Commission on Human Rights

Fifth- sixth Session

(Geneva, 20 March – 18 April 2000)

Introduction of the draft Resolution on Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Arab Territories (L.9)

On behalf of the European Union and all other co-sponsors, I have the honor to introduce under agenda item 8 the draft resolution entitled “Israeli settlements in the occupied Arab Territories”.

The EU regrets once again the fact that it continues to be necessary for the CHR to examine the question of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories, but Israel has continued to fail to respond to the appeals of the international community on this issue. We are particularly concerned at the continuing Israeli settlement activities, in spite of the government’s moratorium on new construction permits, including the expansion of existing settlements.

The EU’s position on these activities is clear: the settlements are both illegal under international law and damaging for the peace process, as they aim at prejudging the outcome of the final status negotiations. We call upon Israel to refrain from any likely to create further mistrust and to undermine the peace process.

Our objective in presenting this Resolution is to reiterate the disapproval by the international community of the settlement activities and to urge Israel to abide by the rules of international law and to cease these activities immediately.

We hope that members of the Commission will support this Resolution.

QUESTION OF THE VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE
OCCUPIED TERRITORIES, INCLUDING PALESTINE

Algeria, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Qatar, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia and United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:

Draft resolution

2000/ Israeli settlements in the Occupied Arab Territories

The Commission on Human Rights, reaffirming that all Member Sates have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms as a stated in the Charter of the United nations and as elaborated in the universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human rights and other applicable instruments.

Mindful that Israel is a party to the Geneva Convention to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, which is applicable to Palestinian and all Arab territories occupied by Israel science East Jerusalem.

Recalling its previous resolution, most recently resolution 1999/7 of 23 April 1999, in which inter alia, it reaffirmed the illegality of the israeli settlements in the occupied territories:

1. Welcome

1. The Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum of 4 September 1999, while noting with concern the delays in its implementation, and calls for the full implementation of the Memorandum, as well as of the Israeli –Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip of 28 September 1995 and other related agreements;
2. The report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 (E/CN.4/2000/25) and hopes that the Government of Israel will cooperate with the Special Rapporteur to allow him fully to discharge his mandate;

2. Expresses its graye concern:

1. At the continuing Israeli settlement activities in spite of the Government’s moratorium on new construction permits, including the expansion of the settlements, the installation of settlers in occupied territories, the expropriation of land, the demolition of houses, the confiscation of property, the expulsion of local residents and the construction of bypass roads, which change the physical character and demographic composition of the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem, since all these actions are illegal, constitute a violation of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons I Time of War and are a major obstacle to peace;
2. At and strongly condemns all acts of terrorism, whilst calling upon all parties not to allow any acts of terrorism to affect the ongoing peace process negatively;

3. Urges the Government of Israel:

1. To comply fully with the pervious Commission resolution on the subject, most recently resolution 1999/7 of 23 April 1999;
2. To match its stated commitment to the peace process with concrete actions to fulfil its obligations and cease completely its policy of expanding the settlements and related activities in the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem;
3. To forgo and prevent any new installation of settlers in the occupied territories;

4. Decides to continue its considerations of this question at its fifty seventh session