SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS ISR"LI DECISION ON JERUSALEM BOUNDARIES 'SERIOUS AND DAMAGING' DEVELOPMENT

13 July 1998

Press Release
SC/6546

SECURITY COUNCIL CALLS ISRAELI DECISION ON JERUSALEM BOUNDARIES 'SERIOUS AND DAMAGING' DEVELOPMENT

19980713 Presidential Statement Seeks Observance of Legal Obligations, Notes Acceptance by Palestinians of Plan to End Stalemate in Peace Process

Recognizing the importance and sensitivity of the issue of Jerusalem to all parties, the Security Council this evening stated that the decision by the Government of Israel on 21 June 1998 to broaden the jurisdiction and planning boundaries of Jerusalem was a serious and damaging development.

In a statement read out on its behalf by Council President Sergey V. Lavrov (Russian Federation), the Council called on the Government of Israel not to proceed with that decision and also not to take any other steps which would prejudice the outcome of the permanent status negotiations. Further, the Council called upon Israel to abide scrupulously by its legal obligations and responsibilities under the 1949 Geneva Convention relative to the protection of civilians in time of war.

The Council expressed support for the decision of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Government of Israel that the permanent status negotiations shall cover the issue of Jerusalem. It called upon the parties to avoid actions which might prejudice the outcome of those negotiations.

Further, the Council called on the parties to respond positively to the efforts of the United States aimed at breaking the stalemate in the peace process and noted that the Palestinian side had already agreed in principle to the United States proposals. The Council hoped that the permanent status negotiations could resume and progress could be made towards the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.

The meeting, which was called to order at 11:04 p.m., was adjourned at 11:08 p.m.

On 10 June, the Council held a debate on the situation in the occupied Arab territories, in particular, the decision by the Government of Israel to expand the border of Jerusalem and extend the municipal authority over some Jewish settlements in the West Bank through the creation of an "umbrella authority". A number of speakers called on the Israeli Government to rescind its decision to expand the boundaries of the holy city and to cease its expansionist policies.

Security Council - 2 - Press Release SC/6546 3904th Meeting (Night) 13 July 1998

Presidential Statement

The text of the presidential statement, which will be issued as document S/PRST/1998/21, reads as follows:

"The Security Council has considered the letters dated 18 and 22 June 1998 (S/1998/535 and S/1998/557), as well as the letters dated 8, 9 and 15 June 1998 (S/1998/481, S/1998/487 and S/1998/511) from the Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations, and the letter dated 23 June 1998 (S/1998/558) from the Permanent Representative of the Sudan to the United Nations on behalf of the States members of the League of Arab States relating to the issue of Jerusalem.

"The Security Council recognizes the importance and sensitivity of the issue of Jerusalem to all parties and expresses its support for the decision of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Government of Israel, in accordance with the Declaration of Principles of 13 September 1998, that the permanent status negotiations shall cover the issue of Jerusalem. The Council, therefore, calls upon the parties to avoid actions which might prejudice the outcome of these negotiations.

"In the context of its previous relevant resolutions, the Security Council considers the decision by the Government of Israel on 21 June 1998 to take steps to broaden the jurisdiction and planning boundaries of Jerusalem a serious and damaging development. The Council, therefore, calls upon the Government of Israel not to proceed with that decision and also not to take any other steps which would prejudice the outcome of the permanent status negotiations. Further, the Council also calls upon Israel to abide scrupulously by its legal obligations and responsibilities under the Geneva Convention relative to the protection of civilians in time of war of 12 August 1949.

"The Security Council supports the efforts of the United States aimed at breaking the stalemate in the peace process, calls upon the parties to respond positively to these efforts, notes that the Palestinian side has already given agreement in principle to the United States proposals, and expresses the hope that the permanent status negotiations can resume and progress can be made towards the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973.

"The Security Council will keep Israeli actions under review."

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