Palestinians’ right to sustainable development – GA Second Cttee debate/Palestine statement – Summary record (excerpts)

Second Committee 

Summary record of the 6th meeting 

Held at Headquarters, New York, on Wednesday, 5 October 2011, at 3 p.m. 

 Chair:  Mr. Yohanna (Vice-Chair)  ………………………………………. (Nigeria) 

Contents 

General debate (continued) 

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41.  Mr. AlHantouli (Observer for Palestine) said that the challenges confronting the pillars of sustainable development continued to persist and even intensify in some cases. Most developing countries continued to face serious problems, including high unemployment, poverty, food insecurity, the negative effects of climate change, the burden of foreign debt and the lack of external financial assistance. The situation required all States, especially developed countries, to address those challenges in an integrated, coordinated and balanced manner.

42.  It was time the international community shouldered its responsibilities by paying the necessary attention to the dire situation of the Palestinian people. Based on their common responsibility to protect the right of all peoples to development, Member States should confront and put an end to the illegal policies and practices imposed by Israel, the occupying Power, against the Palestinians. Those practices included the confiscation of land, natural resources and private property, the demolition of homes and businesses, the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements and the illegal Israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip. Those policies and practices not only violated international humanitarian law and a number of resolutions of the United Nations, but undermined the viability and sustainable development capacity of the Palestinian Territory. 

43.  Recalling that, at the recent meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians, reports submitted by the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had affirmed that the Israeli occupation was the main obstacle to Palestine’s development, he said that Member States must take all necessary measures, including legal procedures as required, to stop economic support for the occupation and compel Israel to respect its obligations under international law. On 23 September 2011, as part of the exercise of the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination, Palestine had submitted its application for admission as a Member of the United Nations and had pledged its commitment to the obligations stemming from the Charter. 

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