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NAMXIII/Summit/Statement Palestine
25 February 2003 Statement of the XIII Non-Aligned Movement Summit on
Palestine
Date:25 February 2003
The Members of the
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Committee on Palestine met at the Ministerial
level to review the situation and to plan future action. They recommended
the following statement for the consideration and adoption by the Summit.
1. The Heads of State or
Government expressed grave concern at the continued destruction and
devastation of Palestinian society and the Palestinian Authority being
caused by the Israeli occupying forces since 28 September 2000. They
strongly condemned the systematic human rights violations and reported war
crimes that have been committed by the Israeli occupying forces against
the Palestinian people. In this regard, they condemned in particular the
willful killing of Palestinian civilians, including extrajudicial
executions; the excessive and indiscriminate use of force, resulting in
extensive loss of life and injury; the wanton destruction of homes,
infrastructure and agricultural lands; the detention and imprisonment of
thousands of Palestinians; and the imposition of collective punishments on
the entire Palestinian population, including severe restrictions on the
movement of persons and goods, resulting in the socioeconomic debilitation
of the Palestinian people, amounting to a dire humanitarian crisis.
2. The Heads of State or Government also expressed their grave concern at
the policies and practices of the Israeli government that have undermined
the Oslo agreements and obstructed efforts to end the tragic situation on
the ground, including the Mitchell recommendations. They called for the
immediate withdrawal of the Israeli occupying forces from Palestinian
cities to positions and arrangements prior to September 2000. In this
regard, they stressed the importance of the full implementation of
relevant Security Council resolutions, including 1322 (2000), 1397 (2002),
1403 (2002) and 1435 (2002).
3. The Heads of State or Government emphasized that the main danger to the
realization of the national rights of the Palestinian people and the
achievement of a peaceful solution is the settler colonialism that has
been carried out in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem, since 1967, through land confiscation, settlement building and
the transfer of Israeli nationals to the Occupied Territory. They stressed
that this policy of settler colonialism, with all the measures that is has
entailed must be immediately stopped and reversed.
4. The Heads of State or Government underscored the legal obligations of
the States Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention as well as Additional
Protocol 1 to ensure respect of the two instruments in all circumstances.
They stressed the need for the effective enforcement of the two
instruments in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East
Jerusalem. In this regard, they called for concrete measures and actions
against products from the illegal Israeli settlements and settler
violators as well as other actions on national, regional and international
levels to ensure enforcement. They affirmed the importance of and called
for the application of legal remedies without impunity to war crimes
committed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.
In this regard, they noted the role of the International Criminal Court.
5. The Heads of State or Government reiterated their commitment to the
achievement of a peaceful solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
They reaffirmed their support for the rights of the Palestinian people to
national independence and the exercise of sovereignty in their State,
Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital. They welcomed, in this
regard, the universally-supported vision of two States, Israel and
Palestine, living side by side in secure and recognized boundaries.
6. The Heads of State or Government further stressed the importance of the
achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East
and, in this regard, welcomed the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the
Summit of the League of Arab States in Beirut on 28 March 2002. The Heads
of State or Government also expressed their support for the efforts of the
Quartet and encouraged it to proceed speedily with the implementation of
its road map, which has been repeatedly delayed. In this regard, they
stressed the need for consultation between the Movement and the Quartet.
7. The Heads of State or Government expressed regret at the absence of
President Yasser Arafat due to the continued obstruction of his freedom of
movement by Israel, the occupying Power. They condemned Israeli policies
and measures in this regard and expressed their solidarity with President
Arafat as the elected leader and the symbol of the struggle of the
Palestinian people.
8. The Heads of State or Government underlined the necessity for an
internationally promoted solution and expressed the determination to exert
efforts in that direction. They also expressed support for the necessary
international presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory to provide
protection for the Palestinian civilian population and to help the parties
implement agreements reached. The Heads of State or Government emphasized
the unique role of the United Nations Security Council with regard to the
above, and called upon the Council to fulfill its duties and
responsibilities towards the question of Palestine and the situation in
the Middle East. They reiterated that Israeli representation in the work
of the General Assembly and international conferences must be in
conformity with international law and called for ensuring that Israeli
credentials do not cover the territories occupied by Israel since 1967,
including East Jerusalem.
9. The Heads of State or Government, stressing the role of the Movement,
expressed appreciation to the Committee on Palestine and to members of NAM
delegation that visited Palestine last year and encouraged similar visits
in the future. They also expressed appreciation to the members of the NAM
Caucus in the Security Council for their effort in the Council with regard
to the Palestinian question.
10. The Heads of State or Government, under the Chairmanship of the
Movement, expressed their determination to follow-up the implementation of
this Statement, including within the United Nations system and in this
regard, instructed their Permanent Representatives in New York including
members of the Committee on Palestine to proceed in that direction.
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