Editorial Note
The Security Council discussed the Palestine question on October 19. Mr. Bunche made an appeal to the Council to end the fighting that had been raging in the Negeb (SC, 3rd yr, No. 118, page 2).
The Syrian Representative proposed that the Council adopt the suggestions made in paragraph 18 of Mr. Bunche’s report. His proposal, as amended, was adopted in two separate votes. The cease-fire section was adopted unanimously; the lettered portions were adopted by nine votes, with the Soviet Union and the Ukraine abstaining; its text read:
“The present situation in the Negeb is complicated by the fluid nature of military dispositions making the demarcation of truce lines difficult, the problem of the convoys to the Jewish settlements, as well as the problems of the dislocation of large numbers of Arabs and their inability to harvest their crops. In the circumstances, the indispensable condition to a restoration of the situation is an immediate and effective cease-fire. After the cease-fire, the following conditions might well be considered as the basis for further negotiations looking toward insurance that similar outbreaks will not again occur and that the truce will be fully observed in this area:
- “(a) Withdrawal of both parties from any positions not occupied at the time of the outbreak;
- “(b) Acceptance by both parties of the conditions set forth in the Central Truce Supervision Board decision No. 12 affecting convoys;
- “(c) Agreement by both parties to undertake negotiations through United Nations intermediaries or directly as regards outstanding problems in the Negeb and the permanent stationing of United Nations observers throughout the area.” (SC, 3rd yr., Resolutions, 1948, page 25.)
The text of the Central Truce Supervision decision in Case No. 12 is printed in SC, 3rd yr., Supplement for October 1948, page 62.
The Security Council, later the same day, adopted unanimously the United Kingdom-Chinese draft resolution; its text read:
“The Security Council,
“Having in mind the report of the Acting Mediator concerning the assassination on 17 September 1948 of the United Nations Mediator, Count Folke Bernadotte, and United Nations observer Colonel André Sérot, the report of the Acting Mediator concerning difficulties encountered in the supervision of the truce, and the report of the Truce Commission for Palestine concerning the situation in Jerusalem,
- “1. Notes with concern that the Provisional Government of Israel has to date submitted no report to the Security Councilor to the Acting Mediator regarding the progress of the investigation into the assassinations;
- “2. Requests that Government to submit to the Security Council at an early date an account of the progress made in the investigation and to indicate therein the measures taken with regard to negligence on the part of officials or other factors affecting the crime;
- “3. Reminds the Governments and authorities concerned that all the obligations and responsibilities of the parties set forth in its resolutions 54 (1948) of 15 July and 56 (1948) of 19 August 1948 are to be discharged fully and in good faith;
- “4. Reminds the Acting Mediator of the desirability of an equitable distribution of the United Nations observers for the purpose of observing the truce on the territories of both parties;
- “5. Determines, pursuant to its
resolutions 54 (1948) and 56 (1948), that the
Governments and authorities have the duty:
- “(a) To allow duly accredited United Nations observers and other truce supervision personnel bearing proper credentials, on official notification, ready access to all places where their duties require them to go including airfields, ports, truce lines and strategic points and areas;
- “(b) To facilitate the freedom of movement of truce supervision personnel and transport by simplifying procedures on United Nations aircraft now in effect, and by assurance of safe-conduct for all United Nations aircraft and other means of transport;
- “(c) To co-operate fully with the truce supervision personnel in their conduct of investigations into incidents involving alleged breaches of the truce, including the making available of witnesses, testimony and other evidence on request;
- “(d) To implement fully by appropriate and prompt instructions to the commanders in the field all agreements entered into through the good offices of the Mediator or his representatives;
- “(e) To take all reasonable measures to ensure the safety and safe-conduct of the truce supervision personnel and the representatives of the Mediator, their aircraft and vehicles, while in territory under their control;
- “(f) To make every effort to apprehend and promptly punish any and all persons within their jurisdictions guilty of any assault upon or other aggressive act against the truce supervision personnel or the representatives of the Mediator.” (Resolution 59 (1948), SC, 3rd yr., Resolutions, 1948, page 26.)