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UN General Assembly Resolutions: Resolution 2949

(December 8, 1972)

The General Assembly

Having considered the item entitled "The situation in the Middle East",

Having received the report of the Secretary-General of 15 September 1972 on the activities of his Special Representative to the Middle East,1/

Reaffirming that Security Council resolution 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 must be implemented in all its parts,

Deeply perturbed that Security Council resolution 242 (1967) and General Assembly resolution 2799 (XXVI) of 13 December 1971 have not been implemented and, consequently, the envisaged just and lasting peace in the Middle East has not been achieved,

Reiterating its grave concern at the continuation of the Israeli occupation of Arab territories since 5 June 1967,

Reaffirming that the territory of a State shall not be the object of occupation or acquisition by another State resulting from the threat or use of force,

Affirming that changes in the physical character or demographic composition of occupied territories are contrary to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, as well as to the provisions of the relevant applicable international conventions,

Convinced that the grave situation prevailing in the Middle East constitutes a serious threat to international peace and security,

Reaffirming the responsibility of the United Nations to restore peace and security in the Middle East in the immediate future,

1. Reaffirms its resolution 2799 (XXVI);

2. Deplores the non-compliance by Israel with General Assembly resolution 2799 (XXVI), which in particular called upon Israel to respond favourably to the peace initiative of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the Middle East;

3. Expresses its full support for the efforts of the Secretary-General and his special Representative;

4. Declares once more that the acquisition of territories by force is inadmissible and that, consequently, territories thus occupied must be restored;

5. Reaffirms that the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East should include the application of both the following principles:

(a) Withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict;

(b) Termination of all claims or states of belligerency and respect for and acknowledgment of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every State in the area and its right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force;

6. Invites Israel to declare publicly its adherence to the principle of non-annexation of territories through the use of force;

7. Declares that changes carried out by Israel in the occupied Arab territories in contravention of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 1/ are null and void, and calls upon Israel to rescind forthwith all such measures and to desist from all policies and practices affecting the physical character of demographic composition of the occupied Arab territories;

8. Calls upon all States not to recognize any such changes and measures carried out by Israel in the occupied Arab territories and invites them to avoid actions, including actions in the field of aid, that could constitute recognition of that occupation;

9. Recognizes that respect for the rights of the Palestinians is an indispensable element in the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East;

10. Requests the Security Council, in consultation with the Secretary- General and his Special Representative, to take all appropriate steps with a view to the full and speedy implementation of Security Council resolution 242 (1967), taking into account all the relevant resolutions and documents of the United Nations in this connexion;

11. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council and the General Assembly on the progress made by him and his Special Representative in the implementation of Security Council resolution 242 (1967) and of the present resolution;

12. Decides to transmit the present resolution to the Security Council for its appropriate action and requests the Council to keep the General Assembly informed.

___________________

1/ A/8815. For the printed text of this document, see Official Records of the Security Council, Twenty-seventh Year, Supplement for July, August and September 1972, document S/10792.

2/ United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973.


Sources: The United Nations