NAM XIII/Summit/Statement Palestine

25 February 2003

STATEMENT ON PALESTINE

The Heads of State or Government expressed grave concern at the continued destruction and devastation of Palestinian society and the Palestinian Authority being caused by the Israeli occupying forces since 28 September 2000.  They strongly condemned the systematic human rights violations and reported war crimes that have been committed by the Israeli occupying forces against the Palestinian people.  In this regard, they condemned in particular the willful killing of Palestinian civilians, including extrajudicial executions; the excessive and indiscriminate use of force, resulting in extensive loss of life and injury; the wanton destruction of homes, infrastructure and agricultural lands; the detention and imprisonment of thousands of Palestinians; and the imposition of collective punishments on the entire Palestinian population, including severe restrictions on the movement of persons and goods, resulting in the socioeconomic debilitation of the Palestinian people, amounting to a dire humanitarian crisis.

         The Heads of State or Government also expressed their grave concern at the policies and practices of the Israeli government that have undermined the Oslo agreements and obstructed efforts to end the tragic situation on the ground, including the Mitchell recommendations.  They called for the immediate withdrawal of the Israeli occupying forces from Palestinian cities to positions and arrangements prior to September 2000.  In this regard, they stressed the importance of the full implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions, including 1322 (2000), 1397 (2002), 1403 (2002) and 1435 (2002).

         The Heads of State or Government emphasized that the main danger to the realization of the national rights of the Palestinian people and the achievement of a peaceful solution is the settler colonialism that has been carried out in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, since 1967, through land confiscation, settlement building and the transfer of Israeli nationals to the Occupied Territory.  They stressed that this policy of settler colonialism, with all the measures that is has entailed must be immediately stopped and reversed.

         The Heads of State or Government underscored the legal obligations of the States Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention as well as Additional Protocol 1 to ensure respect of the two instruments in all circumstances.  They stressed the need for the effective enforcement of the two instruments in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.  In this regard, they called for concrete measures and actions against products from the illegal Israeli settlements and settler violators as well as other actions on national, regional and international levels to ensure enforcement.  They affirmed the importance of and called for the application of legal remedies without impunity to war crimes committed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.  In this regard, they noted the role of the International Criminal Court.

         The Heads of State or Government reiterated their commitment to the achievement of a peaceful solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.  They reaffirmed their support for the rights of the Palestinian people to national independence and the exercise of sovereignty in their State, Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital.  They welcomed, in this regard, the universally-supported vision of two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in secure and recognized boundaries.

         The Heads of State or Government further stressed the importance of the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East and, in this regard, welcomed the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Summit of the League of Arab States in Beirut on 28 March 2002.  The Heads of State or Government also expressed their support for the efforts of the Quartet and encouraged it to proceed speedily with the implementation of its road map, which has been repeatedly delayed. In this regard, they stressed the need for consultation between the Movement and the Quartet.

         The Heads of State or Government expressed regret at the absence of President Yasser Arafat due to the continued obstruction of his freedom of movement by Israel, the occupying Power.  They condemned Israeli policies and measures in this regard and expressed their solidarity with President Arafat as the elected leader and the symbol of the struggle of the Palestinian people.

         The Heads of State or Government underlined the necessity for an internationally promoted solution and expressed the determination to exert efforts in that direction.    They also expressed support for the necessary international presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory to provide protection for the Palestinian civilian population and to help the parties implement agreements reached.  The Heads of State or Government emphasized the unique role of the United Nations Security Council with regard to the above, and called upon the Council to fulfill its duties and responsibilities towards the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East.  They reiterated that Israeli representation in the work of the General Assembly and international conferences must be in conformity with international law and called for ensuring that Israeli credentials do not cover the territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including East Jerusalem.

         The Heads of State or Government, stressing the role of the Movement, expressed appreciation to the Committee on Palestine and to members of NAM delegation that visited Palestine last year and encouraged similar visits in the future.  They also expressed appreciation to the members of the NAM Caucus in the Security Council for their effort in the Council with regard to the Palestinian question.

The Heads of State or Government, under the Chairmanship of the Movement, expressed their determination to follow-up the implementation of this Statement, including within the United Nations system and in this regard, instructed their Permanent Representatives in New York including members of the Committee on Palestine to proceed in that direction.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

25 February 2003