A/56/253 to carry out an immediate mission to the occupied Palestinian territories and to report the findings to the Commission at its fifty-seventh session. To that end, on 18 December 2000, the Special Rapporteur addressed a letter to the Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations informing it that he planned to go to the occupied territories and seeking the cooperation of the Israeli authorities for access to the territory. On 2 January 2001, the Permanent Mission of Israel informed the Special Rapporteur of the Israeli Government’s position regarding the resolution, namely: “The operative part of the resolution calls for the establishment of a human rights inquiry commission, requests the United Nations Commission for Human Rights to visit the region and report on the (so-called) Israeli violations of human rights, and request a larger number of special rapporteurs to visit and report on issues, such as racism, torture and violence against women. Israel will not cooperate in the implementation of the operative part of this resolution.” 14. The Special Rapporteur was therefore unable to go to the occupied territories, despite the gravity of the situation and the corroborating and disquieting information received in the context of the mandate. On 18 April 2001, during its fifty-seventh session, the Commission on Human Rights adopted resolution 2001/7 entitled “Question of the violation of human rights in the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine”, whereby it recalled resolution S-5/1 and expressed its deep concern at the failure of the Government of Israel to cooperate with the human rights inquiry commission and its failure to cooperate with other relevant rapporteurs. On 22 June 2001, the Special Rapporteur, in consultation with other special rapporteurs concerned, sent a reminder to the Permanent Mission of Israel, calling on it to cooperate within the framework of resolution S-5/1 and the terms of the mandate on freedom of religion or belief so as to enable him to pay a visit to the occupied territories. 15. Aside from the so-called “traditional” in situ visits referred to above, the Special Rapporteur decided, in 1999, to begin visits to the major communities of religion or belief. The purpose of such visits was to establish a dialogue on the 1981 Declaration and all issues relating to freedom of religion or belief and to consider solutions to the problems of intolerance and discrimination in that area. Accordingly, the Special Rapporteur visited the Holy See in September 1999.2 Visits are also planned to other religions including, Islam, Judaism, non-Catholic Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and the belief systems of indigenous populations. The end goal of this approach is to demonstrate the diversity and wealth of religions and beliefs and, if possible, to identify common values and approaches with respect to fundamental issues relating to freedom of religion or belief and therefore to human rights. 2. Follow-up to in situ visits 16. Since 1996, the whereby States which and any information considering taking to reports. 6 Special Rapporteur has established a follow-up procedure have received an in situ visit are asked to provide comments on measures the relevant authorities have taken or are implement the recommendations formulated in the mission