Sir, - The start of the UN General Assembly's new session provides a timely opportunity for that body to order the Security Council to effect the immediate implementation of its (UNGA) decision of November 29th, 1947, which set up both a Jewish and an Arab state and fixed their boundaries. A recent map showing these boundaries was published in the Economist of October 6th-12th.
The UNGA decision included making Jerusalem an international zone and giving the coastal enclave of Jaffa to the Arab state. Interestingly, both of these had been part of the Jewish Agency's plan of August 1946.
On December 11th, 1948, UN Resolution 194 (111) recognised the right of Palestinian Arabs to return to their own homes or to accept compensation for loss/damage to same. On May 11th, 1949, Israel was admitted to the UN on condition that it unreservedly accepted the obligations of the UN Charter and undertook to honour them from that day on. Israel's admission was also predicated on its acceptance of UN Resolution 194 (111).
If the UN is to regain its moral authority and if the US and the West generally are to regain the trust and confidence of all Arab, Muslim and fair-minded countries, then the General Assembly must flex its moral muscles and give an ultimatum to the Security Council to honour the UNGA's decision of some 54 years ago. - Yours, etc.,
James Mortell, Kilbreckstown, Stamullen, Co Meath.