December 5, 2001	Wednesday	Ramazan 19, 1422

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 4: The General Assembly called on Monday for self-determination for the Palestinian people, Israel’s withdrawal from the Golan Heights and an end to the presence of a small number of embassies in Al Quds.

The assembly adopted a resolution calling on all concerned to “ensure a successful and speedy resumption of negotiations and conclusion” of the Middle East peace process.

The resolution — passed by a record vote of 131 in favour to six against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Tuvalu and the United States), with 20 abstentions — was apart from five others adopted as the assembly concluded its annual debate on the Middle East situation and the question of Palestine.

The resolution also called for an immediate reversal of all measures taken since the latest wave of violence began on Sept 28, 2000 as well as the implementation of the Mitchell Committee report.

Criticizing the overwhelming resolution for not recognizing attacks in Israel, British ambassador Alistair Harrison said: “The General Assembly has missed an opportunity to register concern with balanced language on violence against civilians.

“The resolution is clear about the responsibilities on the Israeli side,” he said. “But it does not reflect our belief that the Palestinian side must also implement its obligations, in particular to make every effort to prevent violence against Israeli civilians. The horrific attacks over the weekend lend urgency and weight to this requirement.”

Chief Palestinian observer Nasser Al-Kidwa disagreed and called the abstentions “a step in the wrong direction.”

He warned Israel not to take “cheap shots” and cast itself in the same mould as the United States in its fight against terrorism. “The United States is not an occupying power in Afghanistan and never was.”

He said there had indeed been “terrorist acts” committed inside Israel. “But this is a corollary and not the cause of the current situation.”

The real reason for violence was the uprooting of Palestinian people from their homeland... the seizure of land and water by Israeli settlers and suppression, deportation and assassinations over so many years, Mr Al-Kidwa said.

OTHER RESOLUTIONS: A separate resolution on Al Quds determined that the imposition of Israeli laws, jurisdiction and administration on the holy city is illegal and therefore, null and void, and has no validity whatsoever.

The assembly also deplored the transfer by some states of their diplomatic missions to Al Quds in violation of Security Council resolution 478. That text was adopted by a vote of 130 in favour to 2 against with 10 abstentions.

A resolution on the Syrian Golan was adopted by a record vote of 90 in favour and five against (Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Tuvalu, United States) with 54 abstaining. The Assembly called on Israel to withdraw from the occupied Syrian Golan.

By another resolution, the assembly requested the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian people to keep the question of Palestine under review.

On the UN Department of Public Information’s special programme on the question of Palestine, the assembly voted 153 in favour to 4 against with 3 abstentions to request continued work on publications, audiovisual materials, fact-finding missions for journalists, and seminars for members of the media.

Another resolution requested the secretary-general to provide the UN Division for Palestinian Rights with necessary resources and to ensure that it continues to carry out its programme of work. That text was adopted by a vote of 107 in favour, 5 against and 47 abstentions.

REUTERS ADDS: Israel’s deputy ambassador, Aaron Jacob, told reporters: “Resolutions were adopted as if nothing happened. It shows how much the General Assembly is out of tune with the realities in the region and unworthy of becoming involved in the Middle East peace process.”