A/38/PV.91 General Assembly

We read carefully and with great concern the report of the Secretary-General on the question of Palestine and the general situation in the Middle East [A/38/458]. The report gives us an opportunity to observe that, more than ever, the situation gives no grounds for optimism-far from it. 128. For almost half a century, but particularly since Israel was created by aggression and terror in May 1948, the Arab Middle East has been the scene of a human tragedy with incalculable consequences. There is certainly no need to give the chronology of the question, which has been before the Assembly since its first session. We are all aware of the responsibilities for, and the facts of, a problem which has so dominated contemporary affairs and has several times threatened the security of everyone by bringing us to the brink of a world conflict, particularly in 1955, 1967 and 1973. \ f ~ !r 1.:."'. ,l' " \ l~:.•..:.~ ! ," ." Z;8:~:'~;~<~:"::"!~v.r:'I'::':"':r~~,.'·'7·.~::~~T'::--""';~~~:"~.~7-~ ., ~-;.~:Y;':~-::'~i7.':':""':;';"""~l<'~":'';''"\'~:''''"w-~" c'- "A -,' " qu~stion, which concerns all mankind, and in particular to Implememing Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). Israel has rejected those resolutions and has been fiercely resisting the establishment of a Palestinian State, with East Jerusalem as its capital. 153. In his diary, President Carter states, concerning the Camp David talks, that "Israel rejected the basic p~ovisions. of resolution 242 (1967) ... and refused to withdraw ItS forces from the occupied Arab territories" . After the Camp David accord, Israel annexed East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights and occupied Lebanon. Just as it justified its aggression against the Iraqi nuclear reactor in July 1981, it justified its occupation of Lebanon by claiming that it was for strict security reasons. These acts of a.ggression of course violate the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949.2 154. Moreover, Israel rejected the Arab peace plan 3 adopted at Fez on 9 September 1982 by the Twelfth Arab Summit Conference. The resolutions of the Fez summit are based on the substance of United Nations resolutions and are a clear indication by the Arab States and the PLO of the acceptance of a negotiated settlement on the basis of a comprehensive and just solution to the question of Palestine. Israel also rejected the initiative of President Reagan,4 which included constructive elements, as it had refused the earlier initiative of United States Secretary of State William Rogers. 155. We were optimistic, together with the European Community, about achieving a just and comprehensive settlement in the Middle East on the basis of resolut!ons 242 (~967).and 338 (1973), but the European initiative, contamed m a statement issued at Bonn on 6 June 1982 by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the 10 member States of the European Community,S met with a categorical rejection from Israel. 156. The Security Council has devoted 49 out of 82 meetings to considering the problem of the Middle East because of its importance and the grave consequences of . the continued failure to solve it. Hence, if the United Nations is to restore its prestige and affirm its role in the main~enance of secur~tyand peace in the region, it must contribute to the achievement of a just solution to this t~e d~ammg o. the AI dlvertmg of the Jorda seizure of the Litani Ri condemned the canal pro ~ents during the past 1 lIshment of settlements Israel has disregarded a 159.. . H~ving.occupied fortificatIOns m souther a ~alt. In the.past two wntten extenSIVely abou activities inflicted on the on the pretext of securi 160. If we go back a referred in his diary for Leba~ese Government a The diary of Moshe Sha 1949, shows the same a 161. Israel is at presen an alternative homeland counter to the latter's des and for recognition of denied them. ~62. Zionist settler colo Ical control over the area less of what havoc Isra depen~!ng not only on it capabilIty generously prO America. The co-operati has recently been formaliz co-operation between th 163. In view of this situ ~he territorial integrity, s mde~endence of all St~tes a polIcy of prevarication of the Arab territories question of Palestine an between Arab States, reg oration and gravity of the as that serves its expansi for ~egemony. Israeli neo the strategically importa tructive war which woul vitally necessary to keep th for influence between the a policy of detente, friend States of the region. This respects two basic principl Nations: those of the'non sibility of the acquisition necessary to resist the tre cc••• many American Jews had been 'plugged into Israel as if it were a kidney machine, a scientific marvel that keeps them Jewishly alive.' ... For many American Jews, the State [of Israel] has become the synagogue and its prime minister their rabbi. Their opinions ·Quoted in English b