A/RES/56/36 Self-Government Arrangements in Washington, D.C., on 13 September 1993, 2 as well as the subsequent implementation agreements, including the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, signed in Washington, D.C., on 28 September 1995, 3 Recalling also the withdrawal of the Israeli army, which took place in the Gaza Strip and the Jericho area in 1995 in accordance with the agreements reached by the parties, and the initiation of the Palestinian Authority in those areas, as well as the subsequent redeployments of the Israeli army in the rest of the West Bank, Noting with satisfaction the successful holding of the first Palestinian general elections, Noting the appointment by the Secretary-General of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, and its positive contribution, Welcoming the convening of the Conference to Support Middle East Peace in Washington, D.C., on 1 October 1993, as well as all follow-up meetings and the international mechanisms established to provide assistance to the Palestinian people, including the donor meetings held in Lisbon on 7 and 8 June 2000 and in Stockholm on 11 April 2001, Expressing its deep concern over the tragic events in Occupied East Jerusalem and the Occupied Palestinian Territory since 28 September 2000, which have resulted in a high number of deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians, and concerned also about the clashes between the Israeli armed forces and the Palestinian police and the casualties on both sides, Expressing its deep concern also over the continued imposition of closures and restrictions by Israel on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, as well as the serious incursions into Palestinian-controlled areas and actions against Palestinian institutions, Expressing its grave concern over the serious deterioration of the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and the difficulties facing the Middle East peace process, Affirming the urgent need for the parties to implement the recommendations of the Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee (Mitchell Committee) and to resume negotiations towards a final peaceful settlement, 1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, in all its aspects; 2. Expresses its full support for the peace process, which began in Madrid, and the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 1993, 2 as well as the subsequent implementation agreements, and expresses the hope that the process will be reinvigorated and will soon lead to the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East; _______________ 2 3 2 A/48/486-S/26560, annex. A/51/889-S/1997/357, annex.