitted by the Group ofAfrican States, that the Assembly proceed to take a decision on this draft resolution as the first item tomorrow morning.

As members will recall, the Assembly decided, on 29 November [83rd meeting], that consideration of agenda item 140, entitled "Observance of the quincen- tenary of the discovery of America", would be postponed until today to allow for consultations on the draft resolution [A/37/L.36]. However, the spon- sors of the draft resolution have requested that con- sideration of the item be further postponed to allow for additional consultations.

The question of the Middle East has been a subject of debate by the General Assembly year in and year out for 15 years, in the aftermath of Israel's sneaking and treacherous attack against Egypt, Jordan and Syria'at dawn on 5 June 1967. Since that day of perfidy and in spite of numerous Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, Israel has not only remained in occupation of vast Arab and Palestinian territories but has also * Resumed from the 68th meeting. NEW YORK engaged in a systematic programme of colonization and annexation of those territor:es, in violation of all rules of international law, the Charter of the United Nations, international conventions and mandatory United Nations resolutions. This has transformed the entire region of the Middle East into a powder-keg, thus posing a continuing grave threat to international peace and security. . 4. Some Members have on occasions asked a very valid question that deserves a credible answer. It is this: since the question of Palestine is the essence and core of the Middle East conflict, why have two seemingly overlapping debates on the same issue-one on the question of Palestine, which we considered only last week, and the other under the item entitled "The situation in the Middle East"? The answer is that an unresolved question of Palestine, the passage of time and tragic inactiml have merely compounded and caused great proliferation of the fundamental issue posed by the 1967 Israeli aggression, thereby rendering the problem of the attainment of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East even more intractable. That is why it is important to discuss the situation in the Middle East in it~ full dimensions. 5. What we are confronting today has, without doubt, all the elements that can only be described as constituting a recipe for disaster. Bleak as the overall international situation is, we must hope that, with effort, mutual trust and good will, it could be ameliorated, if not made normal. The strategic Middle East has all the potential to ignite a large- scale conflagration which it might be extremely hard to contain within the region. That is not, nor is it in- tended to be, a doomsday prognostication, for it is based on cool, concrete and objective calculations of which the United Nations must be made aware before the situation becomes unmanageable. 6. In a speech at Columbia University .a few days ago, a research worker of high academic standing analysed the underlying causes that had led him to predict that if a nuclear war were to break out-and let us hope it will not happen-its beginning will be linked with the fate of the Middle East, the cradle of civilization, an area of consensus and tranquillity for long ages which, sadly, has been transformed by the manipulations ofa small cluster of fan~tical, retrogres- sive and unscrupulous Zionists into an area of danger- ous dissension, doomed to perpetual and unfathomable conflict in an already perilous world. 7. Over most of the past 35 years, the real issue discussed by the United Nations in varying formats has been the denial of the usurped and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people as the cause of literally every event, development, turmoil and war-and there have already been,five majorwars which have afflicted A/37/PV.92 Oil the CBS programme "60 Minutes" last night, used "First, it should be made clear that what took language almost identical to my own in describing place in Sabra and Shatila [in Beirut] had already current Israeli policies and pra<;tices. He said that been prepared fr"~r by the destruction of the camps Israel had adopted "Israeli imperialism" and its aim in the south of Lt:oanon and the nature ofthe occupa- was to subject the ~1iddleEast to its will. He expressed tion there." revulsior.' at the actions of Israeli soldiers and police They added: who, amongst other heinous deeds, were forcing in- habitants of the West Bank at bayonet point to crawl "Bear in mind that the aerial bombardment h' . h had reduced these camps to rubble and caused on r.ll fours and bark like dogs. In is revulSion, e terrible destruction; resulting in tens of thousands explained that such acts of cruelty reminded him of his own similar experiences as a Jew, in another land. ofcasualties. Then, after the Israeli invasion of West It is extremely reminiscent of the rise of nazism in Beirut, the intense shelling of the camps caused its theoretical conceptual creed of racism, expansion further devastation. This shelling continued from and hegemony, which subsequently erupted in one of Wednesday, 15 September [a day before the mas- the most devastating wars of this century and the sacres started]. It was an 'important factor in pre- total breakdown of the League of Nations and in'..er- venting people in West Beirut from knowing about national law as arbiters of relations among nations. the massacre immediately, because people couldn't That is not a vain or propagandist analogy, for while reach the camps. [They were in shelters because of the motivating theoretical frameworks are identical in the Israeli shelling.]" both movlements and the cataclysmic c:ulmination of Asked when the killings inside the camps started, one came with the massive deiuge ofthe Second World they replied: War--and ironically the lewish people were then the "It began on Wednesday night. It began, more- major victims~thesecond, namely, the Israeli-Zionist over, after Israeli armed forces had sealed off the thrust, is at the middle stage of its unfolding, stupend- camps, preventing the civilian population from ous as the earHy stages have been. Instead of ter- escaping. It is crucial to realize that the Israeli minating the I5-year Israeli occupation of Palestinian army had total military control of the area. The and Arab territories, the world has been an eye- killer units which carried out the slaughter did so witness to the f-ull-fledged fury of an Israeli invasion in full co-ordination with Israeli armed forces. They during the summer of 1982 of yet a fourth independent could not enter the .camps or carry out a military and sovereign Arab country, Lebanon. A few caUous operation without. the full cognizance of Israeli phyers in the dt~adly "game of nations" have been command officers." investigating the material and technological aspects and costs of that genocidal invasion-asking how many The interviewer asked the two correspondents: billions of dollars it cost, which weapons system is "But why assume that Israeli officers and soldiers superior to whkh, and other unseemly questions. knew that the militia were slaughtering civilians in- side the camps?" 9. To us, as Members of the United Nations, the criterion of measurement remains-as it should be- The answer was: the human cost: a mother whQ 19st all her nine "It is no assumption. By Thursday, despite the children ancl her husband, and W9.S herself wounded; Israeli fire directed against escaping civilians, some an elderly woman who saw (ill 40 of her immed:-ite 1,500 refugees managed to reach Gaza Hospital in family members bulldozed into the abyss of a mass the north of Sabra ca~p. They were in panic and grave; tens of thousand~i maimed for life; and cities, hysteria and filled the basement and corridors of the towns, refugee she1ter~ and villages devastated to the hospital. They told the Norwegian, Finnish an~ point of obliteration. As if all that were not enough German doctors and nurses about the killing in the Ct uelties inflicted by the massive application of inter- camps and that Israeli forces were firing on the ' nationally prohibited weapons, several thousands~·the camp, having sealed it off." 15. Even if the imposition of a virtual protectorate is achieved-and I am sure that the Lebanese peopie will see to it that it is not-Israel will continue to implement its long-prepared design against southern Lebanon and the waters of the Litani River, which they have coveted for many, many decades. This " means the dismemberment of Lebanon and the under- mining of its independence and territorial integrity. If the Israelis had more people, I am sure that they would not hesitate to colonize southern Lebanon, as they have massively colonized the occupied territo- ries of Jerusalem, the rest of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights. 16. The second factor which forebodes inevitable disaster for the Middle East and far beyond is the utter collapse of the application of any norms of interna- tional law in all questions pertaining to the Middle East. 18. It is a supreme irony that the Security Council, the highest executive organ of the United Nations, has not even been allowed to send its own three- member Commission to inquire into the ongoing pro- cess of colonization in the occupied territories. The peace-keeping forces in southern Lebanon-an arm ofthe Security Council-were trampled upon when the Israeli invaders either overwhelmed their area or by- passed it, even though those brave men are symbols of and carry the full weight and prestige of the United Nations and of the Security Council. 19. During the summer invasion of Lebanon, resolu- tion after resolution of the Security Council-508 (1982), 509 (1982), 511 (1982) to 513 (1982) and 515 (1982) to 521 (1982)-was adopted, only to be ignored with disdain. The question then arises: does Israel recognize the United Nations system and, ifitdoes not, why should the United Nations take its humiliation lying down? This is a burning issue and the time has come to address it seriously. 20. The third factor is that Israel, which has adamant- ly rejected any resolution of either the' Middle East question or the Palestine question, has fully embarked upon a programme of nuclear as well as conventional armaments and production. It has refused to adhere to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weap- ons [resolution 2373 (XXII), annex], while giving itself licence to carry out a sneaking and unprecedented attack in June 1981 against the Iraqi nuclear instal- lation Osirak, 1,000 kilometres away, which is devoted solely to scientific and peaceful purposes and is under international control and inspection, as Iraq has signed and ratified the Non-Proliferation Treaty. As a matter of fact, those very instaliations had been inspected a mere few weeks before the treacherous Israeli attack was carried out against Osirak. 21. As if this were not enough, the Israeli authorities have cf:..nly and audaciously declared their determi- nation to carry out similar aggression against any new nuclear research facilities which may be established in Iraq or beyond, or anywhere else in the region. 22. Israel is bent on maintaining a nuclear monopoly and political blackmail. Such being the case, it is extremely ominous to read a United Press Interna- tional [UP/] news dispatch from Tel Aviv, published in The New York Times of 6 December 1982, which states: ••Edward Teller is in Israel to advise the Govern- ment on building a nuclear reactor for [so-called] peaceful purposes, a spokesman for the Ministry of Science said today. H 'He is here mainly to advise us on the utilization of nuclear energy,' the [Israeli] spokesman said. "Asked to comment on a statement last month by Science Minister Yuval Neeman that Israel had the technology to build a nuclear reactor, the spokesman said, 'This is one of the reasons he is here' . UMr. Neeman, who noted that Israel had un- successfully tried to buy a reactor from the United States and France, has said Mr. Teller would present the Government with a plan to build a reactor. ... Israel already has a reactor at Dimona in the Negev.•• 23. Mr. Teller presumably has classified information at his disposal because he has full access to American nuclear technology and advances in their technology. Is it not the height of dangerous permis!::lveness to permit such a transfer of lethal technology to a coun- try which has persistently refused any inspection of its nuclear fa:cilities anrl is not a signatory to the Non~ Proliferation Treaty? The answer is all too obvious and needs no explanation or elaboration. 24. The fourth factor is Israel'~ decision in 1981 to construct a canal linking the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea, unilaterally and in defiance of all norms of international law; that decision is a blatant act of aggression against the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and against the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. A whole people can be as effectively decimated by rendering its lands barren and its water saline for many generations as by atomic devastation. The General Assembly has all but unanimously condemned this destructive, multilateral project, the exceptions being Israel and the United States. We are grateful to all the Member States which have scrupulonsly respected the norms of international law and justice and the affirmation of life, without regard for extrane- ous, malign influences. 25. It will be seen that Israeli Zionist exclusive- ness, the quest for expansion and hegemony, nu- c1earization and colonization will undoubtedJy keep the Middle East in a situation of perpetual turmoil with unforeseeable consequences. 26. The arrogance and corruption of power have reached the point where Israeli Foreign Minister Shamir stated yesterday that the Reagan Administra- tion's attempt to block an increase in American aid to Israel of $159 million could threaten Middle East peace, even though the level of aid is over $3 billion. Is he trying to blackmail even a super-Power and a benefactor? It is a tragedy of the first degree that thf; area of the Middle East, which has every£Aitentiul for pursuing peaceful ·dc~velopment and progress, should find itself, against its will, an arena of world power conflict. 27. The situation in the Middle East, which initially was deb.4led within the context of ending the con- sequences of IsraeJ's aggression of 1%7, has taken a sharp tUrn for the worse. The stag~ has been set for a collision course, part of whose consequences have

The General Assembly has just concluded its debate on the question of Pal- estine. Now we are embarking on a debate on another closely related question-the situation in the Middle East. We have rightly been preoccupied over the past several months with this twin problem. We recall the long summer nights in the Security Council during which strenuous efforts were made to arrest the rapid deterioration of the situation in the Middle East and to try to pursue charted and uncharted avenues towards a just settlement and a durable peace. 30. Thte connecting thread running through our debates was that it was high time that ve undertook, on the most urgent basis, a major effort to deal with this festering situation. The view has been aired that per- haps the invasion of Leb~non, macabre as it is, has created the conditions for such an effort. The authors of this view argue that because of, and not in spite of, the enormity ofthis invasion, a favourable opportunity arises for a general settlement. I wish to emphasize once again that Egypt does not subscribe to this '.:iew. Out of invasion and aggression, foreign occupation and creeping annexation, no brave new world can be awaiting us. ~Vhat prompted us all to act was not the new vistas of peace arising from brutal and naked ag- gression; it was rather the Middle East being broken asunder and falling into anarchy, as well as the deterioration of the prospects for peace and security f that prompted us to embark on fresh and urgent efforts towards peace. This distinction will help keep matters in proper perspective. 31. I propose to tackle the agenda item entitled "The sti~uation in the Middle East" in the following dimensions. -' 32. First, there is the Israeli dimension. Recently,. Israel has been carrying out a strategy to achieve hegemony in the Middle East, relying on what could be described 2'3 a long-arm policy. Encouraged by massive military and financial aid, Israel has been able: first, to reach the outskirts of Baghdad and destroy a peaceful nuclear research facility designed to help development efforts in Iraq; secondly, to invade Lebanon and occupy its capital, Beirut, in the process sowing havoc an over that country and iaying much of Lebanon to waste, in addition to overseeing the carnage in Shatila and Sabra-the Palestinian holo- caust; thirdly, to entrench itself in most of Lebanon, with avowed designs of continued occupation or de facto annexation; fourthly, to declar~ the annexation of the Syrian Golan Heights; fifthly, to declare the annexation of the occupied Arab city of Jerusalem; sixthly, to continue the illegal policy (Jf settling the occupied terdtories; seventhly, to violate certain con- tractual obligations; c:ghthly, to reject ali initiatives fora peaceful settlement, including its oftband and outright rejection of President Reagan's peace initia- { 36. First, the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination is undeniable. In fact, General As- sembly resolution 181 (11), of 29 November 1947, provided for the right of the Arab people of Palestine to establish their own State. Article 3 of section A in part I of the P'an of Partition of Palestine, annex~~d to resolution 181 (11), states that: "Independent Arab and Jewish States ... shaH come into existence". 37. Secondly, resolution 181 (11) is hndivisib~e, in the sense that the acceptance of the e;xistence of the State of Israel should lead to the acceptance of the right of the Palestinians to el\loy equal rights. 38. Thirdly, resolution iSl (11) should, however, be read in conjunction with ail subsequent United Nations resolutions pertaining to the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East, and in particular Security Council r~solution 242 (1967) in all its parts. 39. F;.mrthly, resolution 242 (l967~: ~ssential for the Palestinian entity and for a compre~ ;nsive settlement in the Middle East- fhe inadmissibility of the acquis~­ tion of territories t.~ war is an essential part of that n.~solution. It clearly calls on Israel to withdraw from tht~ occupied territories, including, of course, the Pal- estinian territories occupied since 1967, a matte: which , would provide the basis for the Palestinian entity or State to be established. 40. Fifthly, the declaration by Chairman Yasser Arafat, Chairman ofthe Palelitine Liberation Organiza- tion [PLO], that he accepts all United Nations resolu- tions pertaining to the Paiestine problem is therefore welcomed and should be properly assessed and duly understood. 41. Sixthly, we believe ~hat the logical overture towards a peaceful settlement is the mutual recogni- tion of the legitimate rights of both parties by the Palestinians and Israelis, as provided for in the Franco- el~ments, the realization ofwhich would be indeed very instrumental in preserving the Palestinian rights in the West Bank and Gaza. 44. Ninthly, Wt~ would call upon the Palestinians to consolidate their posilion by joining other viable Arab panners in order to embark on a much-needed imme- diate process of peace, and here we wish to express our satisfaction with the progress made in the talks between the PLO and Jordan. .. 45. Tenthly, again because time is of the utmost importance, we call upon the PLO to weigh things from the standpoint of their national goals and aspira- tions and take well-calculated, well-considered an'" courageous practical steps. We call insistently or,. all Palestinians to close ranks. By the same token, we must emphatically urge a polJcy of "h~nds off the Palestinian people". Let them dedde their OWfi' priori- ties without the heavy hand of parochial polici~s and narrow interests from within th~ rtlgion and beyond. 46. The third dimension is the Lebanese dimension. We believe that the situation in Lebanon as a result of the ISiaeli invasion and occupation is very serious ana requires close attention anC ~onsistent efforts to ensure a total and immediate Israeli withdrawal and to counter Israeli efforts to p:'ocra9tim~teand designs to prolong their occupal!cm. in this respeCt, Egypt calls for the following measures. 47. First, the total withdrawal of ail Israeli forces and personn£l from Lebanon in accordance with a well- defined timetable. 48. Secondly, the termination of all forms of foreign intervention in its internal affairs and the withdrawal of all foreign forces. 49. Thirdly, respect for the legitimate authority in Lebanon and for the rights ofall tbe Lebanese people. 50. Fourthly, support for efforts for the reconstruc- tion of Lebanon. 51. Fifthly, the preservation of mutual security through international peace-keeping forces, with emphasis on the role of the United Nations since security cannot be the security of Israel alone. 52. Sixthly, the rejection of all attempts to impose certain conditions on Lebanon, especially in the present circumstances. serious~y affect the prospects of the overall peace efforts. 58. Fourthly, the continuation of the Israeli policy of settling the occupied territories is a major obstacle, not only to the peac~ process but to the possibilities of peace altogether. In this, the United States bears a special responsibility. Indeed, had it'not been for the abuse by Israel ofthe massive financial support coming from the United States under different forms of ar- rangements, Israel would not have been in a position to embark on such a massive build-up of settlements and on its policy of settler-colonialism in the occupied Arab territories. 59. Fifthly, we believe that a constructive dialogue between the United States and the PLO should start as soon as possible. It is only natural that, ifthe Reagan initiative is to be successfully implemented, the Ad- ministration should not fail to contact all parties con- cerned without exception. A dialogue with the rep- resentatives of the Palestinian people should not exclude the possible participation in the process of peace of other parties directly concerned. 60. Sixthly ~ in trying to reach a final settlement of the Palestinian problem, principles offairness, equality and justice should always be borne in mind. 61. The fifth dimension is the European dimenskm. It is the considered opinion of Egypt that security in Europe and the Mediterranean area is closely linked with security in the Middle Eas~, which cannot be achieved without a just solutior. to the Palestinian /55. Mr. PRADHAN (Bhutan): As the General Assem- bly once again takes up the agenda item on the situa- tion in the Middle East, it presents us with yet another opportunity to view this important region more closely. It also permits the international community to continue to seek solutions to the problems of the region. The Middle East, where the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe meet, is a region whose develop- ments affect almost the entire globe. Many of the age-old religious, cultural and other influences of today's world emanated from the Middle East. Today, the region's importance has been enhanced because of the vital resources that it possesses and the impact this has had, and continues to have, on the global econ- omy and on international economic relations. In the foreseeable future, the Middle East will un- doubtedly continue to have a major and significant impact on international developments. 66: The Middle East is crucial to international peace and security. However, today we confront a host of crisis situations in the area and acts that continue to destabilize the region as a whole. Just recently, the Assembly has considered three major issues pertaining to the Middle East. The bombing of the Iraqi nuclear reactor by Israel gave rise to many questions for international peace and security. My delegation has al- ways been convinced of the peaceful character of the Iraqi nuclear installation. This has been confirmed by the IAEA and the inspections ~h~t were carried out specifically to ensure that nuclear energy was being harnessed for peaceful purposes only. Many other renowned international authorities have also supported this fact. it was in view of this that my delegation con- demned the unprovoked act of destruction launched by Israel in 1981 on Iraq's nuclear installation. . 67. The hostilities between Iran and Iraq have un- fortunately aggravated the already critical situation in the Middle East. My delegation has always joined in the appeal to both these non-aligned nations to put an immediate end to their war of attrition. It is most unfortunate that the conflict rages on. My delegation once again calls upon both countries to terminate hostilities forthwith. 68. The international community has recognized the fact that the question of Palestine is the crux of the problem in the Middle East. I do not wish to deal with this issue at any length as we have only recently examined the question in great detail. However, my delegation would like to reiterate our c~il for the establishment of a sovereign independent State of Pal- estine. As we mentioned in our statements delivered here on 13 October [29th meeting] and 30 November [85th meeting], we feel that the situation is now con- ducive to the settlement of the problem of Palestine. We hope that the PLO will be recognized as a legal and an equal party in atl negotiations on Palestine.

This past year has wit- nessed an alarming heightening of tensions in the Mid- dle East. While Japan duly appreciates Israel returning the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt in accordance with the Camp David agreement, it strongly denounces other Israeli action§, such as its effective annexation of the Golan Heights; its continuing policies in the oc- cupied West Bank and Gaza, which prevent the Pal- estinian people from exercising their right ofself-deter- mination; and its invasion of Lebanon. Japan demands that Israel rescind, in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions, the measures it has taken in the occupied Arab territories of the Golan Heights, the West Bank and Gaza. Japan also demands that Israel, by implementing the relevant Security Council resolutions-in particular resolutions 508 (1982) and 509 (1982)-withdraw its forces from Lebanon imme- diately. 74. The massacre of a great number of innocent Palestinian refugees in West Beirut in September was an outrageous act of violence. The Government of Japan takes this opportunity once again to express its brinl~ about an early settlement of the Middle East peac,,: problem, the core of which is, of course, the Palestinian question. The basic position ofthe Govern- ment of Japan on the Middle East problem, including the Palestinian question, has been presented on numerous occasions. Nevertheless, I should like to take this opportunity to restate it as follows., 77. First, peace in the Middle East should be just, lasting and comprehensive. 78. Seconclly, such a peace should be achieved through the early and complete implementation of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and through the recognition of and respect for the legitimate rights ofthe Palestinian people, including the right of self-determination, under the Charter of the United Nations. 79. Thirdly, each and every·path towards the realiza- tion of such a peace must be· explored, with careful consideration being given to the legitimate security requirements of the countries in the region and to the BBpirations of all the peoples in the region, including the Palestinian people. 80. Fourthly, Japan considers that the PLO rep- resents the Palestinian people. Thus, in· order to ad- vance the cause of peace in the Middle East, Japan believes, it is essential that Israel and the PLO par- ticipate in the peace process. 81. The Government ofJapan expresses its apprecia- tion of the initiative taken by the United States last September3 in presenting its peace proposal, which addresses the Middle East problem directly. Shortly after the United States proposal, the Twelfth Arab Summit Conference, held at Fez, adopted its own peace proposal [see A/37/696]. Japan highly values the fact that Arab countries are united in demonstrating their will for peace. It is our earnest hope that all the parties concerned will bear these proposals in mind and resume efforts immediately to bring about a peace- ful settlement of the Middle East problem. 82. The current suffering in Leb@non brought about by the Israeli invasion is a tragic reminder of the instability of the situation throughout the Middle 88. Painstaking attempls to prevent the Israeli forces from entering Beirut, the departure of the valiant Palestinian fighters to avoid additional suffering for the already severely tried population, far from dissuading the Zionist troops from penetrating into the Lebanese capital, only delivered Beirut to the offensive of the Israeli forces, after the hasty departure of the inter- national forces. 89. The massacres committed under the direct responsibility of the Israeli troops against civilians, basically children, women and old people, the untold horror of which the world media helped us to grasp, constitute new crimes to be added to the already la~ig list of crimes by the Tel Aviv leaders which have remained unpunished. 90. The tragic events that have taken place in Leb- anon constitute, in fact, one of the last stages of a forc~s to extend their legislation to the inhabitants of the Syrian Golan Heights by requiring that they carry Israeli identification cards should be firmly con- demned and considered null and void. 94. The fierce resistance of the people of the Golan Heights to these attempts at assimilation and zioni- zation clearly testifies to their staunch refusal to renounce their Syrian identity and to yield to black- mail and the policy offait accompli. 95. The repeated acts of aggression by the Zionist forces against the neighbouring Arab countries, the destruction of the Tamuz nuclear power plant, the invasion and dismemberment of Lebanon, the zioniza- tion of the occupied Arab territories and the annexa- tion of the Holy City of Jerusalem and the Golan Heights all constitute epiphenomena and are part of a deliberate policy to side-step the central element of all these crises-the question of Palestine. 96. It is an established fact that the Zionist leaders are widening the. sphere of action of their aggressive behaviour precisely to divert the attention ofthe inter- national community from the original crisis ofthe Mid- dle East. The increasing scale of aggression against the Arab peoples of the region attests to an insatiable appetite for the faits accomplis that unfailingly promote tension and fuel the remorseless militarism of the Zionist leaders. 97. My delegation remains more than ever con- vinced that until the Palestinian people, robbed of its homeland and its property and reduced to the state of a homeless people, can determine its destiny freely, evident-an~I it is not hidden in either Washington or Tel Aviv-·that the United States regards Israel as its most reliable and faithful ally in the Middle East. That is why Washington is willing to satisfy the ever- growing appetite of Tel Aviv, to the detriment of the Arabs. 105. The mutual understanding between the United States and Israel and their relations as allies hinges on the strategy of reducing and subordinating the Arab world and leaving it to the mercy of Israel. 106. Attempts have been stepped up to establish an American military presence in the region and, in order to carry out punitive expeditions, primarily in the area of the Middle East and the Persian Gulf, the so-called rapid deployment forces have been formed. Nobody can be misled by the ploy of a squabble between the United States and Israel which recently has been used as a bait to try to make people believe that there has been some so-called change in United States policy in respect of Israel. The balance of forces in the Middle East is such that no true defender of the natienal interests of the Palestinian and other Arab peoples can fail to oppose Washington's policy in the 114. To quote from the report of the Secretary- General: " ... instead of general peace, there have been in the Middle East a succession of cease-fires.... in the absence of a resolution of the underlying politi- cal and security issues, the situation remained unstable, and over the years the cease-fires were marred by numerous incidents and five full-fledged wars. With the development of increasingly sophis- ticated weapons, each succeeding war has become more destructive and each new round of fighting has added to the complexity of the conflict and made it more difficult to resolve. The recent tragic events in Lebanon have forcefully highlighted the urgent need to seek a peaceful settlement of the Palestinian problem and other aspects of the Middle East conflict." [A/37/525, para. 88.] 115. The nature of the Middle East conflict is such that, unless the primary issue that lies at its core-that is, the Palestine question-is resolved, not only will the region itself be confronted with explosions of increasing intensity but serious conflicts may erupt even beyond the region. 116. Israel's invasion of Lebanon, the attendant savagery and the massacre of hundreds of innocent Palestinian men, women and children in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps have aroused the strongest condemnation of the international community. Israel may have had some temporary military gains, but its outrageous actions in Lebanon have certainly exposed it and the nature of its aggressive policies to the inter- national community. On the other hand, the Arab and Palestinian cause has gained greater recognition, and the restraint exercised by the PLO in the face of the Israeli onslaught has evoked wider international acclaim. 117. The Israeli invasion of Lebanon is a sequel to the Israeli policies ofoccupation and annexation of the Arab and Palestinian territories, including the Holy City of Jerusalem, and its repression of the Palestin- ian people. The inability of the United Nations to compel Israel to reverse these poHcies has further encouraged it to intensify its violent and oppressive policies against the Palestinian people by denying them, 123. This situation calls for meaningful action by the United Nations to secure Israel's compliance with the collective demands of the membership. The Secu- rity Council, with its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, must take all thenecessary enforcement actions under the . 2 A/37/704 and A/37/705. 3 Weekly Compilation of Presidenticll Documents (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1982), vol. 18, No. 35, p. 1081.