A/39/PV.73 General Assembly

It is known that international events and developments are not confined to the region of the Middle East, but the events and developments in that area have a general feature that distinguishes them from others-namely, the characteristic of continuance, repetition and accumulation. It is im- possible not to note that those events and develop- ments are united by a common denominator. This is that they all spring from one source, which is the chain of continuous Israeli acts of aggression; from one doctrine, which is the Zionist doctrine; and from one policy, which is the policy ofcutting off the meat of the prey piece by piece, or what is known in diplomatic tradition as the policy of imposing faits accomplis one after another. 2. All these events and developments are aimed at one ultimate goal, which is the realization of zion- ism's great dream: the establishment of Greater Israel. It is the attempts to realize that dream that have changed the region of the Middle East into a bloody theatre in which Israel, with a military arsenal out of all proportion to its size, plays a continuing aggressive role that has occupied the attention of the United Nations for more than 37 years, leaving it confused and unable to decide what to do about this Member State, the only one whose membership was conditional on its permitting the return of the Palestinian refugees to their homes, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 194 (Ill), of 11 December 1948. In spite of that, by its refusal to implement that resolution and by its persistence in aggression, Israel has earned the title of the enemy of peace in the Middle East. The General Assembly confirmed this in paragraph 12 of resolution 37/123 A, in which it again determined that Israel is not a peace-loving Member State. 3. Ever since 1948, when zionism appropriated by force a large part of the Arab Palestinian lands for the establishment of the Jewish State, that intruder has committed aggression after aggression in order to seize another slice of Palestinian or Arab land, after strengthening its hold on the piece it had already annexed. The effects of the series of Israeli acts of aggression are clear and numerous. One such effect IS the many international forces spread over the map of Monday, 26 November 1984, NEW YORK I~ i~~kthta~~2clln ~~: qUlf regIon, !he ArAb pe,num..- llHenhon to It than to anY' other. 1 huty-seven ye.ars e ,I •e ~I In general. :Since we bdlcl<c In hil\C elapsed Since the UntIed Natlons was first ~~d role't~~I~h 1Stohserve ,Arab and Islllmi,c ml~~1S called upon 10 deal with It. During thi'!) penc.)(l. five con n u e to t. e mamtenance of \l,;ortd peace. wars have been foughl in the region and )'et. due to 63. In conclusion 1 would like to comm~· d I"· '..'".-,_.,--,-. efforts of the Arab'c t' r h u' . '\.11. ne ·~,h llUili ~k( In tJ,du,ThcEna:h!lh VC;l'))OtI of Ius $tlllc:m~,nl oun TIes 0 t e :Yllddle Ea.SI Ii') "'ll~ MII;pll(\~ I'!llfl,c d1:kpllon 68. Because of its location and its natural resources, 73. The essential elements on which a Middle East the Middle East today is an area of great strategic peace could be based have been affirmed repeatedly value. Any fresh Outbreak of hostilities, which would by the General Assembly, by the Organization of the be more destructive than the previous conflicts, Islamic Conference and by the Movement of Non- could even lead to a confrontation between the two Aligned Countries. These elements include the fol- super-Powers and have the most serious conse- lowing: the complete attainment by the Palestinian quences for the whole world. The present no-peace, people of their inalienable national rights, including no-war situation in the region therefore poses a threat the right to return to their homeland, the right to self- not only to the region but also to the peace and determination and the right to establish their own security of the whole world. State in Palestine; the right of the PLO, the represen- ibilitv for thi f ffai tative of the Palestinian people, to participate on an 69. The responsi ility ror th~syate 0 a alfS.ml!st equal footing with the other parties in all efforts and be borne by Israel, whose aggressive and expansionist negotiations on the Middle East; and Israel's with- policies and r~pr~sslon of the Arab population III the drawal from all occupied territories including Jeru- occupied terntones have kept the whole region on salem ' the brink of a catastrophic conflict. Israel has dis- . missed with contempt the resolutions adopted by the 74. Pakistan has consistently advocated these prin- United Nations year after year, which have outlined ciples. Last year we supported General Assembly the principles of a just and lasting settlement in the resolution 38/58 C on the proposed international Middle East and have set out the guidelines for their peace conference on the Middle East in conformity implementation. In complete defiance of the will of with these principles and with the participation of all the international community, it has refused to with- parties to the Arab-Israeli dispute, including the draw from the occupied territories and has annexed PLO. We therefore deeply regret that despite the Jerusalem and the Syrian Golan Heights. Its plans to highly commendable efforts made by the Secretary- set up settlements in the West Bank make it clear that General in connection with the holding of the its ultimate objective is no less than the Judaization conference, he has come to the conclusion that "the of all the Palestinian territories seized by it in an conditions required for convening the proposed insatiable drive for more and more land. conference with any chance of success are not met at . ... the present time" [A/39/600 para. 40]. 70. Israel's aggressive and expansionist designs ' were demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt by 75. We agree with the Secretary-General that the its invasion of Lebanon two years ago. Despite the United Nations has a special obligation to make repeated calls by the Security Council and the another determined effort to find the means by which General Assembly, it has persistently refused to we can move forward to a negotiated peace in the withdraw from Lebanon and arrogantly remains in Middle East. My delegation also supports the Secre- illegal occupation of the southern part of the country. tary-General's intention to remain in close consulta- . . . . ... tion with all the parties to the Middle East conflict in 71: Having driven millions of Palestinians into case he can play a useful role in the negotiating exile from .the land In which they a!ld then fore fa- process. Equally, it is the responsibility of those thers had hved for countless generatlOp.s, Israel now countries which maintain close ties with Israel and denies the .mo~t. elementary human rights t~ those extend military and economic assistance to it to use who are still living In the occupied terntones and their influence to the full in order to persuade its refuses to accord them the protection guaranteed Government to respond positively to the internation- under international law, These people are the. victims al call for a just, negotiated settlement in the Middle of a ruthless policy of oppression and rC?presslOn. In a East. Failure to do so could drive the region into systematic plan t9 alter the demographic character of another tragic conflict. the occupied territortes and present the world WIth a fait accompli, the inhabitants of the occupied territo- 76. Mr. KORHONEN (Finland): The complex of ries are arbitrarily being expelled from their lands in Middle East problems persistently eludes settlement. order to make way for Jewish settlements. As the Although the Middle East has been the foremost events in Lebanon have shown, even Palestinians concern of the United Nations for the past 37 years, who live as refugees in other Arab countries are not all the basic problems still remain unsolved. The five spared. Israel's goal is no less than to destroy the wars that have been fought between Israel and the national character of the Palestinian people and to Arabs have not solved anything. On the contrary, erode their identification with their homeland. they have created new problems and added new . . . layers of complexity to the old ones. Furthermore, 72. The valiant struggle launched by the ~alest!n~an every war carries the seeds of the next one. The people demonstrates, however, that Israel s policies, parable of this calamitous process should be clear which have already produced so much bloodshed and both to the parties concerned and to the international bitterness, are bound to fall III thel~ objective, Peace community as a whole. can return to the MIddle East only If Israel abandons its expansionist designs and co-operates sincerely in 77. The key to the situation is and continues to be the search of the international community for a just the Arab-Israeli conflict. We remain convinced that a and lasting settlement. The Arab peace plan, adopted comprehensive settlement of it must be based on on 9 September 1982 by the Twelfth Arab Summit Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 Conference, held at Fez.? represented a constructive (1973). The content of those resolutions is well new initiative towards peace in the Middle East. known but still often forgotten: namely that Israel Among the various other noteworthy initiatives must withdraw from Arab territories occupied since towards a settlement of the Middle East problem are 1967; the acquisition of territories by force is inad- the Reagan plan of I September 19824 and the missible; and the right of Israel and all other States of Meetin~ of Ministers, and Heads of Delegation of the 116. Self-determination of all peoples is the para- Non-Ahgned Countnes to the thirty-ninth session of mount rule; hence, so is the self-determination of the the General Assembly, held m New York from 1 to 5 Palestinian people, Hopes for justice and peace October of this year, reconfirmed this y~e,!" and should not go unfulfilled and the policy of fait emphasized the inadmissibility of acquisition of accompli should not be allowed to prevail New terntory by force, as well as the inalienable .right of efforts should be undertaken to counter any such the ,Palestinian people freely to decide 1tS own policy and to achieve a solution on a comprehensive destiny. basis, 1O~. The developments, in the Middle East are a 117. We feel it is the duty of the United Nations telling example that one s 0:vn nght~, freedom and and of all States Members, particularly the members independence c~nnot be realized, achieved or imple- of the Security Council, to make renewed efforts in mented by denial of and encroachment upon the order to resolve the crisis. same rights, the same freedom and the same indepen- 118 L " dence of others, There are even attempts to ortra . et ~e recall that at ItSlast session the General the legitimate struggle of the Palestinian p eo l~ Assembly, m resolution 38/58 C, endorsed the deci- within the context of bloc rivalry. These attemgts ~re sion of the International Conference on the Question mtended only to conceal the essence of the Middl of Palestine, held at Geneva from 29 August ,to 7 East crisis, 1 e September 1983, propoS1O~ that an international 9 ' peace conference on the Middle East be convened. 10. The Gaza Strip, the West,Bank, Jerusalem and An overwhelming majority of Member States have the Synan Golan Heights remain occupied by Israel. pronounced themselves in favour of such a confer- 119. Time in the Middle East does not stand still Everything should be done to bring about such ~ conference at the earliest possible date and it is rightfully expected that all international protagonists Will display stronger political will to that end. 120. The Secretary-General should receive every encouragement and support in carrying out his consultations for the convening of this conference. 121. The members of the Non-Aligned Committee of Eight on Palestine met at the ministerial level in New York on 3 October of this year and called for additional efforts to be undertaken in order to ensure the convening of such a peace conference under the aegis of the United Nations. They considered that the holding of an international conference, with the involvement of the Security Council, would help to achieve the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and lead to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region. The Foreign Minis- ters of the Non-Aligned Committee on Palestine conveyed to Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Execu- tive Committee of the PLO, the full support of their Governments and peoples for the just struggle of the Palestinian people and for the PLO and its institu- tions. 122. The people of Yugoslavia have won and preserved their freedom and independence with enormous sacrifices. They have deep feelings of friendship for and solidarity with the Palestinian people in its Just struggle for self-determination and national dignity. Non-aligned Yugoslavia has consis- tently supported, and will continue to do so, the solution of the Middle East crisis on the basis of respect for the basic principles .of the Charter of the United Nations and of the policy of non-alignment. There can be no just, lasting and comprehensive solution without the implementation of and full respect for the principles of self-determination, s~v­ ereignty, independence, territorial integrity, equality, non-interference and Withdrawal of foreign troops from the occupied territories and the right ofpeoples to choose independently their own. way of internal development. This imphes the exercise of the inalien- able rights of the Palestinian people, under the leadership of the PLO, Its sole and legitimate repre- sentative. 123. We firmly believe that a lasting solution can be built only on the withdrawal of Israel from all Arab and Palestinian territories occupied s1Oce. 1~67, including Jerusalem; on the exercise of the inalien- able right of the Palestinian people to self-determ~na­ tion, national identity, sovereignty a~d. the. establtsh- ment of its own State; on the participation C?n an equal footing of the PLO, a~ the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, 10 all en- deavours towards and negohatlOns on the peaceful settlement of the issue within the framework of the United Nations; and on ensunng life III peace. and security for all countries and ~eoples m the Middle East and their independent SOCIal development With- in recognized boundaries, without the threat or use of force. 124. We feel, finally, that it is on.e of the primary responsibilities of the United Nations to strive to friend~ to undertake still greater efforts for the ~ause of peace. In spite of all the blo?dshe.d and sufferingof yesterday, they should estabhsh With gre~ter ~lanty that they recognize the State of Israel and It~ right to exist within secure and recognized boundaries. Both sides in the Middle East conflict have to come to 01the peof\r of those regions to leave their homes. 167. All these resolutions, which concern the four T IS was 0 owed by the gradual usurpation of the main aspects of the problem of the Middle East, :;;i~~d t~tai\~s, a~~~ae~f s~~r~~~i~nm:::a ~~~~~\~;: vene, as e~rly as possible, an [nternational c9nfcrcncc Internally it is in hot water. Stagnation and infl ti n' on the Middle East, as contained In resolution 38/58 th .' f i I ' f d a 10, C of 13 December 1983. We find the concrete e erosion 0 lt~ .peop e s ~on I ence and a profound proposals of 29 July 1984 by the SO' 'I U· [. , Government CflS1S prevail. Externally it has been A/39/3 1 duel .: O\ie; men .H t: denounced and condemned by the whole world. In 68 con ucrve to the preparation for such a orde t th diffi lti d conference. r 0 overcome ese I ICU ties an break out of its isolation, Israel is now looking for birds of its own 234. The peaceful settlement of disputes is a funda- feather. Its collusion with the apartheid regime of mental provision enshrined in the Charter of the South Africa i~ notorious. It ,has already forged United Nations: W,e are co~wince9 that the present relationships with some Fascist and reactionary cnsis and conflict Iry the Middle East ,can be solved regimes In Latin and Central America. Now the only through a political comprehensive settlement Asian expansionist and hegernonist Power has come which ensures the legitimate interests or all parties along. As reported by the English magazine lane's and countries of the region. Defence Weekly, ,in its 20 November issue, this 235. Mr. ZARIF (Afghanistan): For the .ast IK Phowe~ has maintained Its secret ~Ies With Israel, and years, the General Assembly has been c(msidc~i~g the t ey ave recently Signed a major contract for $3 situation in the Middle East and has adt;prl.'d SCl)rCS tIOn~1 c~mm~mty on that m~tter. To the annoyance to the problem. As part of the constant violation of and indignation of peace-loving humanity, however, human rights of the population of the occupied the principal parties responsible for the continuation territories, Israel has proclaimed so-called Jaws and of this most appalling situation, namely, the Zionist regulations which aim at altering the demographic forces of Israel and imperialist circles m the United composition, geographic features, basic character and States, have put stumbling-blocks in the way of the legal status of the occupied territories and has implementation of those verdicts. effectively annexed some parts of the occupied 236. The Middle East, which is one of the most territories to Israel. important centres of man's civilization and a perma- 240. Lebanon the most recent victim of Israeli nent crossroad of various cultures, has unfortunately aggression, continues to suffer from the occupation been condemned to war and destruction as a result of of vast areas of its land and brutal attacks on and the expansionist, aggressive and hegemonistic poli- bombardments of its towns and villages by Israeli cies of Israel and the United States for the past four forces. decades..The en9rmous efforts .of the international 241. The people of the Syrian Golan Heights have community to bnng peace to this war-t?rn region of also been victims of inhuman repression aimed at the world ,wereall.frustrated due !o the llltranslge~ce forcing them to evacuate the territory, thus making it of the Zionist regime, and United States, unwill- easier for Israel fully to implement its designs for mgness .to . take part Ill, or co-operate with, any annexing those areas. senous initiative towards a peaceful settlement of the 242 "rh U . d N' h d d I' Arab-Israeli conflict. . . e n,Ite .ati?I,1s as a opte reso utlOn~ 3 . . .' by overwhelming majorities declanng that all Israeli 2 7. As. has. been proclaimed by the international policies and practices aimed at changing the charac- community time and ag~lll, the crux. of the Middle ter or status of the occupied territories are illegal, null East problem IS the qu~stlOn of Palestine. The denial and VOId, and have called on Israel to rescind all by Israel and the United States of the inalienable regulations and laws passed to that effect. fights of the Palestinian people and the subsequent . . . confiscation of their land and their forcible expulsion 243. Israel has been able. to perpetrate Its policies from their home towns has brought about a tragedy, and p~act1ces m the occupied territories and against the dimensions of which have grown out of propor- ItS neighbours mainly because It has, enjoyed the tion. It is therefore obvious that no just and lasting unreserved and full support of the United States III solution can be found to the situation in the Middle the diplomatic, political, economI~ and m!l!tary East unless the question ofPalestine is taken up in its fields, The u~ab.ated flow of financial and military proper perspective and solved in a manner that aid to. the ZIODlSt ~ar machine from its so-called would ensure the full exercise by the Palestinian strategic ally, the United States, has been instrurnen- people of their legitimate national rights, including tal m m~king possible the arrogant Israeli defiance of the right to return to their homeland, the right to self- the .l!lllted Nations .and the, continued state of determination and the right to establish their own hostility and tension m the Middle East. national State in Palestine. That is why the partial 244. This criminal alliance between imperialism agreements and the collusive deals concluded so far and its illegitimate brain-child, zionism, puts equal have completely failed to bring closer the achieve- responsibility for the bloodshed and destruction in ment of a durable peace in the Middle East, nor have the Middle East on the shoulders of those in aggres- they curbed or even tamed Israel's aggressive and sive circles in the United States. The strong denunci- expansionist designs against neighbouring Arab ation by the international community of this unholy countries. alliance is a natural reaction to the expansionist 238. In accordance with the principle of the inad- militarist policies ofthe Israeli Zionists, which can.be missibility of acquisition of territory by force, the carried out only with the, unconditional collaboration United Nations has condemned the continued occu- of United States imperialism, pation of Palestinian and other Arab territories 245. The United Nations must not allow the pres- occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem, ent situation in the Middle East to become a and has called for the immediate, total and uncondi- permanent feature of the international political tional withdrawal oflsraeli troops from those territo- scene. Peace is long overdue. The General Assembly, ries. Not only has Israel ignored the repeated and by endorsing, in its resolution 38/58 C of 13 Decem- unequivocal demands of the international commu- ber 1983, the Geneva Declaration on Palestine- and nity, but as an occupying Power it has consistently the Pro~ramme of Action for the Achievement of and flagrantly violated all norms of international law Palestinian Rights.! adopted by the 1983 Internation- applicable to the occupied territories. A systematic al Conference on the Question of Palestine, held at campaign of terror and violence against the popula- Geneva, has pronounced itself on the ways to attain tion of the occupied Palestinian and other Arab peace. territories has resulted in ~ countless nu~b~~ of 246. The proposals of the Soviet Union [ibid.] on deaths and enormous sufferings.. Peaceful CIVIlIans the achievement of a lasting and comprehensive are. beaten to death, their propertle~ are confiscated, solution to the question of the Middle East through then houses are demolished, their shops are s~t the convening of an international peace conference ablaze, their places .~f worship are vandalized, the}r also enjoys our full support. The alarming threat to schoolsand universitres are closed down, then public international peace and security posed by the contin- institutions are paralysed and then elected figures are ued deterioration of the situation proves the necessi- removed from office. ty for the early convening of an international peace 239. The policy of proliferating Zionist colonial conference on the Middle East, with the participa- settlements by expanding the old ones and establish- tion, fully and on a basis of equality, of the PLO, the ing new ones and by depopulating the occupied sole, legitimate representative of the Palestinian territories through forced dispersion of the indige- people. The United Nations, particularly the Security wit~ which .my Soviet colleague will no doubt be familiar: Vn da znat meru, which means "Lie but know when to stop." The Jordanian represent~tive should know when to stop. 253. Most of the families of my colleagues sitting here. had members in concentration camps. They had families t~at were gassed. They had brothers, sisters and cous.ms who were. shot POInt blank, shipped away, exiled, had hornble experiments performed upon them, Is the representativeof Jordan suggesting that that IS what Israel's policy is? He knows very well, as ~,:eryone here does, that this is the most benign military occupation in history. He knowsvery well that the Palestinian Arabshave recourse to law to the Supreme Court, that they are protected by la~ and order. He knows very well that their living standards, their SOCIal standards, their literacy-that by any Index of national welfare and individual The meeting rose at 7.15 p.m. NOTES