S/PV.2775 Security Council

I should like to inform melpbers of the Council that I have received letters from the representatives Of Afghganistan, Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic, Morocco, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Viet Nam and Zimbabwe in which they rqUeSt to > . I be invited to participate in the discussion of the item on the Couhcil*s agenda. In conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the.Council, to invite those representatives to participate.in the discussion without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure. There being no objection, it is so decided. At the invitation of the President, Mr. Dost (Afghanistan), Mr. Zapotocky (Czechoslovakia), Mr. Hucke (German Denrocratic Republic), Mr. Slaoui (MOrOCCO)r i Mr. Cudovenko (Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic), Ms. Nguyen Binh Thanh (Viet Nam) and Mr. Punungwe (Zimbabwe) took the places reserved for them at the side of the Council Chamber.

The Security Council will now resume its consideration of the item on its agenda. j Members of the Council have before them the text of a draft resolution sponsored by Argentina, Congo, Ghana* the United Arab Emirates and ZZatiia, contained in document S/19352. The first speaker is the representative of Tunisia. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement. I Mr. GHEZAL (Tunisia)(interpretation from Arabic): As this is the first I time I have addressed the Security Council in my capacity as Permanent -Ye. 1,. ,! Representative of the Republic of Tunisia; it gives me pleasure at the outset to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council ii: for the month of pecetier. We are confident that your well kncwn ability and '. _' expertise, as well as the-prestige of your country - with which my country enjoys '. ,... . relations of friendship and co-operation - will guarantee success in the noble :_, . tasks before you. I wish also to convey to your predecessor, His Excellency Ambassador Kiyoakf Kikuchi, Permanent Representative of Japan , my delegation's appreciation for the knowledge and ability he displayed during his presidency of the Council in Novetier. ‘ .I thank‘the Council,and all its metiers for permitting me to participate in its discussion of the item on itsagenda, "The situation in the occupied Arab territories". For the past 10 days the world's mass media and official,reports have carried : : news about the painful events taking place in the occupied Arab territories - the Gaza Strip and the'west Bank -, and the frenzied campaign of oppression and killing jr carried out by the Israeli occupation authorities against the women and the children, the elderly and the youth of the Palestinian people. For the past 10 days the occupation authorities have been'called upon to Cease their intimidation and murder of the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip and the West _ Bank. 'I: would be remiss if I failed to.mention in this regard the United.S&tes Administration's call to the Israeli authorities, issued last Tuesday, i' 15 December. That indicates the degree of violence and the gravity of the arbitrary campaign being carried out by the Israeli occupation authorities. The Security Council has been meeting for nearly a week to consider the recent bloody events in the occupied Arab territories, thereby shouldering its important responsibility as guardian of international peace and security. Dut, in keeping with their well known practice, the Israeli occupation authorities could not care less about this, and have continued to inflict their injustices. Moreover, ehey intensify daily their use of armed violence to persecute Palestinian Arab‘citieens in their own usurped homeland who are expressing their ‘rejection of colonial hegemony and foreign domination. Every day we hear of new victims , new deaths caused by the bullets of the , Israeli occupation forces and the other violent practices they persist in employing. For example, on the single day of Tuesday, 15 December, the death toll among Palestinians was 10. Yesterday it was reported that a two-day-old Palestinian baby girl was killed and another Palestinian girl had her head smashed with a rifle-butt. Such grave, bloody events are carried out by foreign occupation authorities against a defenceless people , whose lands they have usurped, on whose dignity they tread, and whose legitimate rights in its own homeland they have denied, all in violation of international law and instruments, and riding roughshod over the Charter of the United Nations and the fourth Geneva Conventian, which was ’ intended to protect the rights of civilians and to prevent occupying authorities from carrying out oppression and repression at will. Tunisia has suffered the scourge of colonialism and has been the victim of treacherous aggression; we’ therefore know well the dimensions of the tragedy of the Palestinian people. (Mr. Ghezal , Tunis ia) .’ Based on its commitment to the noble principles on which the United Nations was established, Tunisia deplores the’bloody arbitrary practices pur$ued by the Israeli occupation authorities against the people in the occupied Arab territories. Those practices will not break the will of those people in resisting the aggressor and in regaining their dignity, homelands and freedom, One may properly ask the following questions: What is to be expected of a people a third of whose land has been confiscated by force and oppression, land that has become a settlement for strangers brought from all parts of ‘the world? What is to be expected from citizens who are threatened every. moment by deportation from the land of their fathers and forefathers and who daily suffer humiliation and degradation? Are they expected to yield and surrender? But even more, are they expected to sing the praises of the aggressor, the usurper? The anger of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, ‘like that of the rest of the people in the occupied Arab territories, is natural and inevitable. Their uprising is a reflection of normal behaviour - the reaction Of all peoples of the world to unbearable foreign domination and in justice. In this case, the suffering and hardship afflicting the Palestinian people hsve become unbearable. If the oppressor were to renounce its arrogance, it could learn from the’ lessons and examples of modern history. It is useless to analyse the uprising of the Palestinian people in the occupied Arab territories by linking it to instigation by the PI.0 from outside the territories. It is useless to minimize the seriousness of the situation in those occupied Arab territor’ies and to cast doubt over the will and determination of the Palestinian people to rid itself of humiliation and colonialism. ,The PLO is not foreign to the rest of .the Palestinian people. The PLO is its political leader ship and its sole, legi timate (Mr. Ghezal, Tunisia) representative. Has-anyone the right to claim that , unless pressured from outside, the Palestinian people would not lift a finger in its territories when its land is usurped and seized by force, when its homes are destroyed and its future prospects .become bleak and when it is constantly subjected to deportation and homelessness outside its homeland? People will not surrender their legitimate rights to their homeland, no matter what the outside pressure may be , and will continue to struggle for the exercise of that right, however long it may take. They will not be discouraged in their demands or in their struggle , no matter how cruel the violence and oppression. Modern history is replete with examples of such cases. If anyone claims that he cannot forget after 2,000 years, how can his arrogance allow him to expect the Palestinian people to forget and to abandon its homeland after 20 or even 40 years? We have witnessed different colonial authorities in Africa and Asia who claimed that they were on the verge of totally eliminating and destroying the will of the people. But the development of events demonstrated that the truth was the exact opposite. As long as colonial violence and oppression are to no avail, wisdom dictates that those methods should.be abandoned and that the hardships of the Palestinian people should be ended so as to restore peace and security on a lasting basis. The uninterrupted silence characteristic of the international community's reaction to the injustice inflicted upon the Palestinian people for 40 years has only led the Israeli occupation authorities to persist in their arrogance, Therefore, in view of the gravity of the situation in the occupied Arab territories, the Security Council must take appropriate measures to put an end to those acts of violence, torture and killing. We call upon this body, in view of its responsibilities for the maintenance of international peace and security and of its historic responsibility towards the Palestinian people in particular, (Mr. Ghezal, Tunisia) to act pramptly and firmly to prevent a recurrence ‘of this wave: of bloody‘ arbitrariness against the inhabitants of the Gaz& Strip, the West Bank and tie occupied Quds. The Council can do this by treating the cause of the- disease, namely, the ,foreign occupation and the tiiolation of the rights of the P&estinian people. _. (Mr. Ghezal, Tunisia) r : ,. ,I The appropriate-way is the peaceful one called for by the Arab world and the PLO at the 1982 Fez Arab Summit Conference through the.Arab initiative known as the Fez peace plan; and according to the Arab initiative of the Amman Extraordinary Arab Conference, which called for the convening of.an international peace conference on the Middle East - as.has been called for by -the United Nations as well. The fact that the Arab Group turned to the Security Council affirms the Group% commitment to international legitimacy; and the fact that the Palestinian people resorted to the United Nations means that it submitted its case to international conscience and justice. Thus the Palestinian people chose peaceful means to deter the brutal occupation forces, to arrive at a just and lasting solution of its question, and to regain its legitimate inalienable rights to self-determination and'the establishment of its own independent State on its own soil. Those rights were adopted by the United Nations 40 years ago.

I thank the representative of Tunisia for the kind words he addressed to my country and to me personally. Mr, TSVETEOV (Bulgaria)(interpretation from French): It iS a pleasure for me to convey to you,.Comrade, the sincere congratulations of the Bulgarian delegation on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of December. I am especially pleased since you represent a country with which Bulgaria ha& fraternal ties of friendship, mutual aid and co-operation in all possible areas. It is an extremely fortunate coincidence that you have taken over the presidency of the Council at a time when your country and the United States have concluded an agreement of historic importance not only for your two great countries but also for the well-being of all mankind. (Mr. Ghezal, Tunisia) Your disting.uished qualities as a seasoned diplomat guarantee that the work Of the Security Council will be successful. I should like to take this opportunity to pay a tribute to your predecessor, the Permanent Representative of Japan, &nbassador Kukuchi,- for the effective way in which he conducted the Council's work last month. The Bulgarian delegation .fully shares the deep concern expressed by delegations which have spoken before me in the wake of recent events in the Middle East. The news reaching us lately about a series of particularly dangerous, bloody incidents and demonstrations that have caused a number of fatalities and many casualties among the innocent local Palestinian population are the latest evidence of the tragedy which the Palestinian people has been suffering for years. It is generally acknowledged that those incidents are a natural and legitimate reaction . on the part of the Palestinians against the repressive policies and practices of the Israeli occupier. The international community's deep concern stems, above all, from the fact J that this may be one of the most serious and persistent incidents in the occupied territories during recent years. We have seen an extremely dangerous escalation of tension in that part of the world, where any incident may have equally dangerous consequences - indeed, uncontrollable consequanpes'- for peace and security in the Middle East and of the entire world. ;:j ..;' That being so, the Bulgarian delegation is &onvinced that there is an urgent need to undertake as quickly as possible effe&lve steps to end that bloodshed. In d Ai>, this connection, a particular part should be played by this world Crganization - above all the Security Council- which bears pr i &ary responsibility for the fate of the Palestinian people. (Mr. Tsvetkov, Bulgaria) I need hardly stress that the vast majority of the States Metiers of the United Nations have on various occasions clearly and unatiiguously condemned the irresponsible acts and practices of the Israeli troops in the occupied Arab territories and have stated that they were in flagrant contradiction with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, the elementary norms Of international law, and conventions in force, particularly the fourth Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. The turn of events in the Middle East region, including the matter which we are now discussing, gives irrefutable proof of the urgent need to find a lasting, just and comprehensive solution to the question of the Middle East, one which will end the sufferings of the subjugated Arab population, first and foremost those Of the Palestinian people. It must be abundantly clear that it is the failure to solve the Palestinian question which is the origin of the fact that an eXplaiVe situation has been persisting in the Middle East for almost 40 years now, and that unless it is settled peace is inconceivable in that part of the world. Any attempt to circumvent this issue or replace it by separate agreements;without at the same time taking into account the interests of the Palestinian people, will lead to a tightening of the knot of problems besetting the region and result in blocking a settlement.of the Middle East question. The.vast majority of the States Members of the United Nations are convinced that a Middle East settlement should, first and foremost, be based on Israel's unconditional and total withdrawal from all Palestinian and other occupied Arab territories, as well as the exercise of the inalienable and legitimate rights of the Arab people of Palestine, including the right to found its own State. (Mr. Tsvetkov, Bulgaria) The most direct way 60 achieve that objective.is to convene .an international conference under the aegis of the United Nations, with the equal participat%on of -. all parties concerned, including the Palestine Liberation Organiiation (PI&), the sole, legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, .as well as the permanent members of the Security Council. We Can state without a shadow of doubt that the vast majority of the States Members of the United Nations support that approach. The discussions on this question which were concluded a few days ago in the General Assembly and the resolutions that ensued amply bear this 'out. ,, , I (Mr. Tsvetkov, Bulqarfa) All of that, as well as the tragic events which have o.ccurred in,, the. occupied territories, necessitate the adoption of urgent and effective measures, to establish a just and lasting peace in that long-suffering part of the world and to ensure the people of Palestine the opportunity to exercise their inalienable rights, including their right to found a State on their own land.

I thank the representative of Bulgaria for the kind words he addressed to my country and,, to me personally l The next speaker is the representative of Zambia. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make his -statement. Mr. ZUZE (Zambia) t Let me, on behalf of the Zambian delegation, congratulate you, Sir, on your accession to the presidency of the Security Council for the month of Becenber. Your country and mine are united by a strong bond of friendship attributable, to a large extent, to our deep-rooted belief in the free exercise by all peoples of their inalienable rights to self-determination and independence. As we deliberate on this important subject , under your able and dynamic leadership, we are confident of a successful outcome. Let me also pay a well-deserved tribute to your predecessor, Ambassador Kikuchi of Japan, for the skilful and excellent manner in which he conducted the work of the Council during the month of NoveIIber. The events of the last few days in the occupied Arab territories of Gaza and the West Bank have been a tormenting experience to peace-loving people everywhere. The world has witnessed once again through the media horrifying acts of brutality perpetrated by Israeli forces against the defenceless Palestinians, in contravention of the Geneva Convention which guarantees the protection of the civilian population in occupied territories. We have learned with a deep sense Of shock of the murder in cold blood of more than 12 Palestinians by Israel, whose (Mr. Tsvetkov, Bulgaria) only crime was their cry fora homeland of their own where they could live in peace and dignity and bring up their children into fulfilled adults. My delegation strongly rejects the acquisition of territory by force. We therefore call on Israel to withdraw unconditionally from the Arab territories it. has occupied since 1967. Israel should never forget the fact that it was ordained to coexist side by side with a Palestinian State. There can be rio doubt that the question of Palestine is the core of the Middle East canflicts and persistent tension in the area. There will never be peace in the region until the rights of the Palestinians tire justly addressed. Brutal force against Palestinians by Israel and its continued refusal to participate in a United Nations-sponsored international conference on the Middle East bears'testimony to the fact that it'wants to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict not by peaceful means but by the sword. This is an act of self-delusion, because it is clear from the ongoing resistance'that no amount of coercion, murder, torture and mass arrests will diminish the quest for freedom and national independence of the Palestinian people. Their resolve to attain their inalienable rights is irrevocable. It is in Israel's.own interest that a comprehensive, just and-lasting solution be found for the region. My delegation firmly believes that in order to create an atmosphere conducive to meaningful negotiations for peace in the Middle East, there should be trust and mutual confidence between the warring parties. Israel, as the occupying Power, should demonstrate its seriausness with regard to a negotiated settlement by halting all further Israeli settlements in'the occupied territories. It should also commit itself to a total withdrawal from thase territories in order to enable the displaced Palestinians to return.to ,their homes &d property. Adventurfstlc policies and practices by Israel in the occupied territories cannot bring peace to (Mr. Zuze, Zambia) that troubled region. Deployment of armed forces against women and children armed only with sticks will only heighten tension and breed mistrust, both of which are perfect recipes for, prolonging the civil disobedience.now prevailing in the occupied territories. The present unrest in the occupied territories cannot be viewed in isolation. It results from a deep-rooted sense of frustration and hopelessness. It is a reflection of indignation brought about by the uncertainty of the realization Of the rights of the Palestinianpeople. Israel's adamant refusal to comply with resolutions and decisions of the Security Council on the question of Palestine, in particular resolution 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), has left the oppressed and dispossessed Palestinian people with no alternative but to resort to protests and other methods to free themselves. Itis, admittedly, not an easy task for them. It is one that has been imposed on them by the intransigence of Israel and its atrocities perpetrated against the Palestinians. Through their authentic representative, the Palestine Liberation Organization, the Palestinians have expressed their readiness to come to a. conference table to discuss peace .- peace for themselves and peace for Israel and, indeed, peace for the entire Middle Fast region. We commend them for their statesmanship and call on Israel to be couragerous enough to heed the voice of reason in order that peace and stability may be achieved. ,Time for negotiations is quickly running out. The sooner.the problem is resolved, the better for both sides. In our view, the senseless loss of life in the occupied territories at the hands of the trigger-happy Israeli forces should'be condemned in the strongest terms. There should be no equivocation. The Security Council must at this point in time send a strong message to the Israeli authorities - a clear message expressiilg the outrage of the international community at .its.insensitive policies gnd'practices in the occupied Arab territories. The (Mr. Zuze, Zambia) Security Council should demand an immediate end to the acts of State terrorism. Let US not be bystanders while the Palestinian people suffer under the Israeli reign of terror. The Council must take the necessary measures to ensure that justice and fair play replace the Israeli guns in the occupied territories. The PRRSIDRNT (interpretation from Russian) L I thank the representative of Zambia for the kind words he addressed to my country .and to myself. The next speaker is the representative of Viet Nam. I invite her to take a place at the Council table and to sake her statement. (Mr. Zuze, Zambia) Ms. &TYRN BINH THANH (Viet Nam) :. ‘May I at Vietnamese delegation, congratulate your Sir, on your ,. :, of the Security Council for the month of December. I am convinced that your vast personal experience in international affairs as well as the dedication of the “. Government and people of the Soviet Union to the cause of the Palestinian people and to international peace and security will help to lead our deliberations to great success. I should also like to convey my delegation’s appreciation to Ambassador Kikuchi of Japan for the exemplary manner in which he presided over the 1 work of the Council last month. During the past few days we have witnessed a serious worsening of the situation in the occupied Palestinian and Arab territories. Hundreds of Palestinians and Arabs have been wounded or killed. Defenceless youths have been hunted and shot in the street, innocent children slaughtered in their schools, the wounded dragged out of their hospital beds. Yet that is not all that has been happening in the occupied territories. , . The gravity of the situation has been clearly‘presented to the’council by . ‘. _, . ,. Ambassador Terzi of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PII)); A&a&sad& Sarr6, the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the . Pales tin ian People; and many others who have spoken before me. And yesterday further .information was furnished by the representative of the PLC. I Cannot provide a clearer picture of the situation. However, untold suffering continues to befall the Palestinians and Arabs as &e Israeli occupying forces go on unabatedly befall the Palestinians and Arabs as &e Israeli occupying forces go on unabatedly committing the ir inhuman, abhorrent cr imeS . committing the ir inhuman, abhorrent cr imeS . Rut why do these innocent and defenceless people have to endure such acts of Rut why do these innocent and defenceless people have to endure such acts of brutality? The only reason is their aspiration to live like any other human beings brutality? The only reason is their aspiration to live like any other human beings the ‘outset, on behalf of the I assumption of the presidency in their own freed land. Their only sin has been to demonstrate against the aggressors and oppose the illegal occupation of their homeland. Israel's record of crimes is certainly not something new. The current developments remind us of its massacres at Sabra and Shatilla. That is also the true record of its PO-year occupation of Arab and Palestinian lands. The condemned barbarity cormaitted by racist South Africa in Soweto finds its equivalent being . committed in Gaza and the West Bank these days. The Security Council has for long been prevented by Israel's supporters from taking concrete and determined actions. It has been these forces that have, through their strategic alliance, provided Israel with all possible support and assistance. All this has made it possible for Israel to continue its inhuman and aggressive policy despite the will of the international cormrmnity. This time, therefore, the Security Council must not let the challenge pass without a due response and reaction. This time, the Security Council'cannot remain silent or indifferent in the face of the present situation. It must live up t0 its noble-responsibility - that is, to take effective measures to maintain international peace and security , to stay the bloody hands of the criminals and to defend the oppressed, unarmed people. Otherwise, the credibility of this body is bound to be questioned. Any show of passivity or lack of determination by the Council will only give the Israeli aggressors a message of encouragement. The Security Council should without delay , among other effective measures, impose sanctions against Israel , as stipulated in Chapter VII of the Charter. We urge those who have pursued a negative attitude towards such action by the Council to reconsider their position and meet the demand of the international community. We support the call of the Non-Aligned MOVement for the sending by the Security Council of a fact-finding mission to investigate the situation. All (Ms. Nguyen Binh Thanh, Viet Nam) possible measures must be taken to help bring about the total and unconditional withdrawal of Israeli forces from all the Palestinian as well as other Arab territories and an immediate end to Israel's crimes. The ultimate goal can be achieved only through a just, comprehensive and lasting solution to the Middle East conflict, the core of which is the Palestinian problem, and through the Palestinian people's exercise of their inalienable rights in the-ir independent homeland. In this regard, and in the light of the present situation, it is ever-more imperative to support the immediate convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East with the participation of all parties concerned, including the PLO, on an independent and equal footing; in accordance with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C. The security Council has a primary responsibility in, and must give an impetus to, the preparations for this Conference - the key to the solution of the question. At present, the only major obstacle to this process is the negative attitude of Israel and its supporters. Concerted international efforts must be exerted now to press for this goal. My delegation extends the constant and full support of the Government and people of Viet Nam to the Palestinian people in their just struggle under the leadership of their sole, legitimate representative, the PLO. Despite 28 years of brutal occupation and desperate attempts at annexation, Israel cannot extinguish the flame of national independence and heroism of the Palestinian peop1.e. On the contrary, the steadfast struggle of that people has grown in both scope and strength, as has been demonstrated by the spontaneous and widespread recent uprisings throughout the occupied Arab territories. We call on the Security Council to act promptly to support the struggling Palestinian people. We are convinced that that people will achieve final victory. Mr. OUDOVRNKO (Dkrainian Soviet Socialist Republic) (i.nterpretatiOn from Russian): Permit me first to welcome you, Sir; to the presidency of the Security '. Council for this month. Your great diplomatic experience, your profound knowledge, ,' , your eminent authority and the respect you deservedly enjoy among delegations at ::. ; the United Nations will undoubtedly permit you to discharge your functions as * President of the Council in the best possible way. We express our conviction that * under your guidance the Security Council will, in the last month of the year, be able to produce a resolution that will help to improve the critical situation now prevailing in the occupied Arab territories. I should also like to pay a tribute to your predecessor in the presidency, the Permanent Representative of Japan, Ambassador Kikuchi, who so successfully conducted the work of the Council last month. Very little time has passed since the General Assembly had a thorough ' discussion of the various aspects of the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East. Those matters were also the focus of the attention of the . . : international comnnrnity when we celebrated the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The overwhelming majority of speakers on those occasions condemned the aggressive and expansionist policies of Israel in the Middle East. We have indeed witnessed grcwing support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination, and the status of the Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, and that support has been reflected in the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly. Finally, at the current session of the General Assembly we have heard an even more energetic appeal on the need promptly to convene an International Conference on the Middle East under the aegis of our CrganiZatiOn. Only three weeks have passed, but the mass media throughout the world have once again been delivering to us reports abcut tragic events in the occupied Arab terrotories. It is a secret to no one that in the Arab lands occupied in 1967 there is naw brute terror , repression and persecution. As well as engaging.in economic blood-letting on the seized lands and unlawfully changing the legal ~ . .‘ ~. ' status, demographic structure and historic character of those lands, Israel is systematically pursuing an 'iron-fist" policy. As is aptly stated in the report of the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of'the Palestinian People, the occupying Power, Israel, is pursuing that policy "in an effort to curb popular sentiment and activities in opposition to the occupation and in support of the PIX). Demonstrations and protests which spread throughout the territories . . . were met with armed force by Israeli troops on repeated occasions*. (A/42/35, para. 22) Numerous facts that have been given at the present meetings of the Security Council have vividly demonstrated that Israel, the occupying Power, has grossly violated the relevant.provisions of international humanitarian law, the Charter of the United Nations and the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 on the protection of the civilian population of occupied territories. Naturally, the occupier does not regard the violence and brute terror as an, end in itself; it is Gi@ly a means to bring the Palestinians to their knees and to annex their lands. That is indicated by the official statements and the actual deeds Of the Israeli authorities. We are aware, for example, that today in the , Israeli political arena such persons as Mr. Kahane are makfng declarations that combine religious fanaticism with overt racism towards the Arabs'and the Palestinians. Their prescription to resolve the Palestinian issue is the unconditional annexation of the occupied territories. (Mr. Oudovenko, Ukrainian SSR) The issue we are now considering is on1y.a fragment of the overall political Picture that has developed recently in the Middle East, While imposing diktat on the occupied territories, Israel is Once again encroaching'on the land of Lebanon, as we have learned from the telegraph agencies over the last 48 hours.'. [.. ., .The situation in the Middle East is.extremely difficult, as is indicdied'by the conclusions of the Secretary-General in his report of 13 Nova&&r’ 1987‘ ' (S/19249). As we have said, that is also corroborated by these mcietings 'of the' " Security Council on the question of the.situation in the occupied teiritoiies.” ‘-‘. During the discussions at the current sessionof the General Assemblyr many delegations have referred to the.question of Palestine and the need for it'to'beA ' --I speedily resolved. The way in which the international communi*y can do So is very clear: on the basis of the global concept formulated at the United Ejdtions'throu~gh --' . the joint-efforts of all Member States to establish a comprehensive',"just and durable peace in the Middle East. As reflected in the decisions and resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council, that concept is that 'thequestion Of Palestine .is the core of the conflict in the Middle East and its just.settlement " can be achieved only by means of collective efforts on the part of all pariies ..' concerned. Such a settlement should include the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from all Arab ,territories occupied in 1967, enjoyment by the Arab people.of 1- ' Palestine of their inalienable national rights, including the right to - "' -' self-determination and the creation of their own independent S&te'and,'fin'ally,: ~ i recognition of 'the right of all the States of the'&iddleXast to live in conditions ' of peace and security. .: . . _‘ ', In the light of the deteriorating situation in the region, the-convening of an International Conference On the Middle East is becoming increasingly essential. At the present time there is simply no alternative to such a Conference. ,That being so8 it is important &at we promptly stop talking and start acting by taking practical steps to prepare for that Conference, starting, for example, by carrying out the appropriate preparatory work in the Security Council. The delegation of the Ukrainian SSR expresses the hope that the +curity Copncil will take all necessary steps to put an end to the cruel aCtS,of Israel in the Gaza Strip and on the West. Rank of the.River Jordan. 'We urgently appeal to the members of the Security Council to do everything they Can to -. establish justice.and peace-in the Middle East. The .PRKSIUENT (interpretation from Russian) t I thank the representative of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic for the kind words he addressed,to me. The next speaker is the representative of Morocco. I invite him to take a place at,the Council table and to make his statement. Mr. SLAOUI (Morocco) (interpretation from French): Allow me at the outset to congratulate you , Sir, on behalf of the Moroccan delegation on your accession to the.presidency of the Security Council for-this month. We are convinced that your .human and professional qualities will contribute to the success of the Council~s work. We also wish to express)our thanks and gratitude to your predecessor, the " Ambassador of Japan, Wr. Kikuchi, who presided over the Council with great competence. Finally, w&.&u& all the members.of the C&ncil for. allowing us to ,take 'part in the debate on -a question of considerable importance to the Government of MDrOCCo, namely the situation in the occupied Arab territories. ' . (.‘,“: . . ,’ . . . . , (. c _ I ‘, The event6 in the occupied Arab territories in recent weeks further confirm the urgent need for a just and lasting solution to the tragedy experienced by the Palestinian people for almost 40 years. How many times have we called in this body for an end to the vicious circle of violence and repressian through implementation of the peace plan worked out in Fez in 1981 and endorsed by the whole international community? -how many voices have been heard asking that justice be done to a people deprived of the? mo6t fundamental human rights and of its legitimate aspirations to digniti’and a national life of it6 own? This intolerable'situation has not destroyed the faith of generations o'f ' Palestinians or their courage and their determination to have their voice heard and clearly to affirm their claims by all the means available to them. History teaches us that wanton repression cannot stifle the heart-rending call for justice, nor can it conceal the root causes of the problem '- the persistence of an occupation carried out in defiance of the fundamental principles of the Charter' and the consistent stand of our Organization in favour of recognition of the rights of all the-peoples of the region to an independent national existence, including the right of the Palestinian people to build its own State on the territories under Israeli occupation, including Al-Quds Al-Sharif. The Security Couni=il, which has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace. and security, is duty bound, first, to spare no effort to guarantee the protection of the Palestinian population, particularly by ensuring respect for the humanitarian Geneva Conventions of 1949, which impose specific obligations upon occupation authorities. Secondly, the Council must ensure that these -tragic events cannot recur. To that end it is urgent and imperative to get the peace process started again by encouraging the holding of.an international conference, with the participation of all the parties concerned, including the Palestine Liberation Organization (PID), and the permanent members'of the SeCUritY Council. The Kingdom of Morocco has consistently called in all international forums for the holding o,f that peace conference, which is the.only way to bring about peaceful coexistence among the peoples of-the region and to promote co-operation that is productive and fruitful for all. Is not that the only way to return to a centuries-old - indeed, millenia-old - tradition, which made that land the crucible of ,the great revealed religions and the cradle of the greatest civilisations in mankind's history? At this time, when we all feel the .impact of the grievous events which are causing such suffering to the Palestinian people, we must avoid giving in to despair and the demons of hatred and violence. That is why my country joins all those who have called for the convening of the peace conference without delay, in order that dialogue may win over confrontation , and law and justice may become realities. My delegation takes. this opportunity to pay tribute to the Secretary-General for his constant and tireless efforts to encourage the peace process and seek common ground in order to pave the way for the holding of the international conference. We also wish to express our gratitude to Ambassador Massamba Sarr6 of Senegal, who is presiding over the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian Peopie with great skill and judgement, thus making an invaluable contribution to the protection of human rights and the cause of peace. More than 40 years after the beginning of the Palestinian tragedy and the inscription of this item on our Organixation@s agenda , we remain convinced that the Security Council has a fundamental role to play to stop the cycle of violence and destruction by means of specific measures , and.thus to pave the way to dialogue and exchange of views, in an atmosphere of calm and respect for the fundamental principles of our Organization,

I thank the representative of Morocco for the kind words he addressed to me. The next speaker is the representative of the German Democratic Republic. 1 invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement. Mr. BUCKE (German &nocratic Republic): Permit me at the outset, on behalf of my delegation, to congratulate you, Comrade Ambassador Belanogov, on your assumption of the office of President of the Security Council for the mnth of December. I am confident that as a representative of the Soviet Union, which is closely and fraternally linked with my country, you will use all your energy and diplomatic skills to ensure the successful work of this body. In this connection, I wish to express our high appreciation and ackncrwledgement of the efforts made by the Soviet Union to bring about the Treaty on the elimination of intermediate-range missiles and to express our gratitude to you and the representative of the United States. The conclusion of that Treaty is a stimulant and a mandate to all peace-loving forces to promote'the process of genuine disarmament that has been initiated and to make it irreversible. At the same time, the delegation of the German Uemcratic Republic congratulates the representative of Japan, -assador Rikuchi, on his successful work, marked by great political and diplomatic skills, as President of the Council in November. (Mr. Slaoui, Morocco) Comrade President, permit me tc thank you and all the other members of the Council for giving me the opportunity to explain the position of my country on the item under discussion. . (Mr. Hucke, German Dbocratfc Republic) The Security Council again has to deal with the in the occupied Arab territories. ‘In his statements the representative of the . Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has clearly shown the background and extent of the new acts of terror. Indeed, those acts, to which children and young people have fallen.victim, are another expression of the further. escalation of the Israeli policy of aggression and occupation. The German Democratic Republic.‘resolutely condemns that policy, which is aimed at intimidating the Palestinian’people and crushing their legitimate liberation struggle. It has been repeatedly pointed out in this forum that it is precisely that policy which constitutes the main obstacle to a comprehensive, just and lasting solution of the Middle East conflict, the core of which is the question of Palestine. In disregard of many United Nations deicisions, that policy denies the Palestinian people its inalienable rights, above all the right to establish a State. of ,its om. The latest events in the Gaza Strip and other parts of the occupied territories are consistent with the aggressive course of expelling the Palestinian people from their land and property, with the course of land robbery and economic plunder, and with attacks against communal institutions of the Palestinian educational system and against the Palestinian national culture!. Through that provocative policy, the Israeli ruiing circles are trying to &pose their will upon other States and upon the Arab peoples. There can be no doubt that in that policy Israel enjoys unrestricted support from the main imperialist Pckser. Nobody can deny that Israeli practices of occupation are further aggravating the already explosive situation in th.e Middle East region. Not only are they directed against various efforts by States‘to solve the Middle East problem: they also have negative effects on stability and security in other regions. Therefore. it becomes ever more imperative from day to day to increase collective efforts to (Mr. Hucke, German Denocra tic Republic) exacerbation of the situation bring about a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for all States and peoples in the Middle East, including the Palestinian people. The prerequisites for all this . are the total and unconditional withdrawal of Israeli troops from all Arab '.. territories occupied since 1967, implementation of the legitimate rights of the : Arab people of Palestine, including its right to self-determination and to the establishment of an independent State of its bwn , as well as implementation of the right of all States of the region to independent existence and development. Proceeding from that principled position, the German Democratic Republic / emphatically advocates the convening of an international conference on the Middle East with the participation of all interested parties, including the PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, on an equal footing. , Given the multifaceted and interrelated problems in the region, that conference is the most appropriate way to solve the conflict, and it should be convened without any further delay in accordance with General Assembly resolution 38/58 C and other relevant resolutions. The direct preparation of a negotiating mechanism by the Security Council could expedite the process. That position of the German Democratic Republic is not subject to any tactical fluctuations, but stems from the necessity of settling existing conflicts by exclusively peaceful mans, thus contributing to strengthening international peace and security. Hence, it is in full conformity with the purposes and principles of .- the United Nations Charter and with the desires and hopes of the overwhelming majority of States. The German Democratic Republic reaffirms before this body that it will I continue its solidarity with and support for the Palestinian people and the Arab States. We support the struggle of the Palestinian people and its sole, legitimate (Mr. Hucke, German Democratic Republic) I representative, the PLO, for national independence , statehood, peace and social progress. . .I’ That is also true of al.1 steps aimed at strengthening the unity and cohesion , “.Y : of the PLC and the Arab States for a peaceful solution in the Middle East. In th’e ’ future as well, the Palestinian people can rely on the German Democratic Republ.ic. .,: . . The PRESIDENT (interpretation from Russian) f I thank the representative I’ of the German Democratic Republic for the kind words he addressed to me. Mr. BUCCI ( Italy) : It is a pleasure to take this occasion to convey to .’ youI Sir, the warmest wishes of my delegation and myself on your country’s exercise . . of the presidency for this month. . We consider ourselves to be in the hands of a 1 , skilled, very active and diligent colleague, one who represents a nation with a ~.’ “, great history, the bearer of an ancient wisdom. The Italian delegation will provide you with all the co-operation you may reguest. -’ I also extend our -appreciation and gratitude to the Japanese delegation for the excellent presidency of Ambassador Kikuchi last month. . ‘Turning to the agenda item the Security Council is examining today, namely the : incidents ,which have taken place in ‘the past few days in the occupied territories, it is frustrating to.note that this is not the first time the Council has been called upon to deal with clashes between Palestinians and Israelis. It is not the first time, and it will not be the last time if the parties concerned. and the international oommunity are unable to offer valid solutions. The events that have occurred are but the natural and very predictable consequence of a situation in which the occupying PaJer and those who are . . undergoing occupation are compressed in a restricted area. In certain areas - 0vla I am thinking, for example, of the Gaza strip, where hundreds of thousands of (Mr. Hucke, German Democratic Republic) Palestinians are crowded‘together with the occupation forces - the situation can Only be explosive.. It is not surprising, therefore, that incidents which occur in one place tend to spread to others. In other words, after 20 years a situation which 'unfortunately ends up fostering manifestations of violence has been brought about in the occupied territories; tie. condemn the practice of violence, from whatever side it originates. We . condemn it even more strongly when it originates with regular army units - that is, when it emanates from the orders 0f.a constituted Government. : In' the facts that have been brought to our attention during the debate, no new circumstanceS have emerged t& modify that view. has been used to repress protest by civilians. our judgement concerning what happened. ' These events all occurred in areas which the Security Council considers as occupied territory to all effects. Therefore, the provisions of the fourth Geneva Conventioiirelati~e to the Protectionof Civilian Persons in Tick of War are fully applicable. It is true that the Geneva Convention also recognizes Some pr.erogatives of the kupying Power, but we also learn from history that there are many ways to.exer&se authority. (Mr. Bucci, Italy) Weapons were used; live ammunition s We cannot find any reason to modify The Permanent Representative of Israel has explained to us that the riots are promoted by the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLC). Israel uses this premise as the grounds for rejecting the PLO as a possible diplomatic interlocutc% ad thus the CitCuft is closed: dialogue does not take place due to the lack of acceptable parties for negotiations. Thus, force prevails over diplomacy, In these territories, there is no real peace but a mere truce between one episode of violence and the next. The situation is suffered by the'people, who have no real alternative, and their patience is strained. It is not necessary to be clairvoyant to see that on these bases there will certainly not be rmch progress in the solution of the crisis in the Middle East, and particularlY the solution of the Palestinian problem, which is at the core of the crisis.. ft is time for the Council to confront the real causes of this tragedy in : I which, on the one hand,.a people is dispossessed of its land,and even of.its history and, on the other hand, the geographic limits of the legitimacy of the State of Israel'remain unsettled. Consistent with its actions in the past, the Security Council has the duty td. contribute to finding a solution, including, if possible - as has been said in this- debate - the promotion of an ,international conference. Without this, we should not harbour illusions: in the-end, extremism will prevail on both sides. The,PRRSIUENT (interpretation from Russian): I thank the representative of Italy for his kind words addressed.to me. Mr. RllwC (France) (interpretation from French): First I should like to address to you, Si>,,my delegation's congratulatfons,.as well as my OWnl on Your acceding-to.the presidency of the Security Council as Permanent Representative of r the Soviet Union. My delegaticn and I, aware as we are of your professional and (Mr. Bucci, Italy) human qualities, are confident that under your presidency the Council will continue to work, as it has already done , under excellent conditions. I should like to take this opporfunity to request the Japanese delegation to be kind enough to convey to Ambassador Xikuchi the appreciation of my delegation for the high degree of competence that he displayed when conducting our work during the month of November. The French Government views with deep concern ,the chain of acts of violence on the West Bank and in Gaza, Those tragic events have once 'again entailed a great loss of human life and'caused numerous casualties, particularly among the populations, of the occupied territories and the refugee camps. On 14 December, the French Government stated its deep concern and demanded that Israel respect the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949. On 16 December the spokesman of -the French'Government recalled that those events.could only strengthen France's conviction that dialogue and negotiation were more necessary than ever before. Profoundly alarmed by the deteriorating situation and the repeated confrontations, France cannot but express its disapproval of this cycle of violence and insist on the duties which'should be assumed by Israel under international law. Israel is the occupying Power. Israel is bound to ensure respect for We fourth Geneva Convention, of 12 August 1949, on the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War - in other words, to guarantee the protection and safety of those who are living in the occupied territories. It is the duty of our Council to remind Israel of the obligations incumbent upon it in the territories which are Still subject to an- occupation rbgime. Current events have indicated the precariousness of a situation which is in keeping with neither law nor justice. However, beyond the steps which we are (Mr. Blanc, France) demanding that Israel take immediately to respect the Geneva Conventions, the United Nations should act in order to produce a oomprehensive settlement, which is the only way to create the conditions for a lasting and equitable peace. Today, a large consensus has emerged in favour of convening an international peace conference with the participation of all parties concerned, as well as the permanent members of the Security Council. From the very outset France has given its support to this project, which appears to us to be the most realistic way to settle the conflict, and it is around this project that we call on the members of the Council and the international community to mobilize at a time' when a Solution is so urgently needed - more than ever before.

I thank the representative of France for his kind words addressed to me. The next speaker is the representative of Afghanistan. I invite him to take a .' place at the Council table and to make his statement. Mr. DOST (Afghanistan) : May 1 at the outset take this opportunity to express to you, Sir, my delegation's warm felicitations on your assumption Of' the presidency of the United Nations Security Council for the month of December. You, . Sir, represent a great -country with which the Republic of Afghanistan enjoys the most cordial and unique relations. It is our conviction that with your able guidance, as a well-known seasoned diplomat with broad experience and excellent skills, the work of the Council during the current month will be crowned with success. During the past few days the potentially explosive situation in the Pales'tinian and o&er occupied Arab territories has further deteriorated, posing a serious threat to peace and security in the entire region of the Middle East. This grave situation is the direct consequence of the brutally repressive acts on the (Mr. Blanc, France) part of the Zionist occupation authorities against defenceless Palestinian and other Arab peoples living under the "iron-fist" policy of,Israeli rulers. As the reports by the international mass media indicate, during the past few days Israel has resorted to using tanks and other heavy weaponry against empty-handed Palestinian demonstrators, killing'and wounding scores of people, including children. Such uncalled for acts of brutality cannot possible have a civilized justification. However, these acts of unjustified violence on the part of Israeli Zionists are not isolated cases. In fact, the present demonstrations of Palestinian YoUthS is a response to a long and shameful Israeli practice of repression in the course of two decades of illegal occupation of Palestinian and other Arab lands. (Mr. post, Afghanistan) .; This list, in general terms, includes such acts as collective punishment, demolition of houses over the heads of the peple, forcible expulsion of the inhabitants of lands confiscated for the establishment of illegal Israel& settlements, expropritation of properties, killing and injuring defenceless demonstrators and the total disregard of the fundamental rights of the Palestinan and other Atab peoples. To that list one should also add the massacres of Beir Yassin, Kafr Kasim, Sabra and Shatila, which are still fresh in the memory of the. Palestinian nation and of all humanity. A few days ago the General Assembly discussed the question of,Palestine and the situation in the Middle East. The resolutions adopted by the overwhelming ' majority of the Member States call for, inter alia, an immediate end to 1srael.k atrocities against Palestinians and other Arab people living in the occupied territories. The Israeli response to that legitimate call of the international community has not been compliance but more acts of violence against Palestinian and other Arab inhabitants of the occupied lands. It would be deplorable if the internatfonal community failed to condemn such acts in the strongest possible terms. The Security Council, however, is expected to do more: it is expected to condemn and to act: to adopt the necessary measures to force the Israeli aggressor to comply with the resolutions of the Council and the General Assembly. In this connection, it is regrettable that the close strategic alliance of one of the permanent members of the Security Council with Israel, namely, the United States of America, has greatly contributed both to Israeli acts of aggression and repression against Palestinian and other Arabpeoples and-to its complete disregard of the resolution; of the Security Council and the General Assembly. The present grave situation in the Palestinian and'other occupied Arab lands resulting in the loss of life and agony of the people living in those territories (Mr. Best, Afghanistan) is--but one of the tragic dimensions of the Palestinian question, which lies at the core of the Middle East problem and the Arab-Israeli conflict. No just comprehensive and durable peace in the sensitive Middle East region is conceivable Without the: full restoration of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including its right to statehood in its own land. The unconditional and total withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces from other Arab territories, including the Syrian Golan Heights, southern Lebanon and Jerusalem, is another prerequisite for the restoration of peace and stability in the Middle East. The best - and perhaps the only - framework for a just, comprehensive and durable peace in the Middle East has already been outlined by the international community in its call for the convening of an international peace conference on the Middle East, under the auspices. of the United Nations. This is a practical way, which has been supported not only by the General Assembly but also by the Non-Aligned Movement, the Islamic Conference and the League.of Arab States. The international cominunity has also been.,unequivocal about the need for the full -participation in the conference of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the sole, legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, on an equal footing and with equal rights. Without the full participation of the Palestine Liberation Organizaticn the international conference will prove meaningless and a failure. It is regrettable that Israel Stand6 alone in its non-acceptance of the need for the international conference, even in principle, despite the consensus of the international community- as a whole. It is our conviction that the Security Council has the responhility to act on the recommendations of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and to press for the earliest convening of the international conference. In the meantime, it is imperative for the Council to act on its own resolutions concerning the applicability of the fourth Geneva Convention Relative (Mr, Best, Afghanistan) to the PrO~eCthn Of Civilian Persons in Time of War and 4~0 exert every pressure on Israel to comply with the provisions of the Convention with regard to the Palestinian and other Arab peoples living in the occupied territories. We also ‘2x..’ I F’ I... support the call on the Security Council to take necessary urgent measures, to .r :. dispatch a special fact-finding mission to investigate the situation in the 1 .; ..: ~, > occupied Palestinian territories and to report to the Council as,- s,oon ,as poss.Lb.le. . 2’ .,.. In conclusion, allow me to reiterate the full support and solidarity of the US ..- . . .,, ’ people and Government of the Republic of Afghanistan with the legitimate struggle ( .^ “ of the heroic Palestinian people under the leadership of their sole, legi”timate ~ representative, the Palestine Liberation Organization. The PRESIDENT (interpretation from Russian) t I thank the, representative: . ‘. of Afghanistan for the kind words he addressed to ma. ._ ..” The next speaker is the representative of Czechoslovakia. I invite .him to ‘. 2. . . take a place at the Council table and to make his statement. __ Mr. ZAPOTOCXY~ (Czechoslovakia) : I wish, first of all, to, express. our pleasure at your presidency of the security Council for December and to wish -you, Comrade, much success in this responsible post. We highly qpreciate your personal abilities, knowledge and experience for which you are so well known in the United Nations . We see you as the representative of a fraternal country which lays its entire authority on the scale of development of international co-operation in the interest of strengthening the peace and security of all countries, A tangible manifestation Of those efforts was the recent Soviet-United States summit. May I also take this opportunity to address words of recognitiah- t6 the Permanent Represefitative of- Japan for exerting commandable endeavours and employing his best abilities for the success of the Security Council’s work Ln November. (Mr. Lost, -Afghanistan) I Only a few days have elapsed since the adoption by an overwhelming majority of States at the forty-second session of the General Assembly of a whole series of resolutions concerning the situation in the Middle East and in the occupied Arab territories,’ conderming the Israeli occupation of the Arab territories and expressing full. support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. Nevertheless, the Security Councfl has been compelled to convene - as it was one year ago in the case of the shooting at Palestinian students at the Bir Zeit University - to decide on a serious, brutal violation of the rights of the population of. the occupied territories. The situation in the occupied territories is very grave. Protests have reached mass dimensions, demonstrating quite unequivocally that the Palestinian people have not and will never put up with the Israeli occupation and the brutal repression of the occupants. However, Israel is continuing its ‘dangerous play with fire: murders, beating of demonstrators , and raids during which even hospitals are not spared i (Mr. Zapotocky, Czechoslovakia) The situation confirms again with all urgency that the outstanding question of Palestine continues to be the core of the Middle East conflict, no matter how some delegations may attempt to prove the contrary , and that this question requires an . . undelayed solution. The main cause of the present situation is the persisting ..r: Israeli occupation of the Arab territories of Gaza, the West Bank, the Golan Heights, southern Lebanon and also East Jerusalem. Israel occupies those territories by force, controls them by force aqd again uses force to render impossible the implementation of the inalienable rights of the Palesti-n.ian people, primarily the right to self-determination, including the establishment of their own State. The violence perpetrated by the Israeli occupants on the Palestinians must . . open the eyes also of those who might perhaps believe that giving support to the invader, tolerating h!s aggressiveness or seeking separate deals with him coul3 make it possible to achieve peace and stability in the region. As proved by decades of practice, the opposite is true. All steps taken so far in this direction have led only to aggravation of the situation - let us recall only the aggression against Lebanon in 1982 and the unceasing violence and repression against the population of the occupied territories. Therefore, we want with all resoluteness to protest again the repressions launched by the Israeli occupation troops against the population of the West Bank and Gaza. We reaffirm the invariability of our standpoint on the need for an unconditional withdrawal of the Israeli troops from the territories occupied since 1967. As we have made clear repeatedly in the course of the current General‘Assembly session, we fully support the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to seIf-determination and'to the establishment of their own independent State.. ., . In this connection, I should like to quote the words of the President Of the Czechoslovak Socialist F&public, Gustav Husak , contained in his message to the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Yasser Arafat, on the occasion of the recent International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People: "The nations of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic support the firm struggle led for tens of years by the people of Palestine against the Israeli oppression for their inalienable national and human rights. . . . "1 would like to assure you that the people of the socialist Czechoslovakia will keep providing full support to your just struggle . ..". (A/AC.183,'PV.148, pp. 83, 84-85) The question of Palestine constitutes a very serious international problem. Therefore;a settlement must be comprehensive, just and lasting. Such a solution .- . . ., _., e .'I is pursued by the proposal for the convening , under the auspices of the United Nations, of an international conference on peace in the Middle East with the participation of all parties involved in the conflict including, on an equal footing, the PLO as the sole, legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, as well as the five permanent members of the Security Council. In this context, I should like to stress that a more imperative call for such a conference than that of the Present every day tragedy of the Palestinian people can hardly be'imagined. That is why we expect all five permanent members of the Security Council to fulfil with full resolve the mandate conferred upon them by the relevant General Assembly resolutions and to initiate the work of the preparatory committee for the international Middle East conference. According to the Charter, the Security Councilhas a primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. Therefore, we think that in the present circumstances , which have led to a further escalation of tension in (Mr. Zapotocky, Czechoslovakia) the region, it is indispensable for the Security Council to fulfil its obligations under the Charter. It is necessary to condemn the Israeli policies and practices which lead & the violation of human rights and especially to the killing-of defenceless Palestinians and to call again upon Israel immediately to abide by the Geneva Convention of 1949. An important role in the implementation of the relevant measures to be adopted by the Council in this respect should be played by the Secretary-General of our Organiza t ion. At the same time; it is necessary to continue all efforts of the United Nations to achieve the unconditional withdrawal of the Israeli forces from all territories occupied since 1967 and to enable the attainment of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the establishment of their own State. Only in such a way can peace, security and stability be brought about for all in the region,

I thank the representative of Czechoslovakia for the kind words he addressed to my country and to me personally. The next speaker is the representative of Israel. I invite him to take a place at the Council table and to make his statement. Mr. BEM (Israel) : I wish to refer to a draft text unofficially circulated yesterday evening. Israel objects to this text, but I wish in particular to refer to the following. The draft text totally ignores and fails to condemn the PLO acts of terrorism .in the area in question, including the murder of Jewish and Arab Israeli citizens, openly claimed by the PLO. The draft text, in operative paragraphs 1 and 2, places all the- responsibility on Israel and condemns only Israel. ‘It is totally one-sided. The draft text, presumably intended to deal with the territories alone, purports in the Seventh (Mr. zapomcky, Czechoslovakia) preambular paragraph’to relate to the peace process, once again citing only the policies of Israel that supposedly impede the peaceful solution of the conflict. . Regarding the reference to the fourth Geneva Convention, in operative paragraphs 3 and 4, Israel, whilst it does not recognize its formal application to the territories, has not done anything that contradicts the provisions of the Convention, in particular the humanitarian provisions , which have been implemented by Israel on a de .facto basis since 1967. Moreover, Israel has acted to ‘restore law and order, an obligation also recognized by that Convention, in the face of continued calls to intensify violence and riots in the area. The draft text does not make any reference to - or .even call for the exercise of - restraint in order to restore peace in the area. (Mr. Bein, Israel) The sixth preambular paragraph and operative paragraph 6 introduce an unprecedented element into the Security Council's consideration of the matter - namely, steps including the appointment of a special representative to report on "measures necessary to ensure safety of and protection for the Palestinian civilians under Israeli occupation'. That would serve as a stirmlant to further disturbances as a means of politically highlighting the situation in a violent way, Beyond that, these matters relate to security questions that are the exclusive responsibility of Israel. Israel will not countenance any interference in them, let alone subject them to the polemics we have heard in this debate in the Security Council. A genuine solution will not be obtained by such one-sided resolutions but only r in the framework of a political solution, which can be achieved through direct negotiations based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). Mr. AUOUKI (Congo) (interpretation from French): I take this opportunity, Sir , to congratulate you and tell you how pleased my delegation and I personally are to be working in the Security Council under your presidency in December. In this context, we cannot but welcome and refer with real satisfaction, if only briefly, to the recent trip that a great leader of the Soviet Union, Comrade Gorbachev, recently made to Washington y a trip which led to the signing, with President Reagan, of the United States/Soviet treaty dismantling intermediate-range missiles. That is a very positive initiative which has very opportunely given new life to the dynamics of d&tente, so indispensable to East-West relations. On behalf of my"delegation, I also pay a warm tribute to Ambassador Kikuchi of Japan, the President of the Council last month , and thank him for the competent manner in which he fulfilled his task. The Council‘has heard an excellent presentation of the present tragic events and developments in the occupied Palestinian and Arab territories - especially by the representative of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), first on Friday, 11 December, and then yesterday, 16 December. Also, the media of all countries have- cc>nvincingly-reported the extent of the 'revolt against the occupier and the denial of the rights of the peoples of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. .Hence, the Security Council cannot demonstrate selective indignation; rather, it must , express firm opposition to all violations of human rights. The harshness of the continuing occupation, the repression, the widespread violence unleashed against civilians and children - confronting the Occupier's modern military arsenal with stones in their hands - have also nurtured the resistance movement. It is to be feared that the groundswell of that resistance will have consequences commensurate with the very distressing conditions in which the Palestinian people continue to live; In such a situation, the occupying Power itself will be submerged - unless'the Security Council, with the basic responsibilities incumbent on it, decides to ensure respect, in all circumstances, for the relevant international instruments. The situation in the occupied Arab territories, including Jerusalem, has been of great 'concern for a long time now. From 16 June 1986 to 15 June 1987, it was the subject of 80 communications or requests for the convening of the Security Council. The present deterioration of the situation and the tragic developments should not surprise anyone who bears in mind the inalienable rights of all peoples - rights recognized in the Charter and proclaimed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (Mr. Adouki, Congo) There is an impressive list of the excesses of which the Palestinian people have been the victims and which led to the urgent convening of the Security Council on 11 December last. The representative of the PLC told the Council in- his '. . . statement yesterday that about 250 cases - with the names of the victJms,.,their addresses, the kinds of wounds, the places where the atrocities had taken- place- had now been identified. Hence , is it not high time to reaffirm. sad enswe the application to the Arab territories occupied by Israel of the Geneva Convention Of 12 August 1949 relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War? Yes, for here the law, the last rampart of the protection of civilians,suhjected to the horrors of humiliation and death - in a word, of war - has a large role to play. It guarantees a whole fabric of humanitarian rules and machinery for tnterveninq $0 protect the victims. We are all awake of the burning reality of the present time, . with its horrible daily balance sheet of victims. 'Ib confront the power of the _' occupier, it was the general view of the authors that this protection implies, in the first place of course, the prevention of physical or psychological attacks; but it also has a wider goal: the maintenance of the quality and dignity of life, the guaranteeing of humane treatment and a minimum of security. That explains the Present importance and role of the Security Council in regard to these tragic times in which the Palestinian pe?ple of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank are living. , , . _ j, : . (Mr. Adouki, Congo) . , j.. j *1_. : . The questions‘of Palestine end the Middle East are the core of this tragedy, and only th'e International Peace Conference can solve them. The international community is asking'for the convening of that Conference; that was the meaning of ., : the decision taken last week by the General Assembly, on the basis of resolution 38/58-C, which clearly states that in order to bring about peace an International Confer&e must be convened with the participation, on an equal foot-ing’iusd”With ‘&gual rights, of the Palestine Liberation Crganization. We believe t&t the United Nations Secretary-General should _ play an enhanced role ‘in that ‘exercise, :. The PRESIDENT (interpretation from Russian): I thank the representative .,' of Congo.'for the kind words he addressed to my country and its leadership. The next .speaker’ is ‘the representative of Zimbabwe. I invite him to take a . . . . place at the Council tab6a&d to make his statement. .’ -. Wir o PUNUNGNE (Zimbabwe) t I should like to convey to you, Sir, the 2 sincere congratulations of my delegation on’ your assumption of the presidency of the Security CounCil for the mon.th of D&&nber. We are convinced that under your ,.. i seasoned'and &teemed ‘guidance the Council will successfully and effectively .’ . discharge the enorrnbus’ fespdnsibilitie~ that it faces this month. ‘8 ” ‘. ‘. We wish ,also to pay- tribute to the'president of the Council for 'the month of November, Ambassador Riyoaki Kikuchi of Japan, for the competent and skilful manner in which he guided the Council~s work. AllUv me to begin by reading the text of a message sent yesterday by the Chairman of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, His Excellency Prime Minister Robert Gabriel Mugabe, to the Secretary-General regarding the current tragic developments in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories, which are the subject of this debate: 'The world is yet again witnessing, brutality in the Gaza Strip and the West than 400 Palestinians have been injured or massacred in their homeland by Israeli troops. The Movement of Non-Aligned Countries is shocked bf‘these atrocities aimed at silencing the Palestinian people from demanding their rights. The whole international community must condemn this hct of repress-ion and aggression against innocent and defenceless people, incluifing women and children. 'While the international community, through the United,Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees, is making every effort to provide protection for the Palestinians, the Israeli rdgime persists in violatin~g the provisions of the Hague Convention of 1907 and the Geneva Convention of 1949 on the Protection Of Civilians in Time of War. The recent Israeli atrocities and carnage come barely 12 months after the Ramallah and Bir Zeit University massacres, which were roundly condemned by the United Nations Security Council in 1986, "On behalf of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, I w&h to appeal to you, .Mr. Secretary-General, and, through you, to the international community as a whole, to take effective steps to bring to an immediate halt this campaign of terrorism aga'inst innocent Palestinians. The international community has an obligation to ensure the protection of the Palestinian people while actively stepping up efforts to convene an International Peace Conference on the Middle East aimed.at restoring the full rights of the Palestinians.* We are today witnessing a replay of the pattern of events that occurred around the same time last year in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories, (Mr. Punungwe, Zimbabwe) with revulsion, the Israeli r&gime@s Bank where over the past week more including the Holy City- of Jerusalem and southern Lebanon. Immediately following * the %ebate at the forty-first session of the General Assetily on the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East, and the ~adoption of resolutions condemning Israel’s oontinued illegal occupation of Palestinian and other Arab territories,. this Council was convened to consider the grave situation resulting from the shooting a,nd kill4ng of defenceless and innocent Palestinian students at Bir Zeit university. and the massacre of Palestinian men, women and children at Ramallah. Wow, again, barely a week after the debate in the Assembly and the adoption of resolutions along the same lines, the Council finds itself addressing a similar situation prevailing in Gaza and the West Bank. On both odcasions the Council has listened in amazement to the representative of Tel Aviv, who attempts to tr ivialize the issue before the Council, deriding this . august body and questionitig the appropriateness of its convening to consider the situation created by the Zionist forces in the occupied territories. The other day, during this debate, the representative of Tel Aviv suggested that the time of the Council should be devoted to other things. He has repeatedly referred to’his Government as restoring calm and order following demonstrations and protests by students in the occupied. territories , and has spoken of definite and systematic provocation by stone-throwing students. He has stated that efforts by his Government to restore law and order cannot be the business of the Security Council.. That is the common theme of the numerous interventions by the representative of Tel Aviv before this Council. We are not surprised by this kind of talk from the Israeli representative. Daily for the past week the media have been carrying reports on hew the author ities in Tel Aviv are trying to. play down current developments in the occupied territories. From our experiences with numerous situations of a similar natures in’ {Mr. Punungwe, Zimbabwe) South Africa, we know that the trivializing of issues is a common tool in the propaganda kits of fascist and racist regimes. The issue here is not merely one of student protests, strikes and the maintenance of law and order. what is before this body is the 20-year-old illegal occupation by Israel of Palestinian and other Arab territories, the creeping annexation of the occupied territories, the Israeli acts of oppression and the atrocities against Palestinian men, women and children. Above all, at the core of the problem is the question of Palestine,.the denial of the exercise by the Palestinian people of their inalienable rights in their homeland. The demonstrations and student protests are but a manifestation of these serious issues and an expression of Palestinian resistance to oppression by the occupying Power, as well as an expression of the struggle by Palestinians to, realize their inalienable rights, which the United Nations has repeatedly reaffirmed in its numerous resolutions. The Israeli response to these demonstrations and the protests by innocent and defenceless young Palestinians has been deliberately to provoke violence and inflict more death and suffering upon the Palestinian people. Last year, on 5 Dec?ember, a Reuters news item covering developments &t Bir Zeit University and Ramallah reported that "Several left-wing Israeli parties today demanded an urgent parliamentary debate on what they called the army's.excessive use of force". An article in The New York Times yesterday carried comparable reports of deliberate provocation and unnecessary shedding of Palestinian blood by Israeli forces. It reported that "In addition to using live ammunition to quell the crowds, individual Israeli soldiers have reportly committed acts in recent days that seem likely to breed mdre hatred in the Palestinian districts.. Citing a specific incident, the Times went on to report that: "A Palestinian teen-ager, was tied to the hood of a . . . jeep, apparently as a shield against rock throwing , and driven through a Palestinian district . ..O. (The blew York. Times, 16 Deceder 1987, p. 10, c. 3) This deliberate and systematic provocation of more violence and the unwarranted opening of fire by heavily armed troops to inflict death and injury is no doubt part of the wider scheme to drive away the Palestinians from the occupied territories in order to depopulate those territories and reinforce their annexation. We all heard the representative of Tel Aviv referring to the West Bank as Judaea-Samaria, and to the administrative, economic and other measures being taken to alter the demogra~phic , social, religious and cultural features of the occupied territories, which he euphemistically referred to as "cosmetic measures" which his Government was determined to continue. The Council has ob several occasions reaffirmed the applicability of the fourth Geneva Conventcon relating to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War to the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967; including Jerusalem. Israel has repeatedly and deliberately ignored the rulings Of this Council, and it Continues to display total contempt for the Palestinian and other Arab peoples in territories under its occupation. We believe that this Continuing arrogance on the part of the authorities in Tel Aviv calls for further and stronger a&ion by the Security Council. It was in the light of this that the Co-ordinating Bureau of the Won-Aligned Countries , meeting on 15 December this year, issued a communiqu&, which, inter alia, called upon the Council to dispatch a fact-finding mission to the occupied territories to investigate the situation and report to the Council as so011 as possible. In the same communique' the Bureau also (Mr. Punungwe, ZimbabWe) r (Mr. Punungw el Zimbabwe) ._ renewed its call upon the Council'to invoke Chapter VII of- the Charter against .- .' . Israel, with a View to enforcing'immediate.and total'withdrawal and ending occupation.- It is clear that the oonfli$t and violence in the Middle East will Continueas long as Occupation continues and as long as the Palestinian6 are den&d the. exercise of their inalienable rights in their homeland. The curgEnt ttagic developments in the occupied territories underscore the urgent need to facilftate progress towards the convening of an International Peace Conferencnon. the Middle East, as envisaged in General Assembly resolution 38/58 C. The Council has a primary responsfhility to facilitate the setting in motion of the preparatory process for that Conference. However, we urge the Council to take:effectiveNeteps along the lines mentioned in the communiqu&, in order .to restore 6tabiUty in the region, pending the convening of the International PeaceConferenceIr 'which would seek to find a just, lasting.and comprehensive solutionto the Mi.ddl@.&st conflict.

1 thank the: rapresentatdve of Zimbabwe for his kind words addressed to me. The next speaker is the tepresentative of the Palestine Liberation Organization, on whom.1 now call. Mr= %ZI (Palestine Libekation Organization): Let me start: by presenting a scenario. Five people,shaw'up, facing a demonstration; of. PaleSt$n$ans- protesting the brutalities of the occupying Power. Four -of the f$ve- are dressed in' army uniforms. The fifth is in plain clothes; He immediately drlaws a sub-machine-gun and opens direct fire-on the demonstrators, Those uniformed persons are from &e Israeli army. ' The fifth we do not know, 'BUM: heappeared.'Oi. the scene@ opening fire on. defenceLess, unarmed civilians , a nunber: of whom we,re: felled, either killed or wounded. That is the picture of what is going on. Since the Security Council began considering the matter the debate has become longer and longer each day. Is it for the love of making long statements or speeches that we ar-e here? I assure you, Sir, that when we came here last Friday it was with the intention, the aspiration, the desire, that the Council should take immediate action to put an end to the brutalities of the occupying Paver against defenceless civilians. We said then that we came in pursuance of an obligation arising from the fourth Geneva Convention, which makes itincu&entupon the parties to respect, or to ensure respect for, the provisions of that Convention. Tomorrow is another Friday. The number of people being killed and wounded is increasing. The Security Council has a responsibility to confront the situation. That responsibility arises, first, from the Charter. We all know that the purpose of the Charter was to save succeeding generations from the s.wurge of war. The war is continuing in my country, in Palestine. It is a war in which th'ere is no parity whatsoever between the fire-power of the occupation forces and the victims, the people under occupation; in which there is no parity whatsoever between the ., oppressor and the oppressed. One uses rocks and bottles, the other uses machine guns* artillery and possibly the air force. There is no parity whatsoever between those army troops and the civilians. Of course, there is never parity between the aggressor and the victim. But the victim will persevere and in time will develop such a power, albeit materially much less effective , that in the long run it will prove to be the winner. As we said last Friday, we come here in conformity with the purposes of the United Nations. As we all know, the Security Council is entrusted with the obligation to act and to discharge its duties. Those duties are to maintain international peace and security or to prevent situations that might develop into a (Mr. Terzi, Palestine Liberation Organization) threat to international peace and security. The Council should take- collective measures for the prevention of threats to peace, for their remval and SO on. Of course, the Security Council has been meeting; it has been discussing and considering ways and means ofdischarging its duties. While we are here discussing matters we have received a statement from our people in.the occupied territories, specifically, from Gaza. I should like to read out part of that statement, a.s followst "The roots of the present upheaval $n the occupied territories that has been so costly both in casualties and material loss at the.hands of the occupation forces stems in o&z opinion confrontation that came into existence Palestine inhabitants since June 1967. from the contradiction and hostile between the occupation and the "The Palestinian people have declared their rejection and denunciation of occupation right from the start. In affirming their innate right to self-determination in an independent Palestinian State on Palestinian Soil, . they have resorted, as is the acknowledged right of all peoples under occupation, to all available means in resisting occupation. In their resolve the perpetuate occupation, the Israelis responded with very harsh'and brutal conduct. Furthermore, they soon became involved in a wide-ranging programme to help Israeli entrenchment , on the one hand, and ultimately to alienate and uproot the local inhabitants, 'on the other. such is the basic contradiction that has continued to exist since June 1967, and which has formed the background for all the episodes of unrest and violence." That was part of a communiqu4 issued by our people under occupation in Gaza. What we are dealing with is not what the Israelis would like to call unrest and disturbances;-it is a case of civil disobedience; it is a case of mutiny against occupation. That is why we think it should receive much more attention. A senior Israeli military source said he believed that the large number of Palestinians who were felled and wounded is the "carriage' - as he puts it - that pushes over the masses who demonstrate in the West Sank and Gaza. I really do not know what he meant by "carriage". But according to the news that we have, a victim killed by the Israeli forces usually has to be taken for burial. What the Israelis do is to take away the body; they do not permit his next of kin to bury him and give him the relevant and adequate rites either in a,church or a m6sque. Some of the participants in the burial or funeral are themselves shot at, and some of them get killed. I think that in his statement yesterday, my colleague mentioned the case of Najwa Hassan Al-Masri, who was bashed and killed. We have now received the news that this happened when she was returning from the funeral of another victim. (Mr. Terzi, Palestine Liberation Organization) I was reading through the universal Declaration of Human Rights, It is wonderful, but it lacks a main element. Of course those who drafted it never thought that the Israelis would be in power, these Zionists and fanatics. The I right to burial is not mentioned. Do metiers knew what that means? It means that people are just put into a hole or are taken away from their families in the dark of night, and put into graves when a curfew is in force, and whoever goes to the funeral is shot at. I think this should be reviewed and the right to burial mentioned. If the PLO is accused - well, history will prove that nobody has been instigating the peoples they themselves have responded. Something very serious has been taking shape over the past 24 hours. All of a sudden, Sharon, that butcher of Sabra and Shatila, has decided to go and set up residence in the Old City of Jerusalem. Wow, we know he is a Minister,, a Cabinet member; he should be aware that this is illegal and confrontational. But. there is something more to this. It is a provocation. Why on earth should a member cf the Cabinet move to and live in a Muslim quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem? Was he not satisfied with whatever quarters he had occupied? Should he come to the , Muslims and rub it in their teeth and in their noses and say, "Here I am8 whether you like me or not"? Is that not a real provocation , or an invitation to &ore bloodshed? We are happy to learn that what Sharon does is not what the people of, Israel want. What Sharon and his group do is an affront m human sensibilities: it is an invitation to violence. The Government of Israel has been very keen cn saying that the media have 3 . 'somehow,been blowing out of proportion what is happening. But an Israeli paper, , Yedioth Ahronoth, editorialized yesterday about this %strich' policy,, w.ritin,g,- (Mr. Terzi, Palestine Liberation Organization) "What we see in the West Bank and Gaza comes because the population refuses to accept Israeli authority and the condition of our relations with the Arab world. . . . The self-imposed distortion will not serve our [I~rael~sl Security interests and will not bring us closer to settlement with our neighbours. Only the ostrich buries its head in the sand when things do not go in its‘favourm. An'Uther paper, Ma'ariv, writes, under the headline "The Murder and its Results", "The attempt to accuse the media outlets of stirring instincts through the relay of report6 about what is happening is a desperate attempt to escape the truth, as though what is not carried by the media does not occur. The leaders of the State of Israel should surrender to the truth: .we live in an open society, and it will be impossible & close the territories in'an efficient way". ' That is what Ma'ariv, an Israeli newspaper, wrote. The news from Tel Aviv today quoted an Israeli army spokesman as saying that "Demonstrations and protests continued yesterday, December 16, in various parts of the.Gaza Strip and the West Bank'. These demonstrations in Gaza will not cool down, but in the'West Sank they will continue in flames". Another newspaper, Ha-aretz, referred to the infant, less than two days old, who sustained heavy injury from,,tear-gas-bombs used by the Israeli army. Again, that is from an Israeli newspaper, And Davar, another Israeli paper, said in its editorial today that "The negative reaction from around the world about what is going on in the territories will continue even .if the Israeli Government closes the areas to the media*. The area is indeed closed to the media, and we are being sort of made aware of that. (Mr. Terzi, Palestine Liberation Organization) I do not irant to go into the situaticn in Israel itself, when the so-called Minister of Defence is enjoying life in Washington , D.C., and the Foreign MinLster is having a nice time, possibly in Brazil, But addressing the Brookings Institution yesterday, Rabin said there was no parallel between what was happening in the occupied territories and South Africa. Of course not: in Sou_th Africa there is total negation of the human rights of 'the South African blacks. In the occupied territories there is brutality and violation of Conventions. Tsrael is. en. occupying Power. So there is, of course, no parallel. But in their criminality and brutality they go hand in hand. (Mr. Terzi, Palestine Liberation Organization) But this morning, Anthony Lewis had a such clearer idea than Mr. Rabin had, when he wrote in The New- York Times: \ I . . . Ezer Weizman, put the truth bluntly disturbances. ‘Whoever thinks this is a serious mistake,’ Mr. Weizman said. 'It political sol&ion, and the lack of a desire even to look for one.'" This statement is attributed to a Cabinet metier - *the lack of a desire even to look for” a political solution. We come here and listen to some talk about negotiations when a Cabinet member says that there is a lack of a desire even to look for a political solution and the Secretary-General has told us in his report that a major obstacle was this lack of a political will to reach a negotiated settlement. But we are all wrong, including the Secretary-General; the representative who spoke earlier is right. Of course, the whole wor Id is wrong. This was shown this afternoon when 145 Member States suppported a request that the Secretary-General should defend the Headquarters Agreement and Israel pushed the red button , indicating “do not defend it, Mr. Secretary-General, we are happy with it.” I am sorry, but things are somehcrw connected. Now again the madia in the United States have come out with some interesting ar titles. I shall quote from an editorial in the San Jose Mercury News of this morning . ft states: "The Scenes of young Palestinians being bloodied and killed as they hurl rocks at the Isaeli army in the occupied Arab land of Gaza inspire the deepest sense I of revulsion. When will Israel go home and leave these poor people alone?” That is a cry coming from the American people. But again, I think the writer does not know where Israel considers its home to be. The editorial refers to something very serious.. It asks Israel what self interest is proven by having Bernard Mills, (Mr. Terti, Palestine Liberation Organization) in speaking about the Gaza passing thing is making a very is a result of the failure to find a who directs the United Nations field office in Gaza, explain to reporters how Israeli soldiers tied one teenager to the hood of an army jeep on patrol as protection against the rock throwers. That is barbarism. That is what the San Jose Mercury News says and that is what Bernard Mills apparently says,,: The paper continues: “The United Nations policy has been clear for two decades. Israel must leave the occupied territories. ” The situation continues to worsen, We do know that in Jerusalem today, outside the Damascus Gate, Israeli police dispersed a student demonstration, as well as in Nablus, Jer.icho, Rebron and Gaza. And something of real significance has taken place. Yesterday in Jerusalem, in front of Shamir’s residence, which he: had chosen to spite the Arabs and to provoke further bloodshed, a number: of Arab, and Jewish university students participated in a demonstration against him. They , carried posters with slogans protesting th.e recent events in the occupied territories. Of course,; the police cams , arrested a number of: them and f.ir.edz tear gas canisters. That is what Radio Israel reported. So the violence of the. occupying Power continues. What is requested of th$s Council? The Council is .duty bound to seek ways and means to provide for the protection of those people. That is an occupied territory, which has been mentioned several times this afternoon and at ear1ie.r meetings. There is an occupying Power and the Security Council is duty bound t0 provide for the safety and protection of the civilians in the tesritories. under occupation. If it cannot do so, then the Security Council is duty bound at least to teWeSt most probably the Secretary-General to report imdiately and d&il.y on ; such viola tfons. The Secretary-General may choose to send a Special envoy to the territory or use other resources. We have, of courser full confidence in his (Mr. Ter zi, Pales tine Liberation CrganXzationl ability to handle 'the situation. But the Security Council should demand that a daily report be provided on these violations of human- rights and of the provisions of the fourth Geneva Convention so that the.world would knaw. Such events should not be kept under the‘table. We have just heard the statement that an informal draft resolution is being circulated. I have not received a copy of it, but of course I know what it is. Apparently observers do not receive a copy of the text in blue print, but somehow we get it. Now, the Israeli representative spoke about the peace process and that what this draft calls for would impede that process. Paragraph.5 stresses the urgent need to reach a just, durable and peaceful settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict under the auspices of the United Nations. Is such a request from the Security Council, or at least an opinion of the Security Council, an impediment to peace? I really do not understand that‘logic. Then why do people come here? Why do we have a Security Council? If such an opinion is an impediment to peace, then what is a. positive action- cn behalf of &ace? We are told about resolution 242 (1967) and resolution 338 (1973). I have resolution 242 (1967) before me, and it states: 'Affirms that the fulfilment of Charter principles requires the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East which should include the application of both the following principles:" It should include these two principles , but there are other principles in the Charter which those who drafted .resolution 242 (1967) did'not think of at the time.' It states: "Withdrawal of fsrael armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict;" (Mr. Terzi, Palestine Liberation Organization) ‘I, It is very well defined: the "recent conflict" refers to the June 1967 conflict, So the area is very clearly defined and there is no need for any more srticles. '.It does not matter whether it says from the territories or from all the territories, but it refers to the territories in the.recent conflict, so we know where they are. Secondly, it states: "Termination of all claims or states of belligerency and respect for. and acknowledgement of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every State in the area and their‘right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free frcxn threats or acts of force;'. That is beautifully stated, but how can anyone guarantee the security of a State if we do not know what its boundaries are? It states very specifically "recognized boundaries". Would somebody tell us here that the security of Israel should'be within the following boundaries? The only boundaries of which the United Nations knows were those designed in 1947 in resolution 181 (II). We know of no other boundaries that are recognized. Israel itself does not recognize its boundaries. One can write two or three volumes of different opinions about where the boundaries of Israel should be. Most recently we have heard some of them saying that the hills on the East Bank of the river Jordan are the first line of defenc.e. If the hills on the East Bank of the river Jordan are the first line of defence, then goodbye Amman and goodbye As-Salt, because that is what it includes. Or let us be even more realistic. According to the Likud Party, if we look at the map of Israel which appeared in its political platform for election, it definitely has both banks of the river Jordan as part of Israel. (Mr. Terzi, Palestine Liberation Organization) . . So, does the Security Council, which adopted resolution 242 (1967), want us to guarantee Israel's security on the Fast Dank of the Jordan River? Just tell us where those boundaries are. Let us look further at this draft resolution. It speaks of two principles, but it has completely omitted the first principle which, according to Article 1 (2) of the Charter, is: "To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples...". tiere is the element of self-determination of the Palestinian'people? It is not in resolution 242 (1967); consequently that resolution cannot be the basis. In that connection, I recall a wonderful statement made by the representative of the ' United States in 1978 in the plenary Assembly when he ve.ry distinctly and clearly said that resolution 242 (1967) did not address the political dimension of the Palestinianproblem. If the concepts and policies of the United States change from day to day I am not aware of that. I know there is continuity, in the United States. Has it changed its position? Does resolution 242 (1967) address the political dimension of the question of Palestine? I am afraid not.' It has not changed its opinion. So why stick to resolution 242 (1967)? On its own, resolution 242 (1967) is wonderful, but it does not address the question. Again, why be selective? The Security Council has adopted a number cf resolutionsr 446 (1979), 465 (1980), and 468 (1980). Why not have all those resolutions adopted by the Security Council - along with o&&s by the General Assembly - to be the basis for these negotiations? Restricting it only to resolution 242 (1967) - because resolution 338 (1973) is a mechanism for (Mr. Terzi, Palestine Liberation Org~anization) resolution 242 (1967) - is a discriminatory policy; We either accept the resolutions of the Security Council or we do not. If we do, we take them as a whole; if we do not, then do not use resolution.242 (1967) as just one element. War eover , 20 years have passed since the adoption of resolution 242 (1967). Who, in the first instance, re jetted resolution 242 (196713 Those who are sitting there with their troops, with their civilian population transferred there,’ and those who finance Israel - and I mean the Government of the United States - to violate resolution 242 (1967). and to forget all about it. l[t is thanks to the money that comes from the united States that Israel is settling in the occupied Palestinian territories. That brings me to another point that has been raised. The representative of Israel has said that it does not recognize formally the application of the fbUi3h Geneva Conventon to those territories. That is really perplexing. Then what sort of territories are they? If they are an integral part of the “sovereign State of Israel., then why not say that? If they are not, what are they? Since this Council hason several occasions decided that they are occupied territories protected by that Convention, then let us take it from there. Israel is not carrying out its obligations under the fourth Geneva Convention. Israel is transferring its civilian population fnto the occupied territories - and that is a violatian of the fourth Geneva Convention, which makes it very clear that the occupying Power is prohibited from transferring any or part of its civilian population to the occupied territories. (Mr. Terzi, Palestine Liberation Grganization) (fir. TerFXVLPalestine . Mberation' Organization) That gives us.two answers. They are there illegally and,-if they are not civilians, then they are.part of the security forces and no longer civilians; and, as part of Isra~el's~security in the occupied territories, the resistance is justified andjhas the legitimate r.ight to eliminate the security forces of a foreign Power, Af-ter'all, we ail know what the job of a resistance is, what its duty Ls - to el,iminate the occupation. So, if they are civilians they should not be there. Since they are not civilians.,. then they are 'part of the military troops. ~. Somebody has objecte-&to the absence of a repuest'that someone should exercise restraint. I wonder, Row could. the poor people who have been killed by an Israeli checkpost e%ercise-restraint? They are,already dead. How could the woman whose '. head was bashed in exercise-restraint? She has been killed. Only those who carry maohinequns, army trUck8, s-tee1 helmets and gas,canis-ters have to exercise restraint, Nobody can.ask a little boy of -13 or 14 who is demonstrating and protesting the brutaliky against his m-z&her or father to exercise restraint. we are human beings, and human beings react, not in a stoic or philosophic way; they react as humans. We are told that the only way is by negotiations. After all, what has His f Excellency the Secretary-General been doing since 19831 He has been trying to put US, al1 Of uSI on-the path of negotiations. What is the obstacle? He tells us that a major obstacle is Israel. And, unashamedly, it is the representative of Israel who tk?llS us we should pr-oceed to the negotiating table. Are we really perplexed? I donot think so* because a member of the Israeli Cabinet, Ezer Weizman, has said'that it is the result of the failure to find a political solution, and the lack. of a desire even tb look’ for one. To sum up: our people under occupation expect this Council, in addition to expressions of condemnation, deploration, inhumanity, to protect their human rights, their political rights , and their right to live in peace, until such time as a solution is found. We all talk about that solution - the total withdrawal of Israel. But until such time, the Council is in duty bound to find a way? a system - and the Secretary-General will, I am sure# be acconunodating in help;Sng to think on our behalf of the best way to provide protection and safety. We know that, some time back when this Council in implementation of its resolution 446 (1979) created a Commission, Israel denied it entry into the country. But that Commission did an excellent job, even without entering the country. We know -that a General Assembly Committee reports on violations and so on in those territories. What is expected of this body is. action-oriented resolutions whereby our people are guaranteed , at least legally by order of this Council, some way of safety and protection. They are not and will not be satisfied with mere condelmation. (Mr. Terzi, Palestine Liberation Organization) . l Condemnation means nothing. Lives are being lost, children are being killed and blood is being spilled there. So when will the time come that the Council will assume its responsibility, as the Charter says: "To save succeeding generations" - this generation, the Palestinian gene-ration in the occupied territories - "from the scourge of war" - a real war .that is going on? The PRESIDENT (interpretation from Russian 1: Before adjourning today's meeting, I should like to draw the attention of members of the Council to the letter which was distributed an hour ago from the Chairman of the African Group at the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council which expresses the wish that certain steps be taken by the President. In that connection, in accordance with existing practice, I invite the members of the Council to meet tomorrow. at 3.30 p.m. for consultations to discuss the question which has been raised by the Chairman of the African Group. After we conclude our consultations we shall return to the Council Chamber to resume dibcussion of the question regarding the situation in the occupied Arab territories. The meeting rose at 7 p.m. (Mr. Terzi, Palestine Liberation Organizaton)