The situation in Israel, the Occupied Territories and Southern Lebanon is an international armed conflict.
Current Situation:
Israel has been at war with its Arab neighbors since its founding in 1948. Through fighting that year, Israel took control of land earmarked by the United nations for a Palestinian State. During the 1967 war, Israel occupied the Sinai Peninsula (returned to Egypt in 1978), the West Bank, Gaza, the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem. Jewish settlements began the following year.
A Declaration of Principles was signed on September 13, 1993 between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) discussing a transfer of power from Israel to an interim Palestinian authority in the occupied territories. Pursuant to that accord and the interim agreement of 1995 (collectively called the Oslo accords), Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip and Jericho in 1994 and a Palestinian police force was established in those areas. Israeli troops have been gradually withdrawing from towns and villages in the West Bank. Yasser Arafat was voted President of the Palestinian areas in January 1996; Hamas boycotted the election. Arafat has announced the outlawing of the military wings of Hamas and the Islamic Jahad organization.
Current Situation:
The return of 80% of the city of Hebron to Palestinian rule as called for under the accords was carried out behind schedule in January 1997. Letters of assurances were also exchanged that stipulate three additional Israeli withdrawals from the West Bank by 1998.
Israel has been revoking the residency of Arabs living in Jerusalem by seizing their identity cards after they return from abroad. Palestinians born in East Jerusalem have been considered "permanent residents" under Israeli law since the city's annexation in 1967. An agreement has not been yet reached on the city's final status. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved new settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and has said he plans to also allow expansion in the Golan Heights.
Israel bombed Southern Lebanon in April 1996 in an attempt to dislodge the Hizbullah rebels. The attack indiscriminately targeted civilians and led to massive displacement. 102 civilians were killed at the U.N. compound in Qana. Talks between Israel and Syria (the major political power in Lebanon) broke off in February 1996 and are expected to resume shortly. Syria wants the Golan Heights to be returned in exchange for a peace treaty. A February 1997 crash of two Israeli helicopters in Lebanon killed 73 Israeli soldiers and generated renewed political activity in Israel to withdraw from Lebanon.
U.N. Action:
Middle East peace: UNEF I (11/56-6/67) / UNEF II (10/73-7/79) /
UNTSO (6/48- )
Golan Heights: UNDOF (6/74- )
Lebanon: UNOGIL (6/58-12/58) / UNIFIL (3/78- )
S.C. Res. 1095 (1/28/97). S.C. Res. 1081 (11/27/96). S.C. Res. 1073 (9/28/96). S.C. Res. 1068 (7/30/96). S.C. Res. 1057 (5/30/96). S.C. Res. 1039 (1/29/96). S.C. Res. 1024 (11/28/95). S.C. Res. 1006 (7/28/95). S.C. Res. 996 (5/30/95). S.C. Res. 974 (1/30/95). S.C. Res. 962 (11/29/94). S.C. Res. 938 (7/28/94). S.C. Res. 921 (5/26/94). S.C. Res. 904 (3/18/94). S.C. Res. 895 (1/28/94). S.C. Res. 888 (11/30/93). S.C. Res. 799 (12/18/92). S.C. Res. 790 (11/25/92). S.C. Res. 726 (1/6/92). S.C. Res. 756 (5/29/92). S.C. Res. 726 (1/6/92). S.C. Res. 694 (1991). S.C. Res. 681 (1990). S.C. Res. 673 (1990). S.C. Res. 672 (1990). S.C. Res. 641 (1989). S.C. Res. 636 (1989). S.C. Res. 608 (1988). S.C. Res. 607 (1988). S.C. Res. 605 (1987). S.C. Res. 592 (1986). S.C. Res. 509 (1982). S.C. Res. 497 (1981). S.C. Res. 478 (1980). S.C. Res. 476 (1980). S.C. Res. 471 (1980). S.C. Res. 465 (1980). S.C. Res. 446 (1979). S.C. Res. 425 (1978). S.C. Res. 338 (1973). S.C. Res. 298 (1971). S.C. Res. 267 (1969). S.C. Res. 252 (1968). S.C. Res. 242 (1967).
G.A. Res. 50/140 (12/21/95). G.A. Res. 50/129 (12/20/95). G.A. Res. 50/29 (12/6/95). G.A. Res. 50/22 (12/4/95). G.A. Res. 50/21 (12/4/95). G.A. Res. 49/149 (12/23/94). G.A. Res. 49/132 (12/19/94). G.A. Res. 49/88 (12/16/94). G.A. Res. 49/87 (12/16/94). G.A. Res. 49/62 (12/14/94). G.A. Res. 49/36 (12/9/94). G.A. Res. 48/450 (12/21/93). G.A. Res. 48/213 (12/21/93). G.A. Res. 48/212 (12/21/93). G.A. Res. 48/158 (12/20/93). G.A. Res. 48/59 (12/14/93). G.A. Res. 48/58 (12/14/93). G.A. Res. 48/41 (12/10/93). G.A. Res. 48/40 (12/10/93). G.A. Res. 47/172 (12/22/92). G.A. Res. 47/170 (12/22/92). G.A. Res. 47/70 (12/14/92). G.A. Res. 47/69 (12/14/92). G.A. Res. 47/64 (12/11/92). G.A. Res. 47/63 A (12/11/92). G.A. Res. 47/63 B (12/11/92). G.A. Res. 47/64 D (12/11/92). G.A. Res. 47/55 (12/9/92). G.A. Res. 46/201 (12/20/91). G.A. Res. 46/199 (12/20/91). G.A. Res. 46/162 (12/19/91). G.A. Res. 46/82 (12/16/91). G.A. Res. 46/76 (12/11/91). G.A. Res. 46/75 (12/11/91). G.A. Res. 46/74 (12/11/91). G.A. Res. 46/47 (12/9/91). G.A. Res. 46/46 (12/9/91). G.A. Res. 46/39 (12/6/91). G.A. Res. 45/183 (12/21/90). G.A. Res. 45/74 F (12/11/90). G.A. Res. 45/67 A (12/6/90). G.A. Res. 45/63 (12/4/90). G.A. Res. 44/41 A (12/6/89). G.A. Res. 44/2 (10/6/89). G.A. Res. 43/175 A (12/15/88). G.A. Res. 43/58 F (12/6/88). G.A. Res. 43/21 (11/3/88). G.A. Res. 42/160 F (12/8/87). G.A. Res. 42/66 A (12/2/87). G.A. Res. 41/63 F (12/3/86). G.A. Res. 41/43 A (12/2/86). G.A. Res. 40/161 F (12/16/85). G.A. Res. 40/96 A (12/2/85). G.A. Res. 39/223 (12/18/84). G.A. Res. 39/95 F (12/14/84). G.A. Res. 39/49 (12/11/84). G.A. Res. 38/79 F (12/15/83). G.A. Res. 38/58 (12/13/83). G.A. Res. 37/88 E (12/10/82). G.A. Res. ES-7/4 (4/28/82). G.A. Res. ES-9/1 (2/5/82). G.A. Res. 36/226 B (12/17/81). G.A. Res. 36/120 (12/10/81). G.A. Res. 35/169 (12/15/80). G.A. Res. ES-7/2 (7/29/80). G.A. Res. 34/65 A (11/29/79). G.A. Res. 34/65 B (11/29/79). G.A. Res. 34/65 C (12/12/79). G.A. Res. 34/65 D (12/12/79). G.A. Res. 33/28 (11/24/78). G.A. Res. 32/40 (12/2/77). G.A. Res. 31/20 (11/24/76). G.A. Res. 3414 (XXX) (1975). G.A. Res. 3376 (XXX) (1975). G.A. Res. 3375 (XXX) (1975). G.A. Res. 3236 (XXIX) (1974). G.A. Res. 194 (III) (1948). G.A. Res. 181 (II) (1947).
ECOSOC Res. 1995/52. ECOSOC Res. 1995/49. ECOSOC Res. 1995/42. ECOSOC Res. 1995/30. ECOSOC Dec. 1995/278. ECOSOC Res. 1994/45. ECOSOC Res. 1994/44. ECOSOC Res. 1994/35. ECOSOC Res. 1994/29. ECOSOC Res. 1993/59. ECOSOC Res. 1993/52. ECOSOC Res. 1993/15. ECOSOC Dec. 1993/253. ECOSOC Res. 1992/58. ECOSOC Res. 1992/16. ECOSOC Res. 1991/19. ECOSOC Dec. 1991/268.
Comm'n Res. 1996/68. (Lebanon) Comm'n Res. 1996/7. (ME peace). Comm'n Res. 1996/5. (Palestine) Comm'n Res. 1996/4. (Occupied Terr.) Comm'n Res. 1996/3. (Occupied Terr.) Comm'n Res. 1996/2. (Golan) Comm'n Res. 1995/67. Comm'n Res. 1995/6. Comm'n Res. 1995/4. Comm'n Res. 1995/3. Comm'n Res. 1995/2. Comm'n Res. 1995/1. Comm'n Res. 1994/83. Comm'n Res. 1994/5. Comm'n Res. 1994/4. Comm'n Res. 1994/3. Comm'n Res. 1994/2. Comm'n Res. 1994/1. Comm'n Res. 1993/67. Comm'n Res. 1993/4. Comm'n Res. 1993/3. Comm'n Res. 1993/2. Comm'n Res. 1993/1. Comm'n Decision 1992/104. Comm'n Res. 1992/70. Comm'n Res. 1992/3. Comm'n Res. 1992/2. Comm'n Res. 1992/1. Comm'n Res. 1991/66. Comm'n Res. 1991/3. Comm'n Res. 1991/2. Comm'n Res. 1991/1. Comm'n Res. 1990/54. Comm'n Res. 1990/3. Comm'n Res. 1990/1.
Sub-Comm'n Res. 1995/9. Sub-Comm'n Res. 1995/2. Sub-Comm'n Res. 1994/13. Sub-Comm'n Dec. 1994/112. Sub-Comm'n Res. 1993/15. Sub-Comm'n Res. 1992/10. Sub-Comm'n Res. 1991/38. Sub-Comm'n Res. 1991/6.
Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (E/CN.4/1996/55). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (E/CN.4/1996/26). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (E/CN.4/1996/21). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (E/CN.4/1996/19). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (S/1995/952). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (S/1995/66). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (E/CN.4/1995/63). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (E/CN.4/1995/28). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (E/CN.4/1995/22). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (E/CN.4/1995/21.) Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (E/CN.4/1995/20). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (A/48/607). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (A/48/188). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (S/1994/587). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (E/CN.4/1994/22). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (E/CN.4/1994/12). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (E/CN.4/1993/44). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (E/CN.4/1993/17). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (E/CN.4/1993/12). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (S/26111). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (E/CN.4/1992/36). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (E/CN.4/1992/11). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (E/CN.4/1992/6). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (E/CN.6/1989/4). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (E/CN.6/1988/8). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (A/46/263- E/1991/88). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (A/46/204-E/1991/88 & Add.1/Add.2). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (S/19443). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (S/21919 & Corr.1). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (S/22472). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (A/46/586). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (A/46/623-S/23204). Rpt. Sec.-Gen. (A/46/652- S/23225).
Reports of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices
Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories (A/50/660; A/50/606; A/50/463; A/50/282; A/50/170; A/49/620; A/49/600; A/49/599; A/49/511; A/49/172; A/49/67; A/48/647; A/48/557; A/48/543; A/48/542; A/48/541; A/48/540; A/48/539; A/48/278; A/48/96; A/48/41; A/47/262; A/47/76; A/46/522; A/46/283; A/46/65; A/45/576).
Report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (A/46/35; A/49/35).
Programme of Action for the Achievement of Palestinian Rights, Report of the International Conference on the Question of Palestine, Geneva, 29 August - 7 September 1983 (U.N. Sales No. E.83.I.21).
Reports of the Special Rapporteurs on the Human Rights Situation in the Palestinian Territory Occupied Since 1967:
(Rene Felber: E/CN.4/1994/14; E/CN.4/1995/19).
(Hannu Halinen: E/CN.4/1996/18).
Reports of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (E/CN.4/1990/13; E/CN.4/1991/20; E/CN.4/1992/18; E/CN.4/1993/25; E/CN.4/1994/26; E/CN.4/1995/36; E/CN.4/1996/38).
Reports of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (E/CN.4/1993/24; E/CN.4/1994/27; E/CN.4/1995/31 & Add.2; E/CN.4/1996/40/Add.1 (Palestinian Authority)).
Reports of the Special Rapporteur on Torture:
(P. Kooijmans: E/CN.4/1990/17; E/CN.4/1991/17; E/CN.4/1992/17; E/CN.4/1993/26).
(Nigel S. Rodley: E/CN.4/1994/31; E/CN.4/1995/34; E/CN.4/1996/35 &
Add.1).
Reports of the Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary
Executions:
(S. Amos Wako: E/CN.4/1990/22; E/CN.4/1991/36; E/CN.4/1992/30).
(Bacre Waly N'diaye: E/CN.4/1993/46; E/CN.4/1994/7; E/CN.4/1995/61;
E/CN.4/1996/4).
Reports of the Special Rapporteur on the Elimination of Religious
Intolerance:
(Angelo Vidal d'Almeida Ribeiro: E/CN.4/1991/56).
(Abdelfattah Amor: E/CN.4/1995/91).