On Sunday evening, July 31, 1988, King Hussein delivered the following address to his countrymen, in explanation of various measures to disengage from the West Bank, including the cancel¬lation of a $1.3 billion development program for the Israeli-occupied territories. In light of the Palestinian uprising, intifadah, that began in the occupied territories in December 1987 [ see I .L.M. page 1672], and the actions taken by the recent Arab summit meetings [see I.L.M. page 1646], the statement aligns Jordan with an evolving Arab consensus on Palestinian self-determination.

On November 15, 1988, the Palestinian National Council adopted a political communique and declaration of independence for a Palestinian state [see I.L.M. page 1660]. These documents are before the U.N. General Assembly under agenda item 37, the Question of Palestine.