minority and was being deprived, for racial reasons, of its fundamental right to live in peace in the land of its ancestors. For its part, the Palestinian population of the occupied Arab territories had something in common with the black population of southern Africa in that it, too, was being deprived of its basic human rights. The Tel Aviv regime was, in fact, trying to expel the Palestinians from their territories and was practising a policy of terror against any who remained there. 74. It was worth wondering why racial discrimina­ tion had not yet been eliminated from the world. The answer was very clear: because there had not been political will on the part of all States and because not all States had committed themselves to the imposi­ tion of sanctions, thus preventing the United Nations and other international bodies from fulfilling their responsibilities to the oppressed peoples. 75. The continued implementation of the oppres­ sive policies of the regimes of South Africa and Israel was due to the growing moral and the material support provided to them by certain States which claimed to be in favour of civilization and human rights. Nevertheless, Pretoria's acts of aggression against neighbouring States and the acts against the population of the occupied Arab territories would not have occurred if the Western States did not support those regimes and their policies. 76. His country had acceded in 1969 to the Interna­ tional Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 1 and had also submitted its report on measures taken under the Programme of Action for the Second Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination. Syrian society was free from problems of racial discrimination because the entire population had the same rights and obligations and also enjoyed equal opportunities. Under Syrian 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a speech or statement focused on issues of human rights, particularly racial discrimination, and its relation to international politics and conflicts. It mentions specific countries and territories, such as South Africa, Israel, and the occupied Arab territories, and highlights the need for international cooperation to combat racism and promote human rights.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, Human rights