Invoking the Rule of Law to Resolve
the Arab-Israeli Conflict

Approved by the
World Congress of the World Federalist Movement
London, July 15, 2002

Noting World Federalist interest in promoting world peace through world law with justice; in promoting democratization throughout the world and the responsibility of the world community through the United Nations to protect peoples at risk from crimes against humanity; and in empowering the United Nations as the central representative of the world community.

Whereas the application of the rule of law to conflict resolution is a world federalist imperative; and,

Whereas, the world community has established a substantial body of international law in respect to Palestine since 1919; and,

Whereas this body of law includes the League of Nations Covenant, the Palestine Mandate, the United Nations Charter and its Trusteeship Council obligations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 1949 Geneva Conventions, as well as the 1949 Palestine Partition Plan and numerous General Assembly [Security Council] resolutions, notably 242; and,

Whereas these and other assertions of international law in sum represent a commitment to the non-Jewish people of Palestine to achieve self-determination; and,

Whereas for eight decades the world community, as represented by the League of Nations and later by the UN Organization, has failed to fulfill that commitment during which the Palestinian people have gravely suffered physical harm, material deprivation and widespread humiliation; and,

Whereas the remaining lands promised to the Palestinians have been occupied by Israel for thirty- five years, resulting in chronic conflict which has been capable of igniting a regional war; and,

Whereas the Israeli Government in recent years has pursued a confiscatory settlement policy in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention; and,

Committed to maintaining the security and survival of the State of Israel, and to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE WORLD FEDERALIST MOVEMENT

Strongly urges the United Nations Security Council to assert its authority over the unresolved question of self-determination of the Palestinian people by

1. Organizing an impartial, multilateral UN peacekeeping force to end the violence between the State of Israel and the people of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem and to interpose such forces as may be deemed necessary to prevent further conflict, including the prevention of terrorist acts upon civilians;

2. Establishing a United Nations Transitional Authority to prepare the Palestinian territories for self-determination, including free elections, facilitation of a viable economic structure, and organization of the basic services required to run a modern state; and,

3. Upon successful implementation of a general cease-fire and truce between the Palestinian and Israeli forces, the Security Council is called upon to direct the complete withdrawal of Israeli military forces from the Palestinian territories; and,

4. Providing emergency aid for persons displaced by or injured in the recent conflict and funds for restoring the economic infrastructure in the West Bank and Gaza;

Be It Further Resolved, the new independent Palestinian state and the Government of Israel be directed to negotiate under UN mediation the final adjustments to their borders as close to those in effect before 1967 as may be practicable, while simultaneously resolving the remaining issues between the two parties, such as the removal of settlements from Palestinian territory, the determination of fair compensation to those Palestinians who fled from their homes between 1948 and 1967, and the general access by persons of any religious affiliation to the Holy sites of Jerusalem; Bethlehem, Hebron, etc. and,

Be It Further Resolved that the UN Security Council recommend that all UN Members make material contributions commensurate with their capabilities to the social, political and economic development of the new Palestinian state and its people, including to those refugees outside the territories of the forthcoming state; and,

Finally, once it is satisfied that it no longer faces serious threats to its existence or its security, Israel is called upon to fulfil its negotiated commitments in respect to borders, settlements, and refugee compensation, while the new Palestinian state is called upon to agree to permanent peace with its Israeli neighbor, and to exercise its utmost vigilance in interdicting any individuals or groups seeking to resume violent behavior towards Israel.