CONCLUSIONS AND PROPOSALS ON THE REPORT OF THE UN MEDIATOR IN PALESTINE, BERNADOTTA "

Stalin, Soviets and Israeli Question

FROM THE NOTE OF A MEMBER OF THE USSR DELEGATION AT THE THIRD SESSION OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY S.K. TSARAPKINA " CONCLUSIONS AND PROPOSALS ON THE REPORT OF THE UN MEDIATOR IN PALESTINE, BERNADOTTA "

October 1, 1948

[...] 111. Conclusions on the proposals contained in the Bernadotte report Bernadotte's latest proposals are basically a reiteration of his proposals submitted on June 27 to Arabs and Jews, which were then rejected by both sides. The difference between the current proposals of Bernadotte lies only in the fact that in them he refused to create a united state of Transjordan and Palestine in the form of an alliance, one of whose members is the Arab state of Transjordan, which includes the entire Arab territory of Palestine and the other member is the Jewish state of Israel. Bernadotte's latest proposals, as well as those of June 27, conflict with the General Assembly resolution of November 29, 1947. This applies in particular to the issue of boundaries. According to the November 29 resolution, the Negev region should be almost entirely part of the Jewish state. Bernadotte proposes to transfer the entire territory of the Negev, which makes up more than 2/3 of the Jewish state, to the Arabs. If we take into account the reservation contained in paragraph 4 "C" (special conclusions) of Bernadotte's report, it turns out that the entire Arab territory of Palestine, including the Negev, should go to Transjordan, and as compensation to the Jews for the loss of the Negev Bernadotte proposes to hand over to them the tiny territory of the Western Galilee. This proposal by Bernadotte is clearly calculated not only to further incite hostility and border clashes between Jews and Arabs in Palestine, but also between the Arab states themselves. This will inevitably lead to the implementation of Bernadotte's recommendation to merge the Arab territory of Palestine with the territory of Transjordan, "subject to such corrections of the borders with other Arab states, which may be considered practically possible and desirable."

The proposals in Bernadotte's latest report are fundamentally unacceptable for the following reasons:

1. They provide for the revision of the General Assembly resolution of November 29, 1947 in the most important part - in relation to the border between the Jewish and Arab territories.

2. If the General Assembly resolution of November 29 last year provides for the creation in Palestine of two independent states - a Jewish and an Arab, then Bernadotte's proposals run counter to this resolution and essentially mean the transfer of 4/5 of the Palestinian territory to Transjordan, i.e. under the full control of the British and the refusal, to please the Anglo-Americans, from the creation of an Arab independent state in Palestine within the limits determined by the General Assembly resolution of November 29, 1947.

3. The latest proposals of Bernadotte are not drawn up taking into account the interests of the Arab and Jewish population of Palestine, but in the interests of third countries (Anglo-Americans and the English puppet - Transjordan) and are able to further confuse the issue and cause even greater tension between Jews and Arabs, and between Arab states.

IV. suggestions

1. For the reasons set out in the previous section 111, we consider it appropriate, when discussing Bernadotte's report in the General Assembly, to vote against this report and insist on the implementation of the General Assembly decision of November 29, 1947. In putting forward this proposal, we should point out that life has confirmed the correctness of this resolution and that, despite the political play of some states, intrigues and bloody provocations aimed at disrupting the General Assembly's decision on Palestine, this resolution is nevertheless implemented in one of the most significant its parts and the Jewish state on the territory of Palestine has been created and is successfully functioning.

2. Insist that the territory of the Jewish state, as defined in the General Assembly resolution of November 29, 1947, not be changed without the consent of the State of Israel.

3. To insist on the implementation of the decision of the General Assembly of November 29, 1947 in the part concerning the creation on the territory of Palestine also of an independent Arab state within the limits established by the said resolution.

4. To object categorically to attempts to transfer, as proposed by Bernadotte, the Arab territories of Palestine to Transjordan.

5. To insist on the implementation of the decision of the General Assembly of November 29 regarding the establishment of a special international statute for Jerusalem.

To invite the Trusteeship Council to submit for consideration by the General Assembly at this session the draft statute of the City of Jerusalem it has developed.

The Israeli government's proposal to include Jerusalem in the Jewish state is unacceptable to us, and not to support it.

6. Support the proposal of the Jews to ensure freedom of communication by land and railways, as well as by air, between Jerusalem and the coastal territories of Israel.

7. Support the proposal in the Bernadotte report to replace the current state of indefinite truce in Palestine with formal peace.

If the proposal by the Interim Government of Israel that peace be concluded through a formal agreement between the disputing parties fails, then it is proposed that a peace agreement be concluded through the United Nations Security Council and its Palestinian Commission.

8. With regard to the settlement of the Arab refugee problem, we would consider it appropriate to propose that this issue be settled through direct negotiations between the parties concerned, that is, between the Government of Israel and the Government of the Arab State in Palestine.

9. To propose that the Palestinian Commission, established by resolution 181 (P) of November 29, 1947, and which by General Assembly resolution 186 (S. 2) of May 14, 1948 was relieved of its duties, resume its activities ...

To entrust this Commission with the task of demarcating the borders of the State of Israel in accordance with Part II of General Assembly resolution 181 (P) of November 29, 1947, as well as carrying out, together with the Trusteeship Council, the necessary measures to bring into force the statute of the City of Jerusalem. In carrying out the task of demarcating the border of the State of Israel, the Commission may, with the consent of both parties concerned (Jews and Arabs of Palestine), make some minor changes to the border, taking into account the actual changes that have taken place in Palestine.

With regard to possible other functions and powers of the Palestinian Commission, this issue can be considered further when and if the need arises.

WUA RF. F. 07. Op. 21c. P. 49.D. 39.L. 38, 46-50.