PALESTINIAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CALLS FOR END TO RETALIATORY MEASURES WHICH EXACERBATE PALESTINIAN SUFFERING
Press Release
GA/PAL/766
PALESTINIAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CALLS FOR END TO RETALIATORY MEASURES WHICH EXACERBATE PALESTINIAN SUFFERING
19970806 The following statement was issued today by the Bureau of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People:The Bureau of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People has followed with increasing concern the grave developments in the occupied Palestinian territory. The Bureau believes that the measures being imposed by Israel, the occupying Power, in particular the blockade of the Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and the harsh economic measures, are a form of collective punishment. These measures are in contravention of the Fourth Geneva Convention and are also contrary to the letter and spirit of the agreements reached between the parties.
The Bureau unreservedly condemns all acts of violence against defenceless civilians, such as the recent bombing in West Jerusalem. By fostering a climate of hatred and fear, such attacks seeks to destabilize the entire region and threaten to do irreparable harm to the peace process. They must not be allowed to succeed in their objective.
The Bureau believes that retaliatory measures which exacerbate Palestinian suffering and lead to increasing despair are bound to be counterproductive. Such measures are also being taken against a background of continued construction of settlements, delayed withdrawal from the occupied territory, and lack of implementation of essential provisions of the agreements reached.
The Bureau calls for an immediate end to those measures and stresses the need for respect for the provisions of international law and, in particular, the Fourth Geneva Convention, which is applicable to all the occupied territory, including Jerusalem.
The Bureau calls on the Israeli and Palestinian leaders, on the co- sponsors of the peace process, and on the international community as a whole to do everything in their power to save the peace process. It is imperative to re-establish a spirit of mutual confidence and cooperation between the parties, in order to resume negotiations urgently for the full implementation of the agreements already reached. Only through a process based on reciprocal trust will it be possible to achieve peace and security for all the peoples of the region. * *** *