Dr. M. Nasser Al-Kidwa, Ambassador, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations from 1991 until 2005 when he was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs. As Ambassador, Dr. Al-Kidwa spearheaded, inter alia, the General Assembly’s convening of the 10th Emergency Special Session on Illegal Israeli Actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Palestine’s efforts regarding the request by the General Assembly for an ICJ Advisory Opinion on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall by Israel. Dr. Al-Kidwa also succeeded in enhancing Palestine’s status in the United Nations, according Palestine additional rights and privileges in the work of the United Nations in 1998.
Mr. Zuhdi Labib Terzi, the first Ambassador, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations, from 1975 to 1991. Ambassador Terzi fought against US attempts at closing down the Mission in 1987 and 1988. With the support of Members States, the General Assembly requested an ICJ Advisory Opinion which rendered that the US had an obligation to arbitrate with the UN under the 1947 Headquarters Agreement between the UN and the US, keeping the Mission open. Ambassador also succeeded in giving prominence to the Question of Palestine at the United Nations and changing the designation from Palestine Liberation Organization to that of Palestine in 1988 following the Declaration of the Independence of the State of Palestine on 15 November, and promoting international recognition of the State of Palestine as part of the two-State solution.
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