Situation in the Middle East
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly debate on 22 and 23 April 1980 (3rd, 4th and 5th Sittings) (see Doc. 4524, report of the Political Affairs Committee). Text adopted by the Assembly on 23 April 1980 (5th Sitting).
- Thesaurus
The Assembly,
1. Recalling its previously adopted resolutions on the subject of the conflict in the Middle East, stressing already in 1971 (
Resolution 490) the vital interest of Europe and the important role which she could play in pursuing a just, comprehensive and lasting peace, as well as the necessary participation of all parties concerned, including the Palestinians, in negotiations for a peace treaty to include agreement on secure and recognised frontiers for all the countries in the region ;
2. Considering that for accidental, historical and geographical reasons Europe has a duty to contribute to a peaceful solution to the conflict ;
3. Having heard the Ministers of State or Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Israel and Egypt, Syria and Jordan in plenary session at Strasbourg ;
4. Having taken note of the report of its Political Affairs Committee (
Doc. 4524), based on hearings with the spokesmen of the principal interested parties, including ministers, parliamentarians, representatives of the PLO and the Arab League, and President Carter's special ambassador to the Middle East ;
5. Recalling its recent condemnation, in
Recommendation 852 (1979), of "all terrorist acts which,regardless of their cause, consist of calculated violence against innocent people" ;
6. Wishing to contribute to the search for a solution to the serious crisis which affects the states of the Middle East as well as hundreds of thousands of refugees ;
7. Welcoming the efforts undertaken by Israel and Egypt, following the courageous initiative of President Sadat and the rapid and constructive response from Prime Minister Begin and other Israeli political leaders (the opposition included), to put an end, in the framework of the Camp David accords, to the thirty-year conflict between these two states, but regretting that these accords, important as they are, cannot up to now be seen as constituting a basis for the hoped-for comprehensive agreement ;
8. Acknowledging that recognition of the PLO as the representative organisation of the Palestinians will be contested by several European governments as long as it has not recognised the legitimacy of the state of Israel and renounced recourse to violence ;
9. Believing that recognition of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territories by force and the recognition of the right of self-determination of the Palestinian people are fundamental elements in the political settlement of the Middle East conflict,
10. Reaffirms the right to existence, security and independence of the state of Israel, while recognising the same rights for the states neighbouring Israel ;
11. Condemns the Israeli settlements policy in the occupied territories, which is contrary to international law and compromises the chances of achieving a just and lasting peace ;
12. Stresses that the refusal of Israel to recognise the right of the Palestinian people to selfdetermination and independence constitutes, like the refusal of the PLO to recognise the state of Israel's right to exist, an obstacle to the solution of the present crisis ;
13. Concerned at the particularly tragic situation in Lebanon, calls for an end to the fighting, the bombardments and the violence which are fragmenting the country, which longs for the return of peace with sovereignty and independence ;
14. Considers that recent events in Iran and Afghanistan, which have created new areas of tension in other countries of the region and constitute dangerous destabilising factors, render a just and comprehensive settlement of the Israeli-Arab conflict more urgent ;
15. Without prejudicing any future negotiations, considers that definition of the future status of Jerusalem should take account not only of political factors, but also of the religious dimension of the Holy Places ;
16. Appeals to all parties concerned to make the reciprocal concessions needed to start negotations leading to respect for the right of the Palestinian and Israeli peoples to determine their own future, a right which should be endorsed by the international community ;
17. Appeals to the governments of member states of the Council of Europe to co-ordinate their action within the United Nations with a view to completing or replacing Security Council
Resolution 242 (1967), which reduces the problem of the Palestinian people to a refugee problem, and to work for the introduction, under precise conditions, of collective and effective guarantees for the inviolability of the frontiers which will result from the negotiations which should take place ;
18. Hopes that the member states of the Council of Europe will contribute bilaterally and multilaterally to the harmonious and democratic development of this region ;
19. Invites the members of this Assembly to intervene in their national parliaments and with their governments with a view to securing implementation of the provisions of this resolution.
