CEIRPP 371st meeting – Report on UN International Meeting in Moscow, consideration of programme for UN Intl. Meeting in Brussels, accreditation of civil society organizations – Summary record

Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights
of the Palestinian People 

Summary record of the 371st meeting 

Held at Headquarters, New York, on 22 July 2015, at 10.30 a.m. 

 Chair:  Mr. Seck …………………………………………………………………..  (Senegal) 

Contents 

Adoption of the agenda 

Report on the international meeting on the question of Israeli-Palestine Peace, Moscow 1 and 2 July 2015 

United Nations International Meeting on the question of Palestine Peace, Brussels 3 and 4 September 2015 

Accreditation of civil society organizations to the Committee

Other matters 

The meeting was called to order at 10.40 a.m

Adoption of the agenda  

1. The agenda was adopted.

Report on the United Nations International Meeting in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace, Moscow, 1 and 2 July 2015

2. Mr. Grima (Malta), speaking in his capacity as Rapporteur of the Committee, said that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict required renewed attention. Given the important role played by the Russian Federation in the Middle East, it had been important to hold the meeting in that country; furthermore, he was gratified that in addition to members of the Committee, numerous other ranking diplomatic representatives had attended the meeting

3. The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, who had spoken on behalf of the Secretary-General, had called for the two-State solution as the only viable way forward, and had urged the Israeli leadership to freeze settlements in order to facilitate the resumption of negotiations. The Chairman of the Committee, on the other hand, had stressed the impossibility of freezing the conflict, and had welcomed recent Arab League, European Union and Security Council initiatives. He had also welcomed the Vatican's recent recognition of the State of Palestine. That State's new peace offensive, as outlined by its Foreign Minister, incorporated a push for recognition by additional States, a Security Council resolution that would define the terms of reference of a final settlement, a timeline for negotiations, an international monitoring mechanism, and a variety of initiatives to end impunity. The Secretary-General of the Arab League had called on the Security Council to adopt a relevant binding resolution and had expressed support for French efforts within the Council while also calling for an overhaul of the Quartet.

4. A number of salient points had been made during plenary discussions. For example, many felt it would be a mistake to turn attention away from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict while dealing with other crises in the region. The lack of progress with regard to the situation had caused many to lose faith in the two-State solution, a doubt compacted by the election of a right-wing government in Israel. The onus was now on the international community• clear terms of reference, timelines and an international monitoring mechanism were needed. Perhaps the French should not wait for the agreement of both parties to the conflict to table a relevant draft resolution in the Security Council. Minimal progress with the all-or-nothing approach of the past 20 years had led many participants to call for gradual interim steps to roll back the occupation, and the implementation of the Arab Peace Initiative. Even if a peace agreement were reached, it could not be implemented without the reconstruction of Gaza, restoration of the Palestinian Government's control over the enclave, and Palestinian reconciliation.

5. Some participants had called for the balanced expansion of the Quartet, and exploratory contacts had been made between the Quartet, Egypt and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation with a view to boosting collaboration. Recognizing the complementarity of peace, justice and accountability, calls had also been made for the international community to raise the cost of the Israeli occupation and to boycott goods produced in Israeli settlements. Such were the challenges the Committee would look into during the coming months, and a meeting on settlements would be held in Brussels in September, which would include a civil society segment.

United Nations International Meeting on the Question of Palestine, Brussels, 3 and 4 September 2015

6. The Chair drew attention to working paper No. 5, which contained the provisional programme of the forthcoming United Nations International Meeting on the Question of Palestine. The theme of the Meeting would be "Israeli settlements as obstacles to peace —possible ways forward". He took it that the Committee wished to approve the provisional programme.

7. It was so decided.

Accreditation of civil society organizations with the Committee

8. The Chair drew attention to working paper No. 6, which contained applications for accreditation from civil society organizations to the Committee. As the organizations had fulfilled the relevant criteria, he took it that the Committee wished to approve the requests for accreditation.

9. The requests for accreditation to the Committee were approved.

Other matters

10. The Chair recalled that the special meeting to observe the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People would take place on 23 November 2015 and requested delegations to be represented at the ambassadorial level.

The meeting rose at 11 a.m.