GA/PAL/729*
NGO/274

UN INTERNATIONAL NGO MEETING/EUROPEAN NGO SYMPOSIUM ON PALESTINE OPENS; THREATS TO MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS DECRIED

Focusing on recent political developments in the region, participants expressed concern that the Middle East peace process was threatened under the Government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They called on Mr. Netanyahu and his Likud party to live up to international agreements already signed on Palestine.

Vladimir Petrovsky, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, speaking on behalf of Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, said recent developments had sparked concern that the peace process might be losing momentum, and it was essential that the parties should abide by agreements already reached and exert every effort to fulfil the hopes of all peoples in the area for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.

Ibra Deguene Ka of Senegal, Chairman of the symposium and of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, said the Committee hoped Israel would maintain the momentum of the peace negotiations and respect and implement in full agreements already reached.

Don Betz, Chairman of the International Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine, said there had been dramatic changes and much progress and hope since the first such meeting of NGOs had been held in Geneva in 1983, but little recent news out of the region fostered confidence. The Chairman of the Coordinating Committee of European NGOs on the Question of Palestine, John Gee, said Mr. Netanyahu appeared to believe in a dictated peace that Palestinians would have to accept despite international law and United Nations resolutions, and called for NGOs to launch major efforts on behalf of the rights of Palestinians.

* Press Release GA/PAL/727, dated 30 August, should have been numbered GA/PAL/728.

As'ad Abdul Rahman, member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), speaking on behalf of PLO leader Yasser Arafat, said all aspects of the Palestinian question needed to be fully addressed to ultimately achieve justice and a comprehensive settlement, and the PLO was committed to bringing all issues to the negotiating table.

Talal Shubeilat, representative of the League of Arab States, said the Arab countries concerned had committed themselves to the initiatives of land for peace and the fundamental role of national legitimacy for Palestine, while the new Israeli Government was trying to impose peace without facing the true factors involved.

During the plenary, the meeting also heard from representatives of two opposition parties in the Israeli Knesset, the National Democratic Assembly Party and the Labour Party. Also providing a statement was Ziad Abu Amr, a member of the Palestinian Council.

Statements

VLADIMIR PETROVSKY, Under-Secretary-General and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, presented a message from Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, saying NGOs had played a major role in informing international public opinion on the question of Palestine and had been at the forefront of efforts to promote a peaceful settlement of the Middle East conflict; they also had a long and successful record of providing humanitarian and other assistance to the Palestinian people. Recent developments had sparked concern that the peace process might be losing momentum, and it was essential that the parties should abide by agreements already reached and exert every effort to fulfil the hopes of all peoples in the area that a comprehensive, just and lasting peace could at long last be realized.

The United Nations, he went on, continued to attach the utmost importance to the promotion of social and economic development in the Palestinian territories. Despite progress in institution-building and the development of vital infrastructure, enormous challenges remained, requiring sustained international commitment and action and providing a valuable role for NGOs to play. Regrettably, the development effort had suffered setbacks earlier this year when the protracted closure of the occupied territories had a damaging impact on the fragile Palestinian economy. Despite the subsequent easing of the closure and the establishment of an emergency employment programme based on a proposal made by the United Nations Special Coordinator in the Occupied Territories, economic conditions remained precarious; it was the Secretary-General's sincere hope that the parties would resume dialogue at the earliest possible date to overcome these pressing problems.

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IBRA DEGUENE KA (Senegal), Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, said that in response to the request made by some NGOs, the Committee had decided to hold this year's international NGO meeting in the territory under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority, but in view of recent developments, had concluded that the current restrictions imposed by the Israeli Government on freedom of movement between Gaza and the West Bank would negatively affect the holding of the meeting in Gaza. But the Committee had expressed its continuing desire to organize an event in the territory when circumstances permitted, and openness and acceptance by the Government of Israel regarding the necessary arrangements for such an event in the future would be a significant confidence-building measure.

As the new Government of Israel took office, the Committee entertained the hope that it would maintain the momentum of the peace negotiations and respect and implement in full agreements already reached, Mr. Ka said. The Committee, despite the obstacles encountered, continued to believe that efforts must still be made for the progressive achievement of a just and comprehensive settlement of the question of Palestine, in peace and free from any recurrent violence. The Committee attached much importance to the work of the NGO community, and would like to see more coordination of action between and among NGOs in the various regions, and the development of common projects. The role played by the international community and action by NGOs had become particularly crucial; there was an urgent need to support the fragile achievements of the peace process, and he looked forward to fruitful and effective exchange of views at the three-day symposium.

AS'AD ABDUL RAHMAN, member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, speaking on behalf of Yasser Arafat, PLO Executive Committee Chairman, said Mr. Arafat was grateful and supportive of NGO efforts to build a comprehensive and just peace for Palestine. All aspects of the Palestinian question needed to be fully addressed to ultimately achieve justice and a comprehensive settlement; the PLO was committed to bringing all issues to the negotiating table, reflecting United Nations resolutions. The whole world had shown respect for the courage of the Palestinian people in their efforts to bring Israel's Benyamin Netanyahu to the negotiating table, but the real triumph would be in getting Israel to participate in genuine negotiations. Anything less would be a prescription for the continuation of the vicious circle of violence in the area. Palestine would not negotiate what had already been negotiated; there had been closures of territories and major violations of agreements already signed between Israel and the Palestinian Government.

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Mr. Netanyahu was good at public relations, but peace took more than public relations, he continued. What Palestinians had seen to date gave no grounds for confidence that the present Israeli Government was truly seeking peace, or even seeking to live up to the commitments signed by the previous Israeli Government; the Likud Party could not and should not retreat on agreements signed by the Israeli State. Palestinians believed that peace was not only desirable but possible. The NGOs at this meeting were called to approach their work with dedication and resilience, as the future of the peace process as a whole was at stake; what happened here would have a great effect on the confidence of the Palestinian people, and their confidence was an important thing. True peace meant freedom and independence for all of those in the occupied Palestinian territories, who would have a unified State with Jerusalem as the capital. Closures of territory and continued violations of human rights and of United Nations resolutions by Israel must cease. Recently hard-won progress had been reversed, and that trend could not continue and could not by any stretch of the imagination be construed as fostering the peace process. The NGOs should work to end life-threatening measures against Palestinians, especially refugees, and international socio-economic aid to promote Palestinian development was crucial.

DON BETZ, Chairman of the International Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine, said the issue of Palestine had taken many shapes since the first such meting had been held in Geneva in 1983; NGOs had conceptualized their mission as education and advocacy among the peoples and Governments of the world. There had been dramatic changes over 14 years, and much progress and hope, yet for all that had happened, the NGO mission was not finished. Issues remained unresolved, including the settlements and a genuine cessation of Israeli occupation, refugees and the right of return, Jerusalem, and the creation of a Palestinian State.

Recently, there had been little news to foster confidence that genuine progress on these issues had been made or was even possible, Mr. Betz went on. The policy announcements by the Israeli Prime Minister raised grave concerns about the Government's compliance with commitments made by the Rabin/Peres Government, commitments guaranteed by the United States in its role as sponsor of the peace process. In light of those realities, the international community, including the United Nations and the NGOs, must continue to meet their responsibilities to fulfil the relevant United Nations resolutions pertaining to Palestine. The United States also had voluntarily assumed a special role to broker the peace process, and it was incumbent upon the country to protect the rights and emphasize the responsibilities of the parties to the process in equal measure. The NGOs for their part must identify and call attention to opportunities for enhanced, balanced initiatives by the United States and Europe.

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JOHN GEE, Chairman of the Coordinating Committee of European NGOs on the Question of Palestine, said the Israeli Prime Minister appeared to believe in a dictated peace that Palestinians would have to accept despite international law and United Nations resolutions. The events of the past year had highlighted how much more had to be done to achieve a just and comprehensive settlement. The past year had been a difficult one for NGOs as well, given the difficulty in attracting financial support and commitment. Recently, however, the trend seemed to be reversing, and some successful initiatives had been launched, often aimed at new constituencies. He expressed the hope that the best use would be made of this important time to launch major efforts on behalf of the rights of Palestinians.

TALAL SHUBEILAT, representative of the League of Arab States, said the League was grateful for NGOs for the efforts they were making for a just and equitable peace in the region. The meeting was taking place at a critical time: the Arab countries concerned had committed themselves to the initiatives of land for peace and the fundamental role of national legitimacy, and effective measures had been taken in recent years, despite delaying tactics by Israel to avoid fulfilment of the terms of the peace accords. But the adoption of a policy diametrically opposed to that of the previous Israeli Government posed a major challenge to the peace process. The new Government was trying to impose peace without facing the true factors involved. "Peace for peace" would not achieve peace or increase security in the region. The Israeli Government was refusing to carry out its commitments as made in the Oslo accords. Both sides had to live up to their commitments, and a just peace meant that both sides had to make concessions. Israel was making a serious mistake if it felt it could achieve peace without giving Palestinians their just rights and their true capital of Jerusalem. The NGOs gathered here had an important role to play, and he encouraged them in their efforts.

ZIAD ABU AMR, member of the Palestinian Council, speaking on the status of the implementation of the concluded agreements, said until recently the general feeling was that the peace process was going in the right direction and was, in fact, irreversible. But since February, and the suicide attacks carried out against Israeli civilians, the peace process had been deadlocked because of Israeli security measures closing the occupied territories and causing economic damage, ending freedom of movement and crushing the hopes of thousands of Palestinians. Permanent-status negotiations, crucial to Palestinians, had stalled; Palestinians had accepted the unfair conditions of the interim agreements in order to reach the point of permanent-status negotiations.

Then, in late May, the Likud Party had won the Israeli elections, and its leader had ignored or rejected principles already agreed to by the previous Government, he went on. The new Government rejected the principle of

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"land for peace", which was the cornerstone of the peace process. Furthermore, there had been a reverse of progress previously made on the issue of Jerusalem; redeployment of Israeli forces in the area of Hebron had not occurred as agreed; safe passage agreements for Palestinians had not been honoured and Palestinian prisoners had not been released as promised. In short, Palestinians had not enjoyed the fruits of peace, either politically or economically. If the peace process collapsed, Israel would have to bear the responsibility.

ASMI BISHARA, member of the Israeli Knesset, representing the National Democratic Assembly Party, said the new Israeli Government called peace with the Palestinians "peace for peace"; in fact, the Likud Government had no concept of peace with Palestinians, nothing to offer. The main difference with the previous Government was that the Labour Government had at least had a model for peace, even if it had been unacceptable for Palestinians, including him. Palestinians could have lived with the Labour concept for peace.

Deficiencies in the Oslo agreement had been exploited by the Likud Party, Mr. Bishara said. The deficiencies were that the Oslo accord had no final goal or station that was binding on Israel -- any new Government could interpret the "spirit of Oslo" differently. The Oslo accord had one term of reference, which was the balance of power, and in matters of dispute the balance of power lay with Israel. The Israelis could simply freeze the negotiations and stop the process while at the same time claiming to abide by the spirit of Oslo. What was happening now in the territories, with the construction of bypass roads and the continued closure of the Palestinian areas, was nothing less than apartheid.

He also was worried about the potential for the establishment of a dictatorship in Palestine, he said. Seven prisoners recently had died after torture in Palestinian prisons. Palestinians must not forget, in their push for self-determination, that they must also push for democracy. Without democracy, the Palestinian leadership ran the risk of isolating itself from the Palestinian people.

YOSSI KATZ, a member of the Israeli Knesset, representing the Labour Party, said the outcome of the Israeli elections had stunned political commentators, professional politicians and the general public in Israel and throughout the world. No one present here could possibly anticipate what would be the real results of this change of Government and its effect on the peace process. There was little doubt that Prime Minister Netanyahu was under greater pressure than any Israeli statesman ever had had to face. On the one hand, he was a prisoner of his arrogant statements and the undertakings made to his right-wing supporters; on the other, the reality in the field and international pressure dictated that he act in a way that was different and

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that did not sit very well with him. The elections proved that Israeli public opinion was split on the issue of the peace process -- many believed that Peres had run too far too fast, and that perhaps Netanyahu would succeed in "extracting" from the Palestinians and the Syrians a better political settlement from the standpoint of Israel's security; Netanyahu was walking a very thin tightrope.

While supporters of the peace process could point to a number of positive moves by the new Government, he said, there were also many negative developments, such as the arrogant avoidance of the objectively unavoidable meeting with Yasser Arafat; the decision to reinforce the settlements; the continuing closure of the territories; and the delay in withdrawing from Hebron. The conclusion to be drawn from all this was that Netanyahu had not decided where he was heading. But time was running out. Although in recent days there had been a crisis in relations between the Netanyahu Government and Israel's Palestinian partners, the Palestinian leadership must not give up; public opinion would not tolerate the failure of the Oslo initiative.

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United Nations