U.N. Chief Seeks a Plan to Protect Palestinians

Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, frustrated by Israel’s rejection of a U.N. mission to investigate the killing of 20 Palestinians last month, asked the Security Council today to draw up measures to protect inhabitants of the Israeli-occupied territories.

Perez de Cuellar’s proposal was part of a report to the council on the Oct. 8 riots on the Temple Mount, in which Jerusalem police opened fire on rock-throwing Palestinians attacking Jewish worshipers. Authorities said 20 Palestinians died in the deadliest clash in the nearly 3-year-old Palestinian uprising in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The 15-nation Security Council, supported by the United States, twice condemned Israel and demanded an independent inquiry into the killings. The Israeli government carried out its own investigation, found the shootings justified and rejected all U.N. involvement in it.

Perez de Cuellar said he was unable to secure independent information on the incident because the Israeli U.N. representative told him there is “no room for any involvement on the part of the United Nations in any matter relating to Jerusalem.”

“The Security Council might wish to call for a meeting of the high contracting parties (to the Geneva Convention) to discuss measures that might be taken by them under the convention,” he said in the 11-page document.

The Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, which protects civilians in a war zone, is supported by 164 governments, including Israel. The International Committee of the Red Cross is the guardian of the convention.

The Security Council said Israel, as the “occupying power” of the West Bank and Gaza, is responsible under the convention for any mistreatment of Palestinians. Israel rejected the applicability of the convention in the two territories it captured in 1967, saying they are an integral part of Israel.

Perez de Cuellar said he called the meeting of the convention’s signatories to ensure the cooperation by all, particularly Israel.

He said the Oct. 8 riots were a “political conflict,” leading to the condemnation of Israel by the council.

“The determination of the Palestinians to persevere with the intifada is evidence of their rejection of the occupation and their commitments to exercise their legitimate political rights, including self-determination,” he said.