Since 1947, various aspects of the question of Palestine have been before the General Assembly.  In 1974, the U.N. invited Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat to open a two-week debate on the status of the Palestinian people.  After the debate, the General Assembly adopted a resolution reaffirming the rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination, the right to national independence, and the right to return to their homes and property.