General Assembly debate (22nd, 23rd & 24th meetings) – Press release (excerpts)

1 October 2015

GA/11697

Speakers Praise Diplomatic Successes over Iran, Cuba-US, Address Long-Standing Africa Conflicts,
as General Assembly Continues Annual Debate

Seventieth Session, 22nd, 23rd & 24th Meetings (AM, PM & Night)

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Statements

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MANUEL DOMINGOS VICENTE, Vice-President of Angola, …However, of concern was the “business as usual” mind-set prevailing in the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and he called for the resumption of negotiations leading to a two-State solution.

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BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, Prime Minister of Israel, …Israel was also committed to achieving peace with the Palestinians, he said, stressing that his country knew the price of war and could appreciate the blessings of peace.  “I am prepared to immediately resume direct peace negotiations with the Palestinian authority without any preconditions ever,” he said.  Unfortunately President Abbas had said yesterday that he was not prepared to do that.  Israel, however, remained committed to a vision of two States for two people in which a demilitarized Palestinian State recognized a Jewish State.  Despite the best efforts of six Israeli Prime Ministers, the Palestinians had refused to end the conflict and make a final peace.

“How can Israel make peace with a Palestinian party who refused to sit at the negotiating table?” he asked, calling on the Palestinians to not walk away from peace.  The leaders of the two countries owed it to their people to try for peace and the United Nations should support direct unconditional negotiations instead of imposing solutions or “encouraging Palestinian rejectionism”.  The Organization should also “check its anti-Israel fanaticism at the door”, and President Abbas should stop “spreading lies” about Israel’s intentions with the Temple Mount.  A thousand years before the birth of Christianity, and fifteen hundred years before that of Islam, King David had made Jerusalem “our capital” but Israel would respect the rights of all religions to sacred sites.

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JEAN ASSELBORN, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, of Luxembourg, …Turning to the Middle East, he stressed that Israel had the right to live in peace, but it was clear that the security of Israel would depend on the creation of a Palestinian State by its side.  The Palestinian flag that was flying alongside those of other members should not be a mere symbol.  Luxembourg also supported the initiative by France to encourage permanent members to refrain from using the veto in case of mass atrocities.

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RAMTANE LAMAMRA, Minister of State and Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Algeria, …Further, Algeria had paid a high price to regain its sovereignty and therefore supported the heroic struggle of the Palestinian people.

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CHARLES FLANAGAN, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland, …Ireland remained committed to a two-State solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.  

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MOUSSA FAKI MAHAMAT, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Economic Integration of Chad, …The Israeli-Palestinian conflict was still unresolved and had caused suffering for the Palestinian people.  He called for the creation of a viable Palestinian State co-existing peacefully with Israel.  Chad hoped the hoisting of the Palestinian at United Nations Headquarters this week was an important step in moving toward a solution of this conflict.  

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JOHN KEY, Prime Minister of New Zealand, …The 15-nation body must also engage in advancing the Middle East peace process towards a two-State solution for Israel and Palestine.

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PRAKASH MAN SINGH, Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal, …Recognizing the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people for an independent State, he also called for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

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ADEL AHMED AL-JUBEIR, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, The question of Palestine had long been on the agenda of the General Assembly.  Noting that Palestinians had continued to suffer, he denounced Israel’s flagrant violations of international law.  

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For information media. Not an official record.

http://www.un.org/press/en/2015/ga11697.doc.htm