United Nations

UN observes International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People

1 December 2003



The United Nations today observed the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People with a series of resolutions and speeches calling for a peaceful settlement of the Middle East conflict. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in remarks to the General Assembly’s Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, said recent peace initiatives by Palestinian and Israeli civil society leaders show a settlement can be reached to the conflict. 

Israel not complying with General Assembly demand to halt barrier - Annan

28 November 2003



The Secretary-General today released his report, requested by the General Assembly, on the Government of Israel’s compliance with the Assembly’s resolution of 21 October 2003, which demands that Israel stop and reverse construction of a barrier in the occupied Palestinian territory. The Secretary-General points out that Israel’s right to live in peace and security “should not be carried out in a way that is in contradiction to international law, that could damage the longer-term prospects for peace. 

Fourth Committee reaffirms role of Palestine refugee agency, calls for maximum possible support

14 November 2003



Concluding its work for the current session, the Fourth Committee took action this morning on ten draft resolutions — approving five texts relating to the work of United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and five on Israeli practices in territories occupied since 1967. The Committee’s action today follows its in-depth consideration of the report of UNRWA’s Commissioner-General on the Agency’s operations. 

Palestinian Rights Committee seeks end to Israeli settlement activities, reversal of building of separation wall

11 November 2003

The General Assembly would call on Israel to halt all settlement activities, and stress the urgent need for it to stop and reverse construction of the wall in the occupied Palestinian territory, according to one of four draft resolutions approved today by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. 

"Israel still destroying occupied territories", says Second Committee delegates

9 November 2003

Israel continued to destroy Palestinian territories through deforestation and the expropriation and erosion of agricultural lands, as well as by seizing lands, harvests and livestock in the occupied Syrian Golan, the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) heard this afternoon as it concluded its debate on permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian and Syrian peoples over their natural resources in the occupied Arab territories. 

Special Rapporteur on adequate housing urges the international community to protect Palestinians and remove Israeli impunity

6 November 2003

The Special Rapporteur on adequate housing of the Commission on Human Rights said today that the Israeli army has destoyed an estimated 4,000 homes over the past three years, leaving thousands of people homeless, many of whom are women, children and elderly persons. The Special Rapporteur urges the international community to act decisively to protect Palestinians by taking urgent steps to remove the impunity that Israel enjoys. 

Speakers condemn Israeli's human rights violation in Occupied territories, call for international disengagement force, as Fourth Committee continues debate

6 November 2003

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) met this morning to continue its discussion on Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories. 

UN Social Committee approves draft resolutions on Palestinian children

6 November 2003

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) today approved a draft resolution on the situation of Palestinian children. The draft resolution was approved in a vote of 86 in favour to 4 against, with 58 abstentions. The text would have the General Assembly stress the urgent need for Palestinian children to live a normal life free from foreign occupation, destruction and fear in their own State, and demand that Israel respect relevant provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and relevant provisions of the Geneva Convention.