| Year 2004 No. 136, November 26, 2004 | ARCHIVE | HOME | JBBOOKS | SUBSCRIBE |
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Workers' Daily Internet Edition: Article Index :
What Is Jack Straw Doing Interfering in the Middle East and Insulting the Palestinians?
Forthcoming events
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian
People
"Nearly Half of Palestinian Population Lives in
Poverty"*
UN Committee on the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian
People – Draft Resolutions:
Acting on Four Draft Resolutions, Palestinian Rights Committee
Urges General Assembly to Demand End to Israel's Settlement Activities in
Occupied Lands
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The Palestinian people are engaged in a just and heroic struggle for national self-determination, for justice, and for their dignity and identity as a people in their own land. This struggle is being waged in resistance to the policy of the Zionist state in carrying out genocide against the Palestinians through its state terrorism.
Meanwhile, US imperialism has embarked on a policy to bury the sacred cause of the Palestinian people along with the body of the late President Yasser Arafat. Could it now be that true to form the British government for its own political ends and for Anglo-US interests in the Middle East region is rushing to be the envoy of this policy in the wake of Colin Powell? The British government under Tony Blair has followed the tactic of "even-handedly" condemning violence of both Zionists and Palestinians, and deliberately ignoring the justness of the Palestinian cause and the state terrorism of the Israeli Zionists. With the customary arrogance of British government ministers, he is to offer Britain’s "help" to Palestinian leaders to ensure "smooth elections" in January, and pave the way for Tony Blair himself to intervene next month in the search for a "solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict".
Speaking of the conflict, Jack Straw said: "Its effect is so powerful, not just in the Middle East but around the whole Islamic world, that solving it satisfactorily would be a huge prize. It is the engine of so much trouble around the world."
The solution of Straw and the British government is not to demand the end of the violation of human rights by the Israeli government as a precondition for a just and peaceful solution to the problem of terrorism. The talk of a "viable" state is an insult to the Palestinian people when their heroism in the face of the Zionist onslaught to deny them the existence as a people deserves the unreserved support of all progressive people. That the Foreign Secretary can even speak of the "positive approach the Israeli government will be taking" to the elections for the President of the Palestinian National Authority while expressing encouragement to the Palestinian leaders to "control violence" belies the veneer of the "even-handed" approach.
The state terrorism of Israeli Zionists and the US imperialists is the cause of the insecurity for all the peoples of the Middle East irrespective of their origin. This is particularly true when it comes to the people of Israel and the Palestinian people. All attempts by the British government to suggest that the Israeli Zionists defend a righteous cause in the defence of their "security" while offering to help the "peace process" is a preposterous smoke-screen, which must be condemned.
It should be remembered that it was the British colonialists' notorious Balfour Declaration of November 2, 1917, that declared what was not theirs to declare, namely that Palestine could host a "Jewish national home" but that the Palestinian majority were thereafter to consider themselves not a nation but simply a collection of "non-Jewish communities". The result of this disinformation has ever since been repression and injustice, degradation and humiliation, for the Palestinians, not to mention tremendous chaos in the Arab world and an obstacle to the development of the struggles elsewhere for national and social liberation as well.
Jack Straw’s wish is to cover over this injustice, perpetuate this disinformation and quell the Palestinian people’s uprising for their national and social rights, at a time when the flames of resistance in Iraq are burning ever more fiercely.
Thursday 2nd December 7.00 - 9.00 p.m. central London
Tackling the Culture of Impunity: Palestinian Prisoners in Israeli Jails
Friends Meeting House, 173 Euston Road, NW1
Public Meeting
Speakers
There are currently over 7,000 Palestinians from the Occupied Palestinian Territories being held prisoner by the Israeli army and police, in contravention of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Among these are more than 100 women and almost 400 children. Thousands of other Palestinians have been detained since the beginning of the current Intifada in September 2000.
Conditions for Palestinian prisoners, in contrast to those for Jewish Israeli prisoners, are poor. Human rights organisations have reported on the widespread use of torture, violence, solitary confinement and the 700+ prisoners held without trial under administrative detention orders. Of particular concern are the reports of extreme abuse inside "Facility 1391", a secret detention centre in northern Israel.
Palestinian parliamentarians Hussam Khader and Marwan Barghouti are also being held in prison in Israel. The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Amnesty International and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), have expressed concerns about the breach of international law by Israel in the cases of both men, and that both have been subjected to torture and inhuman treatment.
There is a pressing need to restore the centrality of international human rights law to this issue.
Free admission
More details or phone: 020 7832 1350
Organised by: the Parliamentary Human Rights Group; Labour Middle East Council; the Committee in Solidarity with Palestinian Parliamentarian Hussam Khader/Al-Awda UK
Sunday 5th December 9.00 a.m. - 6.15 p.m. central London
Resisting Israeli Apartheid: Strategies and Principles
An International Conference on Palestine
Brunei Gallery, School of Oriental & African Studies, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1
Keynote Speaker
Speakers
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Sponsored by
Tickets: £10.00 (£5.00 students)
Please send Cheque, in Sterling, payable to
SOAS Palestine Society
School of Oriental and African Studies,
Thornhaugh Street,
Russell Square,
London WC1H 0XG
Registration on the day starts at 9 a.m., Brunei Gallery
Passes are to be collected on the day
More details from:
palsoc@soas.ac.uk Mobile:
07960 560 921 / 07733 235 760
www.palestinesociety.org
In1977, the General Assembly called for the annual observance of 29 November as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (Resolution 32/40 B). On that Day, in 1947, the Assembly had adopted the resolution on the partition of Palestine (Resolution 181 (II)). On 1 December 2000, the Assembly noted the action taken by member states to observe the Day, and requested them to continue to give it the widest possible publicity (Resolution 55/53). Reaffirming that the United Nations had a permanent responsibility with respect to the question of Palestine until it was resolved in a satisfactory manner in accordance with International Legitimacy, The Assembly, on 1 December 2000, authorised the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to continue to promote the exercise of these rights, to adjust its work programme in the light of developments, and to emphasise the need to mobilise support and assistance for the Palestinian people (Resolution 55/52). The Committee was requested to continue to cooperate with Palestinian and other NGO’s in mobilising international support for the achievement by the Palestinian people of its rights, and for a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine.
Report, World Bank
Four years since the outbreak of the Intifada in September 2000, the Palestinian economy continues to be mired in deep recession, according to a World Bank report released on November 22, 2004.
The third in a series of reports that examine the impact of the socio-economic crisis in the West Bank and Gaza, Intifada, Closures and Palestinian Economic Crisis: An Assessment reveals that although the Palestinian economy recovered in 2003, this upturn is short-lived. The economy remains severely depressed compared with the pre-Intifada period, with closures stifling economic activity and restricting the movement of people and goods.
"Closures are a key factor behind today's economic crisis in the West Bank. They have fragmented Palestinian economic space, raised the cost of doing business and eliminated the predictability needed to conduct business," says Nigel Roberts, World Bank Country Director for the West Bank and Gaza.
According to the report, the living standards of Palestinians have dramatically declined. Despite economic stabilisation in 2003, some 47 percent of Palestinians live below the poverty line. A separate publication produced jointly by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics and the World Bank, focuses on the 'poorest of the poor', noting that as many as 600,000 Palestinians cannot afford to meet their basic needs in food, clothing and shelter to survive. Facing what is known as subsistence poverty, this group whose expenditures amount to less than $1.5 a day per person has become increasingly vulnerable to economic shocks.
Intifada, Closures and Palestinian Economic Crisis: An Assessment points out that despite a modest and short-term increase in jobs in 2003, labour market indicators show an economy performing well below its potential. The unemployment rate stood at 25 percent in 2003, compared with 10 percent before the Intifada. Young people in particular were hard hit – 37 percent were without jobs compared with 14 percent before the Intifada.
International donors played a critical role in helping Palestinian society endure the economic shocks, says the report. In the 2001-2003 period, donors provided an average of $950 million per year, which helped sustain social service delivery and support the poor through food, cash support and job creation. Without these programmes, the report estimates an additional 250,000 persons would have fallen under the subsistence poverty line – 35 percent above the current level. Nevertheless, the report points out that the quality and coverage of basic social services are severely under stress.
"Donors have more than doubled their disbursement of aid since the Intifada, and this has in effect prevented a more drastic drop in living standards" says Roberts. "But these levels of assistance cannot be sustained indefinitely," he adds, warning of possible donor fatigue in the future.
To revive the Palestinian economy, the report argues that a radical easing of internal closures is needed. The close link between closures and Palestinian economic health is illustrated by the fact that last year's short-lived growth was accompanied by a brief easing of closure and violence.
However, easing of internal closures alone will not be enough to create jobs and fight poverty. Ending the Palestinian economic crisis will also depend on opening external borders, so the private sector can trade in international markets. At the same time, the report calls on the Palestinian Authority to revive its reform programme and maintain fiscal discipline in order to create an investment friendly climate.
UN Committee on the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People – Draft Resolutions:
United Nations General Assembly Committee on the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People 282nd Meeting, November 19, 2004
Meeting formally on the morning of November 19 for the first time since President Yasser Arafat's death, the Palestinian Rights Committee approved four draft resolutions, including one by which the General Assembly would demand the immediate cessation of all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory as well as Israel's withdrawal from Palestinian territory occupied since 1967.
The Committee – officially known as the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People – also considered recent developments in the Middle East.
By the terms of a draft resolution entitled "Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine", which, along with the other three, was approved without a vote, the Assembly would reaffirm the need to achieve a peaceful settlement of that question, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects, and to intensify all efforts towards that goal.
It would also reaffirm its commitment to the two-State solution, based on pre-1967 borders. The Assembly would also reaffirm its full support for the Middle East peace process, stress the need to establish a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, and welcome the Quartet's ongoing efforts.
The other draft resolutions concerned the Palestinian Rights Committee, the Division for Palestinian Rights of the United Nations Secretariat, and the Special Information Programme on the Question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information. The latter text requested the Department to continue that programme for the biennium 2004-2005, in particular to organise international, regional and national seminars or encounters for journalists, aimed at sensitising public opinion to the question of Palestine.
In opening remarks this morning, Committee Chairman Paul Badji (Senegal) said that for decades Mr. Arafat had been a powerful symbol of the Palestinian people's national aspirations, unity, steadfastness and courage. He had devoted most of his life to the struggle against the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land and the dream of his people to realise their inalienable rights. He had embarked on the journey to achieve what he had called the "peace of the brave", as well as the realisation of the State of Palestine.
Sadly, Mr. Arafat had not lived to see the culmination of his life's struggle, he said. By the inspiration of his leadership, however, his work would continue. With the international community's help, the Palestinian people would carry on with efforts to achieve their inalienable rights in their own sovereign State, with a brighter tomorrow for future generations.
Reporting on developments in the peace process and the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, the observer for Palestine said the Committee was meeting at a time of sorrow and transition as the Palestinian people mourned the death of President Arafat, who had led the Palestinian people for four decades in the struggle to achieve their inalienable rights. He had been recognised worldwide as a symbol of the just cause of the Palestinian people and their dream for peace and freedom.
Noting that the Palestinian people were going through a difficult phase in their national struggle, she said that the transfer of power had been proceeding smoothly and that the Palestinian leadership had met extensively to try to fill the gap left by President Arafat. The leadership had agreed that Rawhi Fattuh would be the interim Acting President, Mahmoud Abbas would be the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation and Ahmed Qureia would be the Prime Minister. The main goal now was to conduct free, fair and democratic elections to ensure the legitimacy of executive and legislative institutions.
It was also necessary to work towards a return to negotiations, to end the conflict and achieve a final peace settlement, she said. The Road Map remained the only viable initiative towards that goal and the Palestinian leadership had always supported it. Yet, the occupying Power continued to undermine any effort to implement it. Urging the international community to compel Israel to cease its grave breaches of international law against the Palestinian people, she said that ending the daily death toll in the Palestinian territory was a prerequisite for real change and progress at all levels.
Endorsing the tributes to President Arafat, the representatives of Mali and Tunisia urged the Committee to pursue its work with renewed vigour. The representatives of Lebanon, Sierra Leone and Syria also made comments regarding the draft resolutions.
The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People will meet again at a date and time to be announced in the Journal.
Background
The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People met this morning to consider developments in the Middle East peace process and the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. Before it were a number of draft resolutions on the question of Palestine, which, once adopted, would be forwarded to the General Assembly for its consideration.
Summary of Drafts
The first draft resolution, entitled Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, would have the General Assembly express its appreciation to the Committee and request it to continue to exert all efforts to promote the realisation of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, to support the Middle East peace process and to mobilise international support for and assistance to the Palestinian people.
By a further provision of that text, the Assembly would authorise the Committee to make such adjustments in its approved work programme as might be necessary in the light of developments and to report and make suggestions to the Assembly, the Security Council or the Secretary-General, as appropriate.
In addition, the Secretary-General would be requested to circulate the Committee's report to all competent United Nations bodies, which would be urged to take the necessary action, as appropriate. He would also be asked to continue to provide the Committee with the necessary facilities for the performance of its tasks.
A draft entitled Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat would have the Assembly consider that the Division continues to make a useful and constructive contribution. It would ask the Secretary-General to provide it with the necessary resources and to ensure that it continues to carry out its work programme as detailed in earlier resolutions, in consultation with the Palestinian Rights Committee.
The Assembly would also ask the Secretary-General to ensure the continued cooperation of the Department of Public Information and other units of the Secretariat in enabling the Division to perform its tasks and in covering adequately the various aspects of the question of Palestine.
In a related provision, the Assembly would ask the Committee and the Division, as part of the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 29 November, to continue to organise an annual exhibit on Palestinian rights or a cultural event in cooperation with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations.
According to a text entitled Special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, the Assembly would consider that that programme was very useful in raising awareness of the international community concerning the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East and that it was contributing effectively to an atmosphere conducive to dialogue and support of the peace process.
Further by that text, the Assembly would request the Department, in full coordination with the Committee, to continue its special information programme for the biennium 2004-2005, in particular to: disseminate information on all the United Nations activities relating to the question of Palestine; to continue to issue and update relevant publications; to expand its collection of audiovisual material on that question; and to organise and promote fact-finding news missions for journalists to the area, including the occupied Palestinian territory and East Jerusalem.
The Department would also be asked to: organise international, regional and national seminars or encounters for journalists, aiming in particular at sensitising public opinion to the question of Palestine; and continue to provide assistance to the Palestinian people in the field of media development, in particular to strengthen the training programme for Palestinian broadcasters and journalists initiated in 1995.
A further text, entitled Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, would have the Assembly reaffirm the need to achieve a peaceful settlement of that question, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects, and to intensify all efforts towards that goal.
By other terms the Assembly would demand the immediate cessation of all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. It would stress the need for Israel's withdrawal from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 and the realisation of the Palestinian people's inalienable rights, primarily the right to self-determination and to their independent State.
The Assembly would stress the need for a speedy end to the reoccupation of Palestinian population centres and for the complete cessation of all acts of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror. It would call on the parties, the Quartet and other interested parties to exert all efforts necessary to halting the deterioration of the situation, to reverse all measures taken on the ground since 28 September 2000, and to facilitate a speedy resumption of the peace process and conclusion of a final peaceful settlement.
Under a related provision, the Assembly would stress the need to respect the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 9 July 2004, and to comply with the legal obligations identified therein, which would contribute greatly towards the peaceful and just settlement of the question of Palestine.
In addition, the Assembly would reaffirm its commitment, in accordance with international law, to the two-State solution, based on pre-1967 borders. It would also reaffirm its full support for the Middle East peace process and stress the need to establish a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East. It would also welcome the Quartet's ongoing efforts.
Both parties would be called upon to fulfil their obligations in implementation of the Road Map by taking parallel and reciprocal steps in that regard. The importance and urgency of establishing a credible and effective third-party monitoring mechanism, including all Quartet members, would be stressed.
PAUL BADJI (Senegal), Committee Chairman, opened the meeting by saying that it had been deeply saddened by the passing of Yasser Arafat. For decades he had been a powerful symbol of the Palestinian people's national aspirations, unity, steadfastness and courage. He had devoted most of his life to the struggle against the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land and the dream of his people to realise their inalienable rights. He had embarked on the journey to achieve what he had called the "peace of the brave" and the realisation of the State of Palestine, living side by side with Israel. Sadly, he had not lived to see the culmination of his life's struggle. By the inspiration of his leadership, however, his work would continue and with the international community's help, the Palestinian people would carry on with efforts to achieve their inalienable rights in their own sovereign State, with a brighter tomorrow for future generations.
The Committee then observed a moment of silence.
CHEICK SIDI DIARRA (Mali) endorsed the tribute to President Arafat and stressed how unswervingly his delegation stood with the Palestinian people. The Committee's existence was warranted by the need to uphold the rights of the Palestinian people. It was duty-bound to pursue the work upon which it had embarked since its inception until the Palestinian people's cause triumphed.
Mr. BADJI (Senegal), Committee Chairman, agreed that in continuing the legacy of President Arafat, the Committee must redouble its efforts until the Palestinian people achieved a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine.
Informing members about developments since the Committee's last meeting, on 6 October, he said that on 20 October, the Bureau had held a meeting with the delegation of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. During that constructive meeting, views had been exchanged on the role and contribution of national parliaments and inter-parliamentary organisations in shaping public opinion and formulating policy guidelines. On 11 November, the General Assembly had held a special meeting in tribute to President Arafat.
He said that on 15 November, Terje Roed-Larsen, United Nations Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, had briefed the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. He had told the Council that he saw no alternative to the Road Map and no reason for altering the text at the current point. He had also noted that during the past decade, there had been a marked shift in Israeli and Palestinian attitudes about the peace process. While the prevailing reality in the Middle East remained grim, hope and opportunity remained.
Developments in the Middle East Peace Process and the Situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Including Jerusalem
SOMAIA BARGHOUTI, observer for Palestine, said the meeting was being held at a time of sorrow and transition as the Palestinian people mourned the death of President Arafat, who had not only been the democratically elected leader of the Palestinian people, but had also played a much larger role. For four decades, he had led the Palestinian people in the struggle to achieve their inalienable rights. He had been recognised worldwide as a symbol of the just cause of the Palestinian people and of their dream for peace and freedom.
She said that President Arafat's passing was a great loss and that it was deeply tragic that the cause to which he had dedicated his life remained unfulfilled since the Palestinian people continued to suffer due to the Israeli occupation. President Arafat would always hold a central place in Palestine's history and would always be revered by all peace-loving people around the world. The Palestinian people would remain committed to achieving their national aspirations and the establishment of just and lasting peace.
The Palestinian people were going through a difficult phase in their national struggle, she continued. The transfer of power had been proceeding in a smooth and orderly manner and the Palestinian leadership had met extensively to try to fill the gap left by President Arafat. The leadership had agreed that Rawhi Fattuh would be the interim Acting President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas would be the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation and Ahmed Qureia would be the Prime Minister. The main goal now was to conduct free, fair and democratic elections to ensure the legitimacy of executive and legislative institutions. In accordance with the Palestinian Constitution, elections should be held within 60 days, namely on 9 January 2005. In that regard, the international community was requested to support the Palestinian people to ensure the success of that very important endeavour.
She said it was also necessary to work toward a return to negotiations, to end the conflict and achieve a final peace settlement. The Road Map remained the only viable initiative towards that end and the Palestinian leadership had always supported it. Yet, the occupying Power continued to undermine any effort to implement the Road Map. The international community was urged to take the necessary measures to compel Israel to cease its grave breaches of international law against the Palestinian people. Ending the daily death toll in the Palestinian territory was a prerequisite for real change and progress at all levels. Israel must be compelled to comply with its legal obligations and the international community, including the Quartet, must facilitate the Road Map's implementation. The international community, in particular the United Nations, must play an active role towards ending the occupation. The United Nations had a unique role and a permanent responsibility for the question of Palestine until it was resolved.
ALI HACHANI (Tunisia), associating his delegation with the statement by the observer for Palestine, said he was gratified by the clear vision she had voiced, which represented a continuation of the approach to preserve Palestinian unity and prepare for progress on the question of Palestine. The Committee should take note of the statement and reaffirm the need for the international community to become more deeply involved in the days ahead, not only to overcome existing obstacles, but also to assist the Palestinian people in preparing for elections.
Consideration of Draft Resolutions on Question of Palestine
Mr. BADJI (Senegal), Committee Chairman, said that the four draft resolutions would be submitted to the General Assembly under agenda item 37, entitled "Question of Palestine". The drafts had been updated to reflect recent developments on the ground and in the peace process.
He then introduced the four draft resolutions, including changes to the texts, on: the Palestinian Rights Committee; the Division of Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat; the Special Information Programme of the Department of Public Information on the Question of Palestine; and peaceful settlement of that question.
The Committee then approved the four texts without a vote.
Mr. BADJI (Senegal), Committee Chairman, said he believed that the drafts were realistic and sensible and that they would receive the General Assembly's overwhelming support.
Other Matters
Committee Chairman BADJI (Senegal) then announced that the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People would take place on Monday 29 November in the Trusteeship Council Chamber from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and requested that the Committee's membership be represented at the ambassadorial level.