UN General Assembly Resolutions: Resolution 43/233

The General Assembly,

Having considered the item entitled "Question of Palestine",

Guided by the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,1/

Gravely concerned at and alarmed by the deteriorating situation in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem,

Expressing its profound shock at the latest action of members of the Israeli armed forces on 13 April 1989, which resulted in the killing and wounding of Palestinian civilians in the town of Nahalin,

Having considered the statement of the Secretary-General on 13 April 1989 relative to that raid,

Aware that Israel, the occupying Power, has imposed limitations on Palestinian Muslims that restrict their participation in the life of their community and in the observance of their religious rites and obligations,

Taking into account the need to consider means for the impartial protection of the Palestinian civilian population under Israeli occupation,

Considering that the current policies and practices of Israel, the occupying Power, in the occupied Palestinian territory are bound to have grave consequences for the endeavours to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East,

Reaffirming once again that the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, is applicable to the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by Israel, including Jerusalem,

1. Condemns those policies and practices of Israel, the occupying Power, which violate the human rights of the Palestinian people in the occupied territory, including the right of freedom of worship, and, in particular, the opening of fire by Israeli armed forces, which has resulted in the killing and wounding of defenceless Palestinian civilians, and specifically the latest action of members of the Israeli armed forces against the defenceless civilians in the Palestinian town of Nahalin;

2. Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, abide scrupulously by the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, and that it desist immediately from those policies and practices which are in violation of the provisions of the Convention;

3. Requests the Security Council to consider with urgency the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory with a view to considering measures needed to provide international protection to the Palestinian civilians in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem;

4. Stresses the urgent need to expedite the convening of the International Peace Conference on the Middle East, under the auspices of the United Nations and in conformity with the provisions of General Assembly resolution 43/176 of 15 December 1988;

5. Requests the Secretary-General to submit periodic reports on developments in the occupied Palestinian territory.

* * *

1/ Resolution 217 A (III).

2/ United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.

RECORDED VOTE ON RESOLUTION 43/233: 129-2-1

In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Yemen, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, German Democratic Republic, Germany, Federal Republic of, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Against: Israel, United States of America.

Abstaining: Liberia.

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*Later the delegations of Ecuador and Vanuatu advised the Secretariat that they had intended to vote in favour.

Sources: The United Nations