Resolution 50/28
(December 6, 1995)
There was little discussion on this
traditional resolution, which was a repetition of
previous UN decisions affecting Palestinian
refugees. There was not much change in the nature
of the voting. On section A, 145 were in favor, 1
against (Israel), 1 abstention. Section B was
adopted without a vote. Section C was adopted by
a majority of 147 in favor, 2 against (Israel and
the United States) with no abstentions. Section D
was adopted by 150 in favor and none against.
Section E was adopted by 146 in favor, 2 against
(Israel and the U.S.) with 3 abstentions. Section
F was adopted by 98 in favor, 2 against with 48
abstentions. Section G was adopted by 148 in
favor, 2 against and 2 abstentions.
Assistance to Palestine refugees
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 49/35 A of 9 December
1994 and all its previous resolutions on the
question, including resolution 194 (III) of 11
December 1948,
Taking not of the report of the
Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief
and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the
Near East covering the period from 1 July 1994 to
30 June 1995,
Welcoming the signature by the Government of
the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation
Organization of the Declaration of Principles on
Interim Self-Government Arrangements at
Washington on 13 September 1993, Welcoming also
the signature by the Government of the State of
Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization
of the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the
Gaza Strip at Washington on 28 September 1995,
Commending the work of the Multilateral
Working Group on Refugees of the Middle East
peace process,
1. Notes with regret that repatriation or
compensation of the refugees, as provided for in
paragraph 11 of its resolution 194 (III), has not
yet been effected and that, therefore, the
situation of the refugees continues to be a
matter of concern;
2. Expresses its thanks to the
Commissioner-General and to all the staff of the
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East, recognizing
that the Agency is doing all it can within the
limits of available resources, and also expresses
its thanks to the specialized agencies and to
private organizations for their valuable work in
assisting refugees;
3. Notes with regret that the United Nations
Conciliation Commission for Palestine has been
unable to find a means of achieving progress in
the implementation of paragraph 11 of resolution
194(III), and requests the Commission to exert
continued efforts towards the implementation of
that paragraph and to report to the General
Assembly as appropriate, but not later than 1
September 1996;
4. Notes the significant success of the peace
implementation programme of the Agency since the
signing of the Declaration of Principles on
Interim Self-Government Arrangements;
5. Urges all Member States to extend and
expedite aid and assistance with a view to the
economic and social development of the
Palestinian people and the occupied territories;
6. Notes the progress achieved to date in the
transfer of the Agency's headquarters to its area
of operations, and requests the
Secretary-General, in consultation with the
Commissioner-General, to present to the Working
Group on the Financing of the United Nations
Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in
the Near East an updated plan for the transfer;
7. Reiterates its concern about the continuing
seriousness of the financial position of the
Agency, as outlined in the report of the
Commissioner-General;
8. Notes with profound concern that the
structural deficit problem confronting the Agency
portends an almost certain decline in the living
conditions of Palestine refugees and therefore
has possible consequences for the peace process;
9. Calls upon all Governments, as a matter of
urgency, to make the most generous efforts
possible to meet the anticipated needs of the
Agency, including the costs of moving the
headquarters to Gaza, and urges non-contributing
Governments to contribute regularly and
contributing Governments to consider increasing
their regular contributions;
10. Decides to extend the mandate of the
Agency until 30 June 1999, without prejudice to
the provisions of paragraph 11 of General
Assembly resolution 194 (III).
B
Working group on the Financing of the United
Nations Relief and
Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the
Near East
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 2656 (XXV) of 7
December 1970, 2728 (XXV) of 15 December 1970,
2791 (XXVI) of 6 December 1971, 49/35 B of 9
December 1994 and the previous resolutions on
this question,
Recalling also its decision 36/462 of 16 March
1982, by which it took note of the special report
of the Working Group on the Financing of the
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East, Having
considered the report of the Working Group,
Taking into account the report of the
Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief
and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the
Near East covering the period from 1 July 1994 to
30 June 1995,
Deeply concerned about the critical financial
situation of the Agency, which has affected and
affects the continuation of the provision of the
necessary Agency services to the Palestine
refugees, including the emergency-related
programmes.
Emphasizing the continuing need for
extraordinary efforts in order to maintain, at
least at the current minimum level, the
activities of the Agency, as well as to enable
the Agency to carry out essential construction,
1. Commends the Working Group on the Financing
of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East for its
efforts to assist in ensuring the financial
security of the Agency;
2. Takes note with approval of the report of
the Working Group;
3. Requests the Working Group to continue its
efforts, in cooperation with the
Secretary-General and the Commissioner-General,
for the financing of the Agency for a further
period of one year;
4. Requests the Secretary-General to provide
the necessary services and assistance to the
Working Group for the conduct of its work.
C
Persons displaced as a result of the June l967
and subsequent hostilities
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 2252 (ES-V) of 4
July 1967, 2341 B (XXI) of 19 December 1967 and
all subsequent related resolutions,
Recalling also Security Council resolutions
237 (1967) of 14 June 1967 and 259 (1968) of 27
September 1968,
Taking note of the report of the
Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of its
resolution 49/35 C of 9 December 1994,
Taking note also of the report of the
Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief
and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the
New East covering the period from 1 July 1994 to
30 June 1995,
Concerned about the continuing human suffering
resulting from the June 1967 and subsequent
hostilities,
Taking note of the relevant provisions of the
Declaration of Principles on Interim
Self-Government Arrangements, signed in
Washington on 13 September 1993 by the Government
of the State of Israel and the Palestine
Liberation Organization, with regard to the
modalities for the admission of persons displaced
in 1967,
1. Reaffirms the right of all persons
displaced as a result of the June 1967 and
subsequent hostilities to return to their homes
or former places of residence in the territories
occupied by Israel since 1967;
2. Expresses the hope for an accelerated
return of displaced persons through the mechanism
agreed upon by the parties in article XII of the
Declaration of Principles on Interim
Self-Government Arrangements;
3. Endorses, in the meanwhile, the efforts of
the Commissioner-General of the United Nations
Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in
the Near East to continue to provide humanitarian
assistance, as far as practicable, on an
emergency basis, and as a temporary measure, to
persons in the area who are currently displaced
and in serious need of continued assistance as a
result of the June 1967 and subsequent
hostilities;
4. Strongly appeals to all Governments and to
organizations and individuals to contribute
generously to the Agency and to the other
intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations concerned for the above purposes;
5. Requests the Secretary-General, after
consulting with the Commissioner-General of the
Agency, to report to the General Assembly before
its fifty-first session on the progress made with
regard to the implementation of the present
resolution.
D
Offers by Member States of grants and
scholarships for higher education, including
vocational trainings for Palestine refugees
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 212 (III) of 19
November 1948 on assistance to Palestine
refugees,
Recalling also its resolutions 35/13 B of 3
November 1980, 36/146 H of 16 December 1981,
37/120 D of 16 December 1982, 38/83 D of 15
December 1983, 39/99 D of 14 December 1984,
40/165 D of 16 December 1985, 41/69 D of 3
December 1986, 42/69 D of 2 December 1987, 43/57
D of 6 December 1988, 44/47 D of 8 December 1989,
45/73 D of 11 December 1990, 46/46 D of 9
December 1991, 47/69 D of 14 December 1992, 48/40
D of 10 December 1993 and 49/35 D of 9 December
1994,
Cognizant of the fact that the Palestine
refugees have, for the last four decades, lost
their homes, lands and means of livelihood,
Having considered the report of the
Secretary-General,
Having also considered the report of the
Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief
and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the
Near East covering the period from 1 July 1994 to
30 July 1995,
1. Urges all States to respond to the appeal
in its resolution 32/90 F of 13 December 1977 and
reiterated in subsequent relevant resolutions in
a manner commensurate with the needs of Palestine
refugees for higher education, including
vocational training;
2. Strongly appeals to all States, specialized
agencies and non-governmental organizations to
augment the special allocations for grants and
scholarships to Palestine refugees, in addition
to their contributions to the regular budget of
the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East;
3. Expresses its appreciation to all
Governments, specialized agencies and
non-governmental organizations that responded
favourably to its resolutions 41/69 D, 42/69 D,
43/57 D, 44/47 D, 45/73 D, 46/46 D, 47/69 D,
48/40 D and 49/35 D;
4. Invites the relevant specialized agencies
and other organizations of the United Nations
system to continue, within their respective
spheres of competence, to extend assistance for
higher education to Palestine refugee students;
5. Appeals to all States, specialized agencies
and the United Nations University to contribute
generously to the Palestinian universities in the
Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since
1967, including, in due course, the proposed
University of Jerusalem "Al-Quds" for
Palestine refugees;
6. Appeals to all States, specialized agencies
and other international bodies to contribute
towards the establishment of vocational training
centres for Palestine refugees;
7. Requests the Agency to act as the recipient
and trustee for the special allocations for
grants and scholarships and to award them to
qualified Palestine refugee candidates;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to
the General Assembly at its fifty-first session
on the implementation of the present resolution.
E
Operations of the United Nations Relief and
Works Agency
for Palestine refugees in the Near East
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11
December 1948, 212 (III) of 19 November 1948, 302
(IV) of 8 December 1949 and all subsequent
related resolutions,
Recalling also the relevant Security Council
resolutions,
Having considered the report of the
Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief
and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the
Near East covering the period from 1 July 1994 to
30 June 1995,
Taking note of the letter dated 4 October 1995
from the Chairman of the Advisory Commission of
the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees in the Near East addressed to
the Commissioner-General, contained in the report
of the Commissioner-General,
Having considered the reports of the
Secretary-General submitted in pursuance of its
resolutions 48/40 E, 48/40 H and 48/40 J of 19
December 1993 and 49/35 C of 9 December 1994,
Recalling Articles 100, 104 and 105 of the
Charter of the United Nations and the Convention
on the Privileges and Immunities of the United
Nations, Affirming the applicability of the
Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of
Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August
1949, to the Palestinian territory occupied since
1967, including Jerusalem,
Aware of the fact that Palestine refugees
have, for over four decades, lost their homes,
lands and means of livelihood,
Also aware of the continuing needs of
Palestine refugees throughout the occupied
Palestinian territory and in the other fields of
operation, namely in Lebanon, Jordan and the
Syrian Arab Republic,
Expressing its appreciation for the role which
has been played by the United Nations Relief and
Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near
East over the years in the service of the
Palestine refugees, and aware of the importance
of its presence and the increase in its work in
the new circumstances,
Further aware of the valuable work done by the
refugee affairs officers of the Agency in
providing protection to the Palestinian people,
in particular Palestine refugees,
Deeply concerned about the critical financial
situation of the Agency and its effect on the
continuity of provision of necessary Agency
services to the Palestine refugees, including the
emergency-related programmed Aware of the
initiation of the new peace implementation
programme of the Agency,
Convinced of the necessity of the transfer of
the headquarters of the Agency to the occupied
Palestinian territory as part of the area of
operation of the Agency,
Welcoming the signing in Washington on 13
September 1993 of the Declaration of Principles
on Interim Self-Government Arrangements by the
Government of the State of Israel and the
Palestine Liberation Organization, and the
subsequent implementation agreements, including
the Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho
Area signed at Cairo on 4 May 1994 and the
Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip of 28 September 1995,
Taking note of the agreement reached on 24
June 1994, embodied in an exchange of letters
between the Agency and the Palestine Liberation
Organization,
Recalling its decision 48/417 of 10 December
1993 on the establishment of a working
relationship between the Advisory Commission of
the Agency and the Palestine Liberation
Organization,
1. Expresses its appreciation to the
Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief
and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the
Near East, as well as to all the staff of the
Agency, for their tireless efforts and valuable
work;
2. Expresses its appreciation also to the
Advisory Commission of the United Nations Relief
and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the
Near East, and requests it to continue its
efforts and to keep the General Assembly informed
on its activities, including the full
implementation of decision 48/417;
3. Acknowledges the support of the host
Governments and the Palestine Liberation
Organization for the Agency in the discharge of
its duties;
4. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to
accept the de jure applicability of the Geneva
Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian
Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, and to
abide scrupulously by its provisions;
5. Also calls upon Israel to abide by Articles
100,104 and 105 of the Charter of the United
Nations and the Convention on the Privileges and
Immunities of the United Nations with regard to
the safety of the personnel of the Agency and the
protection of its institutions and the
safeguarding of the security of the facilities of
the Agency in the occupied Palestinian territory,
including Jerusalem;
6. Calls once again upon the Government of
Israel to compensate the Agency for damages to
its property and facilities resulting from
actions by the Israeli side;
7. Requests the Commissioner-General to
proceed with the issuance of identification cards
for Palestine refugees and their descendants in
the occupied Palestinian territory;
8. Notes that the new context created by the
signing of the Declaration of Principles on
Interim Self-Government Arrangements by the
Government of the State of Israel and the
Palestine Liberation Organization and subsequent
implementation agreements has had major
consequences for the activities of the Agency,
which is henceforth called upon, in close
cooperation with the United Nations Special
Coordinator in the Occupied Territories, the
specialized agencies and the World Rank, to
continue to contribute towards the development of
economic and social stability in the occupied
territory;
9. Notes also that the functioning of the
Agency remains essential in all fields of
operation;
10. Notes further the significant success of
the peace implementation programme of the Agency
during the first year following the signing of
the Declaration of Principles;
11. Urges all States, specialized agencies and
non-governmental organizations to continue and to
increase their contributions to the Agency so as
to ease current financial constraints and to
support the Agency in maintaining the provision
of the most basic and effective assistance to the
Palestine refugees.
F
Revenues derived from Palestine refugees'
properties
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 194 (III) of 11
December 1948,36/146 C of 16 December 1981 and
all its subsequent resolutions on the question,
Taking note of the report of the
Secretary-General in pursuance of resolution
49/35 F of 9 December 1994,
Taking note also of the report of the United
Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine
covering the period from 1 September 1994 to 31
August 1995,
Recalling that the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights and the principles of international
law uphold the principle that no one shall be
arbitrarily deprived of his or her private
property,
Considering that the Palestine Arab refugees
are entitled to their property and to the income
derived there from, in conformity with the
principles of justice and equity,
Recalling, in particular, its resolution 394
(V) of 14 December 1950, in which it directed the
Conciliation Commission, in consultation with the
parties concerned, to prescribe measures for the
protection of the rights, property and interests
of the Palestine Arab refugees,
Taking note of the completion of the programme
of identification and evaluation of Arab
property, as announced by the Conciliation
Commission in its twenty-second progress report,
and of the fact that the Land Office had a
schedule of Arab owners and file of documents
defining the location, area and other particulars
of Arab property,
1. Requests the Secretary-General to take all
appropriate steps, in consultation with the
United Nations Conciliation Commission for
Palestine, for the protection of Arab property,
assets and property rights in Israel and to
establish a fund for the receipt of income
derived therefrom, on behalf of the rightful
owners;
2. Calls once more upon Israel to render all
facilities and assistance to the
Secretary-General in the implementation of the
present resolution;
3. Calls upon the Governments of all the other
Member States concerned to provide the
Secretary-General with any pertinent information
in their possession concerning Arab property,
assets and property rights in Israel which would
assist the Secretary-General in the
implementation of the present resolution;
4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to
the General Assembly at its fifty-first session
on the implementation of the present resolution.
G
University of Jerusalem "Al Quds"
for Palestine refugees
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 36/146 G of 16
December 1981, 37/120 C of 16 December 1982,
38/83 K of 15 December 1983, 39/99 K of 14
December 1984, 40/165 D and K of 16 December
1985, 41/69 K of 3 December 1986, 42/69 K of 2
December 1987, 43/57 J of 6 December 1988, 44/47
J of 8 December 1989, 45/73 J of 11 December
1990, 46/46 J of 9 December 1991, 47/69 J of 14
December 1992, 48/40 I of 10 December 1993 and
49/35 G of 9 December 1994,
Having considered the report of the
Secretary-General,
Having also considered the report of the
Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief
and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the
Near East covering the period from 1 July 1994 to
30 June 1995,
1. Emphasizes the need for strengthening the
educational system in the Palestinian territory
occupied by Israel since 5 June 1967, including
Jerusalem, and specifically the need for the
establishment of the proposed university;
2. Requests the Secretary-General to continue
to take all necessary measures for establishing
the University of Jerusalem "Al-Quds",
in accordance with General Assembly resolution
35/13 B of 3 November 1980, giving due
consideration to the recommendations consistent
with the provisions of that resolution;
3. Calls once more upon Israel, the occupying
Power, to cooperate in the implementation of the
present resolution and to remove the hindrances
that it has put in the way of establishing the
University of Jerusalem "Al Quds";
4. Also requests the Secretary-General to
report to the General Assembly at its fifty-first
session on the progress made in the
implementation of the present resolution.
Sources: The United Nations |