Security Council resolution 605 (1987) [on protection of Palestinian civilians under Israel occupation]
Symbol: S/RES/605(1987)
Date: 1987-12-22
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/42 [37] TERRITORIES OCCUPIED BY ISRAEL
Subjects: ARMED INCIDENTS|HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS|ISRAEL|CIVILIAN PERSONS|PALESTINIANS|TERRITORIES OCCUPIED BY ISRAEL|PALESTINE QUESTION|MIDDLE EAST SITUATION|DISPUTE SETTLEMENT
Votes in favour: 14
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 1
Voting record:
country: ARGENTINA
vote: yes
country: BULGARIA
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: CONGO
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GERMANY, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF
vote: yes
country: GHANA
vote: yes
country: ITALY
vote: yes
country: JAPAN
vote: yes
country: USSR
vote: yes
country: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: abstention
country: VENEZUELA
vote: yes
country: ZAMBIA
vote: yes

Resolution 605 (1987)
of 22 December 1987

The Security Council,
Having considered the letter dated 11 December 1987
from the Permanent Representative of Democratic Yemen to
the United Nations. 19 in his capacity as Chairman of the
Group of Arab States at the United Nations for the month of
December,

Bearing in mind the inalienable rights of all peoples
recognized by the Charter of the United Nations and
proclaimed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 20

Recalling its relevant resolutions on the situation in the
Palestinian and other Arab territories, occupied by Israel
since 1967, including Jerusalem, and including its resolutions 446 (1979), 465 (1980), 497 (1981) and 592 (1986).

Recalling also the Geneva Convention relative to the
Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August
1949, 21

Gravely concerned and alarmed by the deteriorating
situation in Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied
by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem.

Taking into account the need to consider measures for the
impartial protection of the Palestinian civilian population
under Israeli occupation,

Considering that the current policies and practices of
Israel, the occupying Power, in the occupied territories are
bound to have grave consequences for the endeavours to
achieve comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle
East, ;

1. Strongly deplores those policies and practices of
Israel, the occupying Power, which violate the human rights
of the Palestinian people in the occupied territories, and in
particular the opening of fire by the Israeli army, resulting in
the killing and wounding of defenceless Palestinian civilians;

2. Reaffirms that the Geneva Convention relative to the
Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August
1949, is applicable to the Palestinian and other Arab
territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including
Jerusalem;

3. Calls once again upon Israel, the occupying Power,
to abide immediately and scrupulously by the Geneva
Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in
Time of War, and to desist forthwith from its policies and
practices that are in violation of the provisions of the
Convention;

4. Calls furthermore for the exercise of maximum
restraint to contribute towards the establishment of peace;

5. Stresses the urgent need to reach a just. durable and
peaceful settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict;

6. Requests the Secretary-General to examine the present situation in the occupied territories by all means
available to him, and to submit a report no later than
20 January 1988 containing his recommendations on ways
and means for ensuring the safety and protection of the
Palestinian civilians under Israeli occupation:

7. Decides to keep the situation in the Palestinian and
other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967,
including Jerusalem, under review.

Adopted at the 2777th meeting by
14 votes to none, with 1 abstention (United States of America).

19 Official Records of the Security Council, Forty-second Year. Supplement for October, November and December 1987, document S/19333.
20 General Assembly resolution 217A (III).

21 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75. No. 973.