Perhaps more than ever before, the international community is at an important period of history filled with opportunities to translate the hopes of the people of Palestine into reality. In this regard, the Non- Aligned Movement welcomes the positive statements and actions of the US, European countries and the Arab League in assisting Israel and Palestine to re-kindle the Middle East Peace Process. The NAM welcomes the emerging international consensus on the need to create an independent Palestinian State based on Security Council Resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and the principle of land for peace. Indeed, this emerging consensus reaffirms the Movement’s long standing principled position calling for the creation of an independent Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital. The achievement of these ideals will meet the aspirations of the people of Palestine and bring about a lasting and comprehensive peace to the Middle East.

But the tragic events of the last year demonstrate that a lot more needs to be done to lift the hopes of the Palestinian people. In the past year the international community has witnessed a dramatic deterioration of the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem. The NAM reiterates its condemnation of the excessive use of force by Israel towards the Palestinians, the incursions into and re-occupation of Palestinian controlled territory and institutions in particular Orient House, the extra-judicial killings, the continuing expansion and building of settlements, the blockades and other forms of collective punishment.

We wish to reiterate our common conviction that a just and lasting peace can only be achieved through peaceful negotiations. The full implementation of the recommendations of the Sharm El-Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee (Mitchell Report) provides a good basis for the parties to take the necessary steps to bring violence to an end. The deployment of a credible international presence or monitoring mechanism in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is necessary to verify the implementation of agreements.

The Movement is pleased with the reconvening on 5 December 2001 of the Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War (Fourth Geneva Convention) on measures to enforce the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory including Jerusalem. In this regard, NAM urges Israel to make every effort to fulfil its obligations under the Convention.

Lastly, we wish to restate the Movement’s principled position that the United Nations, and in particular the Security Council, has a permanent responsibility towards the question of Palestine and commend the role played by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in the peace process.