Middle East situation/Palestine question - SecCo report to GA (excerpts)

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Report of the Security Council

1 August 2012 – 31 July 2013

Introduction

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Other developments in the Middle East and North Africa figured prominently on the Council’s agenda during the reporting period … The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, continued to be considered on a monthly basis.

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Middle East

The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question

On 22 August 2012, the Council held consultations on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. The Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, reported that no progress had been made towards sustained negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians. He stressed the urgent need to resolve the fiscal situation of the Palestinian Authority. He expressed concern about the demolitions and forced evictions carried out by the Israeli authorities in Area C and in East Jerusalem. He condemned the attack perpetrated on 5 August in Sinai and the rocket firings from Gaza into Israel and said that the incidents underlined the fragility of the security situation. In the Syrian Arab Republic, the humanitarian situation was rapidly deteriorating and the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs had called upon the authorities of the Syrian Arab Republic to open greater humanitarian access. With regard to Lebanon, he said that internal tensions were being exacerbated by the crisis in the Syrian Arab Republic and called for the preservation of stability in Lebanon. All members of the Council welcomed the appointment of Lakhdar Brahimi as the Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the League of Arab States for Syria and expressed the hope that he would rapidly identify the conditions for a peaceful political transition.

On 17 September, the Council heard a briefing by the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, Robert Serry, on the situation in the Middle East, followed by consultations of the whole. The Special Coordinator said that the lack of progress on the political track and ongoing conflict and occupation put at risk the very viability of the two-State solution. He highlighted the budget deficit of the Palestinian Authority as an issue of immediate concern, especially in the light of recent protests in the West Bank. Council members shared their concern about the financial situation of the Palestinian Authority and called for further support, especially from Arab donors. They noted a worrying increase in settler violence in the West Bank. Some Council members called for an early meeting of the Middle East Quartet principals. Many Council members condemned as illegal the settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory. Council members reiterated their condemnation of the attacks on diplomatic personnel and premises that followed the publication of a defamatory video.

On 15 October, the Council held an open debate on the situation in the Middle East, in which it heard a briefing by the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman. The Permanent Representative of Israel and the Permanent Observer of Palestine also delivered statements.

Between 14 and 21 November, the Council held a number of meetings, including one private meeting on 14 November and a briefing by the Secretary-General on 21 November, in order to discuss the crisis in the Gaza Strip and Israel. All Council members supported the cessation of hostilities. The Council’s consideration of the crisis ended with a statement to the press on
21 November, in which the members of the Council welcomed the ceasefire agreement in order to bring about a sustainable and durable cessation of hostilities that had been affecting the Gaza Strip and Israel. They called upon the parties to uphold the agreement and to act seriously to implement its provisions in good faith.

On 27 November, the Council held the monthly briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. The Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert Serry, said that the recent developments — the recent disturbing cycle of violence in Gaza and Israel and a dangerous escalation that had concluded with the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire agreement on 21 November, as well as the Palestinians’ intention to approach the General Assembly to seek the status of non-member observer State — underscored that the status quo was unsustainable and that it was all the more vital to identify a way ahead to urgently put the peace process back on track. …

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On 19 December, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs briefed the Council on the latest developments on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. In the ensuing consultations of the whole, many Council members called for the prompt resumption of direct negotiations and expressed their sincere hope that 2013 would be a decisive year for the two-State solution. A number of delegations expressed serious concern at the increasing construction of illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, in particular in East Jerusalem, and called upon Israel to put an end to it. Some delegations welcomed the adoption of General Assembly resolution 67/19, in which the Assembly accorded “non-member observer State” status to Palestine. Other delegations stated that negotiations remained the only path to establishing a Palestinian State. A number of delegations expressed concern over the situation of thousands of Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israeli prisons. Some members called upon Israel to release Palestinian tax revenues. Other Council members called upon Israel to halt all illegal activities aimed at changing the demographic, religious and cultural character of the holy city of Jerusalem. Some members made reference to the blockade of Gaza.

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At the quarterly open debate held on 23 January, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert Serry, briefed the Council. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine, Riad Malki, addressed the Council. The Permanent Representative of Israel, Ron Prosor, also made a statement.

On 26 February, the Council held its monthly meeting on the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. The Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, briefed the Council at a public meeting. The briefing was followed by consultations of the whole. On the Palestinian issue, the members expressed concern about the negative impact that recent incidents might have on the peace process. They stressed the importance of dialogue and confidence-building between the two sides. …

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On 25 March, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process briefed the Council in an open briefing on the situation in the Middle East. In the consultations of the whole that followed, the members of the Council shared the Special Coordinator’s cautious optimism, stressed the necessity of launching the Israeli-Palestinian dialogue without delay and expressed hope for renewed United States engagement in reaching a positive outcome. They warned against unilateral measures by the parties, particularly with regard to Israeli settlement activities, and condemned the recent rocket fire from Gaza into Israel. Some members stressed the need for the financial sustainability of the Palestinian Authority. In this regard, many welcomed the decision by the Government of Israel to transfer Palestinian tax revenues in a timely manner and without disruption.

On 24 April, the Council held its quarterly open debate on the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. The Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, provided a briefing to the Council on the stalled Middle East peace process and the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic. Following the briefing, statements were made by the Permanent Representative of Israel and the Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine. More than 20 other States Members of the United Nations also participated in the open debate.

On 22 May, at a public meeting, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert Serry, briefed the Council on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

On 25 June, the Council held its monthly meeting on the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. The Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, briefed the Council at a public meeting. The briefing was followed by consultations of the whole. On the Palestinian issue, the members expressed support for the efforts of the Secretary of State of the United States, John F. Kerry. Some members expressed concern about the negative impact that recent incidents might have on the peace process. They stressed the importance of dialogue and confidence-building between the two sides. …

On 23 July, the Council held an open debate on the situation in the Middle East, in which the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert Serry, gave a briefing. Both the Permanent Representative of Israel and the Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine made statements.

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Part I

Activities relating to all questions considered by the
Security Council under its responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security

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III

Official communiqués issued by the Security Council during the period from 1 August 2012 to 31 July 2013

S/PV.6863

14 November 2012