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Islamic Conference at UN Deplores Israel’s Failure to Protect Moslem Holy Places in Jerusalem

April 16, 1982
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The Islamic Conference circulated among Security Council members today a working paper, the preliminary form for a draft resolution, condemning the “appalling acts of sacrilege” last Sunday at the Dome of the Rock mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and deploring “the failure of Israel” to protect Moslem holy places in Jerusalem.

The draft resolution does not blame Israel directly for the shooting incident on the Temple Mount. It is expected, therefore, diplomats said here today, that the U.S. will support the resolution which refrains from calling for any concrete measures against Israel. In the view of some diplomats, however the U.S. is still likely to seek some modification of the language of the draft in order to join it.

ELEMENTS IN DRAFT RESOLUTION

The draft resolution requests that Israel “scrupulously” apply the Geneva Convention regarding the military occupation of territories and the protection of holy sites. It declares that any “profanation” of the holy places in Jerusalem would be an act that would endanger “international peace and security.” It asks that the Secretary General keep the Security Council informed on Israel’s implementation of the resolution.

The Security Council is scheduled to continue its debate tonight but a vote on the draft resolution is not expected until tomorrow at the earliest.

Last night, the Syrian Ambassador to the UN, Dia-Allah el-Fattal, urged the Security Council to impose mandatory sanctions on Israel “and all possible coercive measures” for the Sunday incident and to deter Israel from “destroying the foundations of the world order.”

A UN spokesman said, meanwhile, that the General Assembly will resume next Tuesday its emergency special session on the Palestinian question which was adjourned in July, 1980.

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