United Nations Conciliation Commission
The United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine or Palestine Conciliation Commission was created by UN-resolution 194 of 11 December 1948, in order to mediate in the Arab–Israeli conflict. The Commission consisted of France, Turkey and the United States. Its official headquarters was set up in Jerusalem on 24 January 1949.
The commission met from 12 to 25 February 1949 separately with Israeli and Arab governments, from 21 March in Beirut with Muhammad Nimr al-Hawari of the General Refugee Congress, the Palestinian Arab refugee delegation, and on 7 April in Tel Aviv with Israeli prime minister David Ben-Gurion. Then, it proposed the Lausanne Conference of 1949. After the failure of that conference, the Conciliation Commission continued for some more years, but did not achieve any significant success.
The Conciliation Commission succeeded the assassinated UN mediator Count Folke Bernadotte.
Organization
The Conciliation Commission established its headquarters and offices on 24 January 1949 at the so-called "Government House", in a neutral demilitarized zone of Jerusalem. The first members were Claude de Boisanger, Mark F. Ethridge and Hussein C. Yalcin.General matters were discussed in the "General Committee". The Commission set up the "Committee on Jerusalem" to prepare proposals for a permanent international regime for the territory of Jerusalem. It started on 8 February 1949 with three members: Philippe Benoist, Mr. Yenisey, soon replaced by Orhan Eralp and Mr. Haldeman soon, replaced by James W. Barco.
On 23 August, the Commission established the subsidiary body "United Nations Economic Survey Mission for the Middle East" for "examining the economic situation in the countries affected by the recent hostilities in Palestine and with making recommendations to the Commission".
The initial report of the mission identified the Arab refugees as "the symbol of the paramount political issue", and considered broad methods to relieve their conditions. The UN's Economic Survey Mission for the Middle East, would also become known as the "Clapp Mission", after its Chairman, Gordon R. Clapp, the then-current Chairman of the TVA. The mission's final report, with far more detail, was issued on December 28, 1949.
Directives from Resolution 194
The Conciliation Commission was established on 11 December 1948 by UN-resolution 194.The Commission took over the tasks of UN mediator Count Folke Bernadotte, who was assassinated on Friday 17 September 1948 by Jewish assassins.
The resolution gave some directives:
Establishment
A Conciliation Commission consisting of three States Members of the United Nations which shall have the following functions:
Appointing of members
Decides that a Committee of the Assembly, consisting of Republic of China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States, shall present, before the end of the first part of the present session of the General Assembly, for the approval of the Assembly, a proposal concerning the names of the three States which will constitute the Conciliation Commission;
Mandate to begin
Requests the Commission to begin its functions at once, with a view to the establishment of contact between the parties themselves and the Commission at the earliest possible date;
Requests to Governments
Calls upon the Governments and authorities concerned to extend the scope of the negotiations provided for in the Security Council's resolution of November 16, 1948, and to seek agreement by negotiations conducted either with the Conciliation Commission or directly with a view to the final settlement of all questions outstanding between them;
Requirement of the Commission to assist
Instructs the Conciliation Commission to take steps to assist the Government and authorities concerned to achieve a final settlement of all questions outstanding between them;
Holy Places
Resolves that the Holy Places—including Nazareth—religious buildings and sites in Palestine should be protected and free access to them assured, in accordance with existing rights and historical practice that arrangements to this end should be under effective United Nations supervision; that the United Nations Conciliation Commission, in presenting to the fourth regular session of the General Assembly its detailed proposal for a permanent international regime for the territory of Jerusalem, should include recommendations concerning the Holy Places in that territory; that with regard to the Holy Places in the rest of Palestine the Commission should call upon the political authorities of the areas concerned to give appropriate formal guarantees as to the protection of the Holy Places and access to them; and that these undertakings should be presented to the General Assembly for approval;
Recognition of the special status of Jerusalem
Resolves that, in view of its association with three world religions, the Jerusalem area, including the present municipality of Jerusalem plus the surrounding villages and towns, the most Eastern of which shall be Abu Dis; the most Southern, Bethlehem; the most Western, Ein Karim ; and the most Northern, Shu'fat, should be accorded special and separate treatment from the rest of Palestine and should be placed under effective United Nations control;
Airfields, ports, transportation, and communication
Instructs the Conciliation Commission to seek arrangements among the Governments and authorities concerned which will facilitate the economic development of the area, including arrangements for access to ports and airfields and the use of transportation and communication facilities;
Right of return
Resolves that the refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbours should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return and for loss of or damage to property which, under principles of international law or in equity, should be made good by the Governments or authorities responsible;
Repatriation, resettlement and economic and social rehabilitation
Instructs the Conciliation Commission to facilitate the repatriation, resettlement and economic and social rehabilitation of the refugees and the payment of compensation, and to maintain close relations with the Director of the United Nations Relief for Palestine Refugees and, through him, with the appropriate organs and agencies of the United Nations;
Subsidiary bodies and technical experts
Authorizes the Conciliation Commission to appoint such subsidiary bodies and to employ such technical experts, acting under its authority, as it may find necessary for the effective discharge of its functions and responsibilities under the present resolution;
Location and protection of headquarters
The Conciliation Commission will have its official headquarters at Jerusalem. The authorities responsible for maintaining order in Jerusalem will be responsible for taking all measures necessary to ensure the security of the Commission. The Secretary-General will provide a limited number of guards for the protection of the staff and premises of the Commission;
Progress reports
Instructs the Conciliation Commission to render progress reports periodically to the Secretary-General for transmission to the Security Council and to the Members of the United Nations;
Call for cooperation
Calls upon all Governments and authorities concerned to cooperate with the Conciliation Commission and to take all possible steps to assist in the implementation of the present resolution;
Table of reports
| Date | Number | Title |
| 15-03-1949 | A/819 | |
| 19-04-1949 | A/838 | |
| 21-06-1949 | A/927 | |
| 22-09-1949 | A/992 | 9 June to 15 September 1949 |
| 18-07-1949 | A/AC.25/W/17 | |
| 30-07-1949 | A/AC.25/W/19 | 1937-1949 |
| 14-12-1949 | A/1252 | 16 September to 9 December 1949 |
| 23-10-1950 | A/1367/Rev.1 | 11 December 1949 to 23 October 1950 |
| 20-11-1951 | A/1985 | 23 January to 19 November 1951 |
Reports of preceding Mediator
| Date | Number | Title |
| 28-06-1948 | S/863 | . First proposals |
| 12-07-1948 | S/888 | |
| 16-09-1948 | S/1025 | 11 June to 9 July 1948 |
| 16-09-1948 | A/648 | 14-05-1948 to 16-09-1948 |
| 18-10-1948 | A/689 | . Arab refugees |
| 19-10-48 | A/689/Add.1 | Appendices to A/689. Number of refugees; needs; supplies |