The revolution and pacts (56). The Bernadotte plan (III). ‘An unfortunate resolution'. On June 11, Bernadotte succeeded in arranging a 30-day cease-fire. After visiting Cairo, Beirut, Amman and Tel Aviv, he came to the conclusion that the UN partition plan was an ‘unfortunate resolution' and proposed his own plan to unite the two feuding peoples. Instead of establishing individual states, he suggested that Arabs and Jews form a ‘union' consisting of a small Jewish entity and an enlarged Transjordan. Haifa and Lydda (Lod) airport would become free zones. Israel would receive the Western Galilee and unlimited immigration for two years, after which the UN would take control of the issue. Between 250,000 and 300,000 Arab refugees would be permitted to return to Arab territory with compensation, and Transjordan would control the Negev and, despite Israeli claims, Jerusalem. Bernadotte, had given the highest priority to the refugee problem, which was a serious obstacle to peace. He reported that the Arab refugees (later estimated at 726,000) had “fled or were expelled from the area under Jewish occupation”. He recommended that the United Nations affirm “the right of the refugees to return to their homes” as early as practicable, stating: “It would be an offence against the principles of elemental justice if these innocent victims of the conflict were denied the right to return to their homes while Jewish immigrants flow into Palestine, and, indeed, at least offer the threat of permanent replacement of the Arab refugees who have been rooted in the land for centuries.” In December 1948, the United Nations General Assembly did affirm the entitlement of the refugees to return. It further established a Conciliation Commission for Palestine (CCP) to resolve the issues of territory, refugees and the status of Jerusalem. When in May 1949, Israel was admitted into the United Nations, its membership was implicitly linked to its compliance with the two basic UN resolutions on Palestine — the partition resolution 181 and resolution 194 of December 1948. The latter laid down several principles on the refugee question. The refugees are mentioned in Article 11, which resolved: 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 Article 11 also instructed the Conciliation Commission: ... to facilitate the repatriation, resettlement and be made good by the governments or authorities responsible for economic and social rehabilitation of the refugees and the payment of compensations. [email protected]
