Israel condemned the resolution as illegal and damaging to the peace process. It recalled the declared aims of the PLO as expressed in the Palestinian National Covenant to bring about the destruction of Israel, a member state of the United Nations, by armed force. A dangerous precedent had been established that could effectively weaken any future UN role in the solution of the conflict. Text:
The U.N. vote on the subject of the Palestine Liberation Organization proves that in the parliamentarian composition of the Assembly, and the prejudices prevailing amongst its delegates, a majority complies with the demands of the PLO. The Palestine Liberation Organization is not a national liberation movement, but the roof organization for terrorist groups who have perpetrated dastardly acts of terrorism in Israel as well as in other countries.
This resolution is illegal and will not be binding upon Israel in any way. Any country would have rejected such a resolution, which strikes at the very roots of its existence. The acceptance of this motion may well condemn the prospects for a peaceful solution in this area, which have just gathered new momentum.
The resolution that was adopted is diametrically opposed to the United Nations Charter. In view of the declared aims of the PLO as expressed in the Palestine National Covenant. These aims categorically deny Israel the right to exist, and determine the destruction by armed force of a member of the United Nations Organization.
The fact that, of the European Economic Community, France and Italy have sided with the approach of the most extremist Arab states gives rise to astonishment, for this stand does not accord with the declarations made by these two countries concerning their desire to refrain from interfering with the process of dialogue in the region.
To Israel's particular regret the the countries who voted in favour of official recognition of the Palestine Liberation Organization include France, who only a few weeks ago was herself witness to the role of the Arab terrorist organizations as part of the international terrorist organizations, when the French embassy in The Hague was attacked and the French Ambassador held hostage.
Israel also regrets the decision of Italy to vote in favour of awarding the right of appearance in the U.N. to the very organization which - on Italian soil - perpetrated acts of bloody terrorism, resulting in the killing and wounding of a large number of innocent people including Italian nationals as well as others.
Israel is also greatly disappointed by the votes of Ireland, Sweden, Norway and other countries who, we had hoped, would not lead their support to an organization of murderers, but would have preferred progress towards peace over the encouragement of Arab extremism.