Right of
Reply by Ms. Feda Abdelhady Nasser, UNRWA Debate at the Special Political and
Decolonization Committee (4th Committee), 54th Session, 4 November
1999:
Mr. Chairman,Â
I had
hoped that it would not be necessary to take the floor in exercise of my right of reply,
however, I must respond to certain comments made today by the delegation of Israel.
 ·
        The statement by the
Israeli representative seems a measure aimed at absolving the state of any responsibility
whatsoever for the upheaval and plight of the Palestine refugees.
 ·
        We found it difficult
to understand the Israeli claim that the majority of Palestine refugees are under
Palestinian control, and thus beyond Israeli control or the Israeli occupation. This is not only untrue, but it is indicative of
Israeli thinking which seems intent on establishing an apartheid-system in Palestine.
 ·
        All of the Palestinian
territory remains occupied and the occupying Power is ultimately responsible for all of
the ills facing the Palestinian people. Whether
the Israeli tanks are inside a refugee camp, for instance, or around it, does not make any
legal difference. Let me also note the fact
that the Israeli occupying army actually remains in control of more than 95% of the
territory occupied by Israel in 1967.Â
·
        The danger of such an
argument by the representative of Israel lies in the refusal to acknowledge Israeli
responsibility, which is the starting point for any just and equitable resolution of the
refugee problem.
 ·
        It is imperative to
stress the fact that the Palestine refugees have not been allowed to return to their homes
and properties solely because of Israels rejection, in spite of an international
consensus and annual resolutions adopted by the United Nations in this regard. Moreover, it is this Israeli intransigence that
has severely compounded the enormity of this problem over the many decades.
 Mr. Chairman,Â
·
        Israel has not only
refused the return of Palestine refugees to the area allocated to the Jewish State in
partition resolution 181 (II); it has also refused the return of those who fled from the
territories allocated to the Arab State, which Israel put under its control by military
means.
 ·
        Resolution 181 (II)
will remain the legal basis for the existence of the two states, regardless of the
position of the parties at any specific time. Nevertheless,
one of the common inaccuracies is that Israel accepted the resolution, while the Arabs
rejected it. In fact, Israel accepted the
resolution only as far as it related to the legitimacy it bestowed upon the Israeli State. In practice, however, it immediately and
continuously violated the provisions of the resolution, whether in terms of borders, the
status of Jerusalem, or any other aspect.
 ·
        While we welcome the
indications that the Israeli side will be serious in addressing the refugee issue in the
final status negotiations, we nevertheless maintain that, for wounds to heal, for peace to
be achieved, Israel must recognize its moral, legal, and financial responsibility.Â
Statement following
the Vote on Item 88, UNRWA, and Item 89, Special Committee to Investigate Israeli
Practices at the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (4th Committee)
on 4 November 1999:
 Mr. Chairman,
Â
           I would like to
take this opportunity to express the delegation of Palestines thanks and
appreciation to all of those delegations that have expressed their support for Palestine
on these very important agenda items.
 Such consistent support for the
resolutions of UNRWA serve as an important reminder of the centrality of the question of
the Palestine refugees to the international community and the necessity of providing
assistance for those refugees until the achievement of a just resolution of their plight.
 Unfortunately,
with regard specifically two resolutions of UNRWA, Israel remains the only Member State
casting a negative vote or abstaining, preventing their adoption by consensus.
 Mr. Chairman,Â
           The support
expressed by delegations for the resolutions under agenda item 89 is also indicative of
the seriousness attached to this issue by Member States.
 The annual reaffirmation by this Committee of the applicability of the 4th
Geneva Convention to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and the
other occupied Arab territories is crucial, as is the weight attached to the criticality
of the ongoing violations by Israel throughout the territories occupied since 1967,
including illegal settlement activities.
Â
           Once again, I
thank the delegations, and I thank you, Mr. Chairman. |