Resolution 681 (1990)
of 20 December 1990

The Security Council,

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

Reaffirming also the principle of the inadmissibility of
the acquisition of territory by war, set forth in resolution
242 (1967) of 22 November 1967,

Having received the report of the Secretary-General
submitted in accordance with resolution 672 (1990) of 12
October 1990 on ways and means of ensuring the safety
and protection of the Palestinian civilians under Israeli
occupation, 46 and taking note in particular of paragraphs
20 to 26 thereof,

Taking note of the interest of the Secretary-General to
visit and to send his envoy to pursue his initiative with the
Israeli authorities, as indicated in paragraph 22 of his
report, 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 made by the
President of the Security Council on 20 December 1990 45
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 6 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 Geneva Convention relative to the
Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August
1949, 40

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

2. Expresses its grave concern over the rejection by
Israel of its 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 the deportation of Palestinian civilians in the occupied territories;

4. Urges the Government of Israel to accept the de jure
applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the
Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August
1949, 40 to all the territories occupied by Israel since 1967
and to abide scrupulously by the provisions of the Convention;
5. Calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the said
Convention 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
said Convention to discuss possible measures that might
be taken by them under the Convention and, for this
purpose, to invite the 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 thereon
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. Further requests the Secretary-General to submit a
first progress report to the Security Council by the first
week of March 1991 and to report every four months
thereafter, and decides to remain seized of the matter as
necessary.

Adopted unanimously at the
2970th meeting.


46 Official Records of the Security Council, Forty-fifth Year, Supplement for October, November and December 1990, documents S/21919
and Corr.1 and Add.1-3.
