IPU backs plan to form international body to probe atrocities against Palestinians
The 104th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) conference, held here this Oct.15 through Oct 21, Thursday adopted a resolution supporting the plan of the October 17 Middle Eastern summit meeting in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt, to establish an international commission to investigate humanitarian abuses against Palestinians.
Indonesian news agency ANTARA reports the summit meeting called for United Nations support for the formation of the commission to conduct an objective inquiry into the Israeli aggression against Palestine in which 120 people were killed.
The resolution was based on a joint proposal made by Algeria, Indonesia and Morocco entitled "Bringing an End to the Tension and Violence in the Middle East, Protecting Civilians in Accordance with the Fourth Geneva Convention to Save the Peace Process in accordance with the Relevant United Nations Resolutions."
The resolution was added to the Conference's agenda as an emergency supplementary item.
In the resolution, the Conference deeply deplores the tragic events that have taken place in the Palestinian territories since the provocative visit of Ariel Sharon to Al Haram Al Sharif in Jerusalem on September 28, 2000.
The resolution, adopted with 987 votes in favor, 61 against and 131 abstentions, also condemns all acts of provocation that threaten the peace process and international efforts to establish a fair and comprehensive peace.
It denounces the acts of violence committed in the occupied territories by the Israeli military forces and their excessive use of force which have already resulted in over 120 deaths and more than 4,000 casualties, mostly among Palestinians and including innocent civilians.
The Conference, attended by lawmakers from 107 countries, also urges Israel, which did not send a delegation to the 104th IPU Conference in Jakarta, to fulfil its commitment to cease all military action, to lift the blockade of the Palestinian territories and to restore the situation which existed prior to the current crisis.
The resolution welcomes the encouraging results of the Sharm el Sheik talks as an important step toward ending violence and resuming the political dialogue and calls on both sides to sincerely fulfil their commitment.
Founded in 1889, the IPU is based in Geneva. It musters 140 parliaments and five regional parliamentary organizations as associate members.