The United Nations and Palestinian Rights, 1974-79

The convening of the thirty-fourth session of the United Nations General Assembly this autumn provides an appropriate occasion for an assessment of the present status of the Palestinian question in the United Nations. A systematic analysis and evaluation of recent UN efforts to deal with the question is particularly opportune in view of the increasing international consensus that the Camp David agreement provides an inadequate frame- work for a just and durable peace in the Middle East. In the absence of any other comprehensive peace proposal, the UN approach is still supported by the overwhelming majority of countries in the world as the basis for a peaceful settlement in the Middle East conflict. UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim, speaking in Monrovia, Liberia at the last summit session of the Organization of African Unity, again reasserted that all parties concerned must ultimately be involved and that the UN offers the unique opportunity to achieve this. In his speech he restated the UN proposal for a preparatory meeting on the Middle East under UN auspices leading to an international conference and an eventual comprehensive settlement of the conflict which would cover all aspects of the problem, including the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.

Regina Sharif is the editor of the Institute for Palestine Studies' annual publication, International Documents on Palestine.