BRINGING AN END TO THE TENSION AND VIOLENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, PROTECTING CIVILIANS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOURTH GENEVA CONVENTION, AND ACTION TO SAVE THE PEACE PROCESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RELEVANT UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTIONS

Resolution adopted by the 104th Inter-Parliamentary Conference by 987 votes to 61, with 131 abstentions
(Jakarta, 19 October 2000)

The 104th Inter-Parliamentary Conference,

Recalling its resolution on Jerusalem adopted in Seoul (97th Conference, April 1997) and its resolutions adopted in Amman (103rd Conference, April 2000),

Recalling also UN Security Council resolutions 476 (1980), 478 (1980), 672 (1990), 1073 (1996) and 1322 (2000), and all its other relevant resolutions,

Recalling further the internationally recognised principles of human rights law enshrined in various United Nations Declarations and Conventions and repeatedly endorsed by the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

Asserting the applicability of international humanitarian law, in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,

Deeply concerned by the tragic events that have occurred in the Palestinian territories in particular since the provocative visit of Mr. Ariel Sharon to Al-Haram Al-Sharif in Jerusalem on 28 September 2000, and which have led to numerous deaths and injuries mostly among the Palestinians, due to excessive use of force by the Israeli army in the occupied territories,

Reaffirming that a just and lasting solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict must be based on UN Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973) and UN General Assembly resolution 194 (1948), and on an active process of negotiation which takes account of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination and to the establishment of an independent State,

Expressing its support for the Middle East peace process and the efforts to reach a final settlement between the Israeli and Palestinian sides, and urging the two sides to cooperate in these efforts,

Taking into account the declaration of 17 October by the parties gathered at Sharm el-Sheik who have publicly stated their determination to stop the violence and undertake concrete measures to prevent a recurrence of recent events,

Reaffirming the need for full respect by all of the holy places of the city of Jerusalem, and condemning any behaviour to the contrary,

1. Condemns all acts of provocation that threaten the peace process and international efforts to establish a just and comprehensive peace;

2. Deeply deplores the tragic events that have taken place in the Palestinian territories which have led to an alarming upsurge in the Arab-Israeli conflict since the provocative visit of Mr. Ariel Sharon to Al-Haram Al-Sharif in Jerusalem on 28 September 2000;

3. Denounces the acts of violence committed in the occupied territories by the Israeli military forces and their excessive use of force which have already resulted in over 120 deaths and more than 4,000 casualties, mostly among the Palestinians and including innocent civilians;

4. Urges Israel to fulfil its commitment to cease all military actions, to lift the blockade of the Palestinian territories and to restore the situation which existed prior to the current crisis;

5. Calls on the Israeli Government and the Palestinian National Authority henceforth to prevent any acts of violence;

6. Calls also on Israel, the Occupying Power, to abide scrupulously by its legal obligations and its responsibilities under the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, which is applicable to all the Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967;

7. Calls further on the parties to secure a return to normality so as to improve the prospects for the Middle East peace process in keeping with the principle of land for peace and UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338;

8. Welcomes and supports the intentions announced in the 17 October meeting in Sharm el-Sheik to establish an international commission of inquiry, with the support of the United Nations, for a speedy and objective inquiry into the tragic events of the past few days with the aim of preventing their recurrence;

9. Calls on the two parties to resume substantive negotiations and to do everything possible to achieve lasting peace;

10. Calls also on all forces for peace to mobilise internationally in order to turn the region into a zone of peace and shared prosperity;

11. Welcomes the encouraging results of the Sharm el-Sheik talks as an important step towards ending violence and resuming the political dialogue, and calls on both sides sincerely to fulfil their commitments.

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