The Chairperson of the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement , Dr NC Dlamini-Zuma has noted with profound concern the current grave conditions prevailing in Palestine resulting from Israel's aggression and reoccupation of most of the Palestinian cities and continued siege on President Yasser Arafat, in addition to the atrocities perpetrated by the Israeli army against Palestinian civilians in the reoccupied Palestinian cities of Nablus and Jenin.

The Chairperson stated that the Israeli aggression is in breach not only of Israel's obligations under agreements that it has signed with the Palestinians, but also constitute a breach of the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and all international instruments on human rights and international humanitarian law.

The NAM repeated the demand for Israel to implement, without delay, Security Council Resolutions 1402 and 1403 by immediately withdrawing its forces from the reoccupied Palestinian cities and ending the siege imposed on President Arafat.

Israel should further allow unconditional immediate access to the United Nations fact-finding mission that was set up by the Secretary General of the United Nations in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1405 to investigate the situation and reported atrocities in the Jenin refugee Camp.

The Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Committee on Palestine is due to meet in Durban during the coming weekend and will be giving detailed attention to the current situation in Palestine and will report to the entire membership of the NAM on 28 April 2002.