United Nations Security Council Resolution 681

United Nations Security Council resolution 681, adopted unanimously on 20 December 1990, after receiving the report from the Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar authorised in Resolution 672 (1990) regarding the riots at Temple Mount, the Council expressed its concern over Israel's rejection of resolutions 672 (1990) and 673 (1990).

The Council went on to condemn Israel for its decision to resume the deportation of Palestinians from the occupied territories, urging the Israeli government to accept the de jure applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and abide by it. Israel said they were deported for "inciting violence".^[1]

Resolution 681 went on to request the Secretary-General, in accordance with his recommendation in the report, to examine possible measures that may be taken by him, the High Contracting Parties of the Fourth Convention and the International Committee of the Red Cross, under the Convention, reporting to the Council the progress of discussions. It also required the Secretary-General to continue to monitor the situation in the area, reporting back in the first week of March 1991 and every four weeks thereafter.

The resolution was passed during tensions regarding the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq, with which Saddam Hussein had been attempting to link the resolution of the Kuwaiti problem with a solution to the Palestinian issue.^[2]

Text of the resolution

The Security Council,

Reaffirming the obligations of Member States under the United Nations Charter,

Reaffirming also the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war set forth in Security Council resolution 242 (1967),

Having received the report of the Secretary-General submitted in accordance with Security Council resolution 672 (1990) of 12 October 1990 on ways and means for ensuring the safety and protection of the Palestinian civilians under Israeli occupation and in particular taking note of paragraphs 20 to 26 thereof (S/21919),

Taking note of the interest of the Secretary-General to visit and send his envoy to pursue his initiative with the Israeli authorities, as indicated in paragraph 22 of the report of the Secretary-General (S/21919), and of their recent invitation extended to him,

Gravely concerned at the dangerous deterioration of the situation in all the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem, and at the violence and rising tension in Israel,

Taking into consideration the statement by the President of the Security Council on 20 December 1990 concerning the method and approach for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Arab-Israeli conflict;

Recalling its resolutions 607 (1988), of 5 January 1988, 608 (1988), of 14 January 1988, 636 (1989) of July 1989 and 641 (1989) of 30 August 1989, and alarmed by the decision of the Government of Israel to deport four Palestinians from the occupied territories in contravention of its obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention, of 1949,

1. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his report;

2. Expresses its grave concern over the rejection by Israel of Security Council resolutions 672 (1990) of 12 October 1990 and 673 (1990) of 24 October 1990;

3. Deplores the decision by the Government of Israel, the occupying Power, to resume deportations of Palestinian civilians in the occupied territories;

4. Urges the Government of Israel to accept de jure applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, to all the territories occupied by Israel since 1967, and to abide scrupulously by the provisions of the said Convention;

5. Calls on the high contracting parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to ensure respect by Israel, the occupying Power, for its obligations under the Convention in accordance with article 1 thereof;

6. Requests the Secretary-General, in co-operation with the International Committee of the Red Cross, to develop further the idea expressed in his report of convening a meeting of the high contracting parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention and to discuss possible measures that might be taken by them under the Convention and for this purpose to invite these parties to submit their views on how the idea could contribute to the goals of the Convention, as well as on other relevant matters, and to report theron to the Council;

7. Also requests the Secretary-General to monitor and observe the situation regarding Palestinian civilians under Israeli occupation, making new efforts in this regard on an urgent basis, and to utilize and designate or draw upon the United Nations and other personnel and resources present there, in the area and elsewhere, needed to accomplish this task and to keep the Security Council regularly informed;

8. Requests further the Secretary-General to submit a first progress report to the Security Council by the first week of March 1991 and every four months thereafter and decides to remain seized of the matter as necessary.

See also

• Arab–Israeli conflict
• First Intifada
• Israeli–Palestinian conflict
• List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 601 to 700 (1987–1991)

External links

• Text of Resolution at UNHCR.org

References