{"id":230598,"date":"2020-01-21T11:35:30","date_gmt":"2020-01-21T16:35:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&p=230598"},"modified":"2020-07-22T00:39:54","modified_gmt":"2020-07-22T04:39:54","slug":"illegal-settlement-growth-widespread-hopelessness-among-youth-eroding-middle-east-peace-prospects-under-secretary-general-tells-security-council-press-release-sc-14085","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/illegal-settlement-growth-widespread-hopelessness-among-youth-eroding-middle-east-peace-prospects-under-secretary-general-tells-security-council-press-release-sc-14085\/","title":{"rendered":"Illegal Settlement Growth, Widespread Hopelessness among Youth Eroding Middle East Peace Prospects, Under-Secretary-General Tells Security Council – Press Release (SC\/14085)"},"content":{"rendered":"

8706TH MEETING* (AM)<\/strong>
\nSC\/14085<\/strong>
\n21 JANUARY 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fran\u00e7ais<\/a><\/p>\n

Video<\/a><\/p>\n

Negative trends continue to undermine prospects for a two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs told the Security Council today, citing a deadlocked political process, illegal settlement expansion and a pervasive hopelessness among young people that peace will ever be achieved.<\/p>\n

Rosemary DiCarlo said that a recent survey found that 65\u00a0per\u00a0cent of Israeli millennials thought the conflict would \u201cnever end\u201d, making them the least optimistic people surveyed in countries affected by war.\u00a0 Palestinians were not far behind, with 52\u00a0per\u00a0cent holding that view.<\/p>\n

She more broadly described the threat of annexation in the West Bank, as Israel plans 1,900\u00a0settlements in Area\u00a0C and announced tenders for 2,200 units, both there and in East Jerusalem.\u00a0 Plans in two other locations that were regularized in 2019 were also advanced, while an interministerial committee tasked with discussing annexation of the Jordan Valley held its first meeting on 5\u00a0January.<\/p>\n

If implemented, these declarations would be the first of their kind since the Oslo Accords, she said, a devastating blow to the two-State solution.\u00a0 \u201cI would like to emphasize the continued urgency of resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements\u201d, she asserted.<\/p>\n

For its part, the United Nations is engaged with all Palestinian factions on the need for long-overdue legislative and presidential elections.\u00a0 Turning to Lebanon, she said that violent incidents between protesters and security forces raises very serious concerns, especially as the demonstrations have been largely peaceful.<\/p>\n

Also briefing the Council, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Ursula Mueller said that half the population in the West Bank and Gaza \u2014 2.4\u00a0million people \u2014 will need aid in\u00a02020.\u00a0 Operating space for humanitarian efforts is constrained by both Israeli and Palestinian authorities, thwarting the ability to protect and assist people at a time of record-low funding.<\/p>\n

She encouraged States to support interventions that strengthen humanitarian-development collaboration and reduce Palestinian reliance on aid.\u00a0 \u201cUltimately, the solution for the occupied Palestinian territory is neither humanitarian nor development action, but lies in political discourse and agreement\u201d, she said.<\/p>\n

In the ensuing debate, the Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine said that Israel continues to exploit the Council\u2019s paralysis. \u00a0Gaza is moving closer to the United Nations country team\u2019s projections of becoming uninhabitable this year if the blockade and military aggressions continue.\u00a0 Israel\u2019s leaders threaten to demolish Palestinian towns \u2014 even after the International Criminal Court announced its intention to investigate war crimes committed in Palestine.\u00a0 \u201cIt is past time to end the double standard that has allowed such sheer impunity by Israel,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Jordan\u2019s delegate likewise denounced Israel\u2019s new conditions in East Jerusalem and ongoing settlement policies.\u00a0 Jordan will continue to support the maintenance and care of the holy sites, she assured.<\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s delegate meanwhile cast a light on Iran\u2019s funding of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, stressing that the regime remains the biggest threat to peace in the region.\u00a0 He advocated for more pressure in the form of new sanctions as the only way to keep the Iranian people safe.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere in the region, Syria\u2019s delegate blamed United States recognition of Israel\u2019s presence in the Syrian Golan for further inflaming tensions, stressing that no party has the authority to determine the fate of territories that are part of Syria and occupied Palestine.\u00a0 He called on Israel to return confiscated lands in the occupied Syrian Golan based on June 1967 borders.<\/p>\n

Settling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict depends on addressing the agreed terms, said France\u2019s representative, and ensuring that Jerusalem is the capital of the two States.\u00a0 A solution devoid of such parameters cannot deliver peace.<\/p>\n

Also speaking today were representatives of the United States, Belgium, Germany, Niger, Tunisia, United Kingdom, Estonia, Indonesia, South Africa, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, China, Dominican Republic, Russian Federation, Viet Nam, Norway and Peru.<\/p>\n

The meeting began at 10:07 a.m. and was suspended at 1:11 p.m.<\/p>\n

Briefings<\/u><\/p>\n

ROSEMARY DICARLO, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, said that heightened regional tensions threaten to destabilize an already volatile security environment, recalling the Secretary-General\u2019s appeal to leaders to exercise maximum restraint:\u00a0 \u201cThe world cannot afford another conflict,\u201d she said.\u00a0 The United Nations has routinely stated that peace will not return to the Middle East without the sides taking firm action to achieve a two-State solution, based on international law, relevant resolutions and prior agreements.\u00a0 Citing a recent survey by the International Committee of the Red Cross\u00a0(ICRC), she said that 65\u00a0per\u00a0cent of Israeli millennials believe that the conflict will never end.\u00a0 Palestinians are also pessimistic, with 52\u00a0per\u00a0cent also holding that belief.\u00a0 The international community has a responsibility to help build a future that promises hope and peaceful coexistence, rather than occupation and conflict, she asserted.<\/p>\n

For its part, the United Nations has continued its engagement with all Palestinian factions, she said, stressing the need to hold long-overdue legislative and presidential elections.\u00a0 Discussions are also under way to amend the electoral law and raise the quota for female candidates on a list from 20\u00a0to 30\u00a0per\u00a0cent.\u00a0 Despite compromises made by all factions, President Mahmoud Abbas has not issued the decree needed to call elections, explaining that he would not do so until the polls can take place in East Jerusalem.\u00a0 The Secretary-General and the Special Coordinator nonetheless remain hopeful they will be held soon.<\/p>\n

Negative developments continue to undermine the prospects for a two-State solution, she said.\u00a0 The start of\u00a02020 has seen continuous settlement\u2011expansion and the threat of annexation of parts of the West Bank, with 1,900\u00a0settlements planned for Area\u00a0C; the retroactive \u201cregularization\u201d, under Israeli law, of an outpost and advancement of plans in two other locations that were regularized in\u00a02019; and tenders announced for 2,200 units in Area\u00a0C and East Jerusalem.\u00a0 On 9\u00a0January, Israel\u2019s Ministry of Defense announced the director of a new task force that will look into so-called \u201cillegal Palestinian construction\u201d in Area\u00a0C.\u00a0 Construction rights in the Beit Hanina neighbourhood of East Jerusalem are expected to be split between Palestinian and Israeli land owners, despite that Palestinian owners had previously submitted objections to that plan.\u00a0 On 15\u00a0January, following a High Court of Justice ruling, authorities demolished two houses in West Bank Area\u00a0B.\u00a0 The Ministry of Defense announced the creation of seven new nature preserves in Area\u00a0C.\u00a0 If implemented, these declarations would be the first of their kind since the Oslo Accords, she said, stressing that all settlements are illegal under international law.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, she said that violence in the occupied West Bank continued throughout the reporting period, with 220\u00a0Palestinians injured in various incidents, including 50\u00a0by tear gas inhalation.\u00a0 In Gaza, where the situation is still fragile, there has been a welcome reduction in violence, as the understandings brokered by the United Nations in Egypt continue to be broadly upheld.\u00a0 In addition, the organizers of protests along the Gaza fence suspended those demonstrations and a relative calm has prevailed, with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs now reporting that injuries sustained during the protests are the lowest since March\u00a02018, when they began.\u00a0 At the same time, there has been a resurgence in incendiary balloons and kites from Gaza towards Israeli communities.<\/p>\n

On the socioeconomic front, she described progress on implementing the urgent humanitarian and economic interventions for Gaza outlined under the Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee plan.\u00a0 She called on all to increase their support for United Nations programmes on the ground, citing the cash-for-work programme for women and youth, and projections for several thousand jobs to be created in\u00a02020 as signs of progress.\u00a0 Many of these projects, however, are unfunded or in deficit, she said, including health programmes in deficit of $4\u00a0million.\u00a0 Humanitarian and economic steps alone will not resolve Gaza\u2019s immense challenges, she said, because, at their core, the problems are political in nature.\u00a0 All parties must take steps to ensure that Gaza and the West Bank are reunited, while Israel must significantly improve the movement and access of goods and people as a step towards the full lifting of the closures.<\/p>\n

On 20\u00a0December\u00a02019, the International Criminal Court Prosecutor announced that a preliminary examination into the situation in Palestine found that all statutory criteria have been met for the opening of an investigation, she said.\u00a0 War crimes have been or are being committed in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, the Prosecutor found.\u00a0 The Court\u2019s jurisdiction applies to the Occupied Palestinian Territory.\u00a0 Meanwhile, in line with Knesset legislation, on 29\u00a0December\u00a02019, Israel withheld $43\u00a0million in clearance revenues that it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority.\u00a0 That amount is in to addition to $139\u00a0million previously withheld.\u00a0 She expressed concern that these developments may strain the tenuous progress made since the sides entered into a partial agreement on the transfer of revenues, noting that the United Nations is ready to assist.<\/p>\n

More broadly, she said that, in Lebanon, efforts to form a Government continue, as do popular protests, with recent violent incidents between protesters and security forces raising very serious concerns, especially as the protests have been largely peaceful.\u00a0 While the area under the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon\u00a0(UNIFIL) remains stable, Syrian armed forces issued a statement on 14\u00a0January, informing that the Israel Defense Forces conducted an air strike on locations in Syria, after which the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force\u00a0(UNDOF) reminded both sides to respect the 1974\u00a0Disengagement of Forces Agreement.\u00a0 Reiterating the urgency of resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of relevant resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements, she said the United Nations will continue to focus on establishing an environment conducive to resumed negotiations.<\/p>\n

URSULA MEULLER, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, updating the Council on her recent six-day mission to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said that meetings with individuals and representatives of international and humanitarian partners conveyed their hardships and challenges alongside opportunities for positive change.\u00a0 In the West Bank and Gaza, half the population, some 2.4\u00a0million people, need humanitarian aid in\u00a02020 due to a protection crisis stemming from the occupation, the Gaza blockade, recurring cycles of violence and more than a decade of Hamas being in control, which is fuelling divisions.\u00a0 Individuals she met with, from cancer survivors to young people, shared stories reflecting the fragile situation.\u00a0 Raising concerns about Israel\u2019s excessive use of force and the instrumentalization of children by Hamas, she said that, since March\u00a02018, more than 210\u00a0Palestinians were killed and another 8,000\u00a0were shot with live ammunition at demonstrations at the Gaza fence.\u00a0 Medical facilities are overstretched, with more than 1,200\u00a0people requiring limb reconstruction, and with the World Health Organization\u00a0(WHO) reporting more than 200\u00a0incidents which have injured 270\u00a0staff.\u00a0 Since the start of\u00a02019, most multiple escalations of hostilities among armed groups in Gaza and Israel were contained via joint United Nations-Egypt mediation efforts, she said, urging all parties to avoid civilian harm.<\/p>\n

The youth she met in Gaza simply ask for peace and the opportunity for a productive life, she said, adding that the 45\u00a0per\u00a0cent unemployment rate, with 60\u00a0per\u00a0cent among youth, is worrisome, as are conditions that cause 46\u00a0per\u00a0cent of the population to live below the daily $5.50\u00a0poverty line and 60\u00a0per\u00a0cent of households to be food insecure.\u00a0 Acknowledging Israel\u2019s improvements in easing the movement of people and goods, she said that more must be done, particularly related to medical supplies and equipment.\u00a0 She pointed to declining external aid, economic recession, rising school dropout, child labour and child marriage, and an estimated 270,000\u00a0children suffering from mental disorders in addition to Israeli children facing a mental health impact related to rocket\u2011fire from Palestinian groups.\u00a0 Still \u201cthere is room for cautious optimism\u201d, she asserted, noting Israel\u2019s allowance of increased freedom of movement, Qatar\u2019s contribution to boosting the electricity supply in\u00a02019 to a 12-hour daily average and United Nations agencies\u2019 job\u2011creation efforts.\u00a0 \u201cThese improvements give me hope for Gaza if we build on this momentum,\u201d she said, adding that Israel must further relax movement restrictions alongside measures that stimulate the economy, in line with Council resolution\u00a01860\u00a0(2009), the Palestinian Authority must refrain from impeding the allocation of resources to people in Gaza as a way of exerting press on Hamas, and Hamas must prioritize people\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n

In the West Bank, she recalled a visit to a Bedouin community in the Jordan Valley, saying many people live off the electricity grid while facing threats from Israel settlers and settlement\u2011expansion.\u00a0 The planning regime in Area\u00a0C makes it virtually impossible to develop housing and infrastructure in light of the 620\u00a0structures demolished in\u00a02019, displacing 900\u00a0Palestinians, and the 12,500\u00a0pending demolition orders against Palestinian properties.\u00a0 Moreover, an estimated 162,000\u00a0Palestinians across Area\u00a0C rely primarily on mobile health clinics, and Israel continues settlement\u2011expansion in East Jerusalem.\u00a0 The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported 340\u00a0attacks by Israelis, including settlers, in\u00a02019, resulting in 2\u00a0fatalities, 135\u00a0injuries and damage to more than 6,200\u00a0fruit-bearing trees.\u00a0 During the same period, 112\u00a0Palestinian attacks against Israeli civilians resulted in 3\u00a0deaths, 26\u00a0injuries and damage to property.\u00a0 Israeli forces killed 26\u00a0Palestinians and injured 3,455 others in search\u2011and\u2011arrest operations, demonstrations and clashes.<\/p>\n

Turning to humanitarian efforts, she said that operating space is constrained by both Israeli and Palestinian authorities, with efforts to delegitimize action in the Occupied Palestinian Territory continuing to undermine the ability to protect and assist people in need at a time of record-low funding.\u00a0 The response plan for\u00a02020 requests $348\u00a0million for basic food, protection, health care, shelter, water and sanitation to 1.5\u00a0million people, with more than 75\u00a0per\u00a0cent of requested funds being for Gaza.\u00a0 Urging Member States to increase support, she said that providing assistance to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East\u00a0(UNRWA) is critical to prevent conditions from deteriorating.\u00a0 She also encouraged States to support interventions that strengthen humanitarian-development collaboration and reduce Palestinian reliance on aid, adding that strong support is required to ensure partners can operate and to counter unsubstantiated allegations against them.\u00a0 Long-term reductions in vulnerability depend on parties working together towards policy shifts, she said, urging Israeli and Palestinian parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights laws.\u00a0 \u201cUltimately, the solution for the Occupied Palestinian Territory is neither humanitarian nor development action, but lies in political discourse and agreement,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Statements<\/u><\/p>\n

RIYAD H. MANSOUR, Permanent Observer for the\u00a0State of Palestine<\/u>, said that any impartial assessment of the situation reveals that Israel, the occupying Power, continues \u201cexploiting the Security Council\u2019s paralysis and the blind support of its main ally\u201d.\u00a0 Reviewing various disturbing statistics from\u00a02019, he said that it brought Gaza closer to the United Nations country team\u2019s \u201cGaza 2020\u201d report projecting that Israel\u2019s illegal blockade and military aggressions would render the area uninhabitable by\u00a02020 if not reversed.<\/p>\n

The year also witnessed daily arrests, with more than 5,500\u00a0Palestinians \u2014 including women and children \u2014 detained.\u00a0 Outlining unprecedented rates of illegal Israeli settlement\u2011expansion, housing\u2011demolition and settler violence, he said that annexation threats also grew louder.\u00a0 \u201cIt is clear that Israeli officials believe they\u2019ve secured United States support for such an illegal scheme,\u201d he said.\u00a0 In addition, Israeli leaders made explicit threats to demolish Palestinian towns, including Khan al-Ahmar, even after the International Criminal Court announced its intention to open an investigation into war crimes committed in Palestine.<\/p>\n

\u201cBarring immediate, tangible action \u2014 based on accountability under international law first and foremost \u2014 the prognosis for this new year will be equally bleak, if not worse,\u201d he continued.\u00a0 Recalling the Council\u2019s recent debate on upholding the United Nations Charter, he said that it makes no sense to deliver eloquent and lofty speeches about international law if such standards continue to be trampled, shredded and ridiculed without consequence.\u00a0 \u201cIt is past time to end the double standard that has allowed such sheer impunity by Israel,\u201d he said, calling for accountability to be paramount.\u00a0 In that regard, he demanded the complete cessation of all Israeli settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and an end to the illegal blockade of Gaza, adding that there should be no hesitation to pursue the prosecution of perpetrators or to impose sanctions should Israel continue to defy the law.\u00a0 \u201cThis is not Israel\u2011bashing,\u201d he stressed.\u00a0 Instead, it is a call for respect for the law and shared international values, as well as for safeguarding human rights and finally ending the long\u2011standing, tragic conflict.<\/p>\n

DANNY DANON (Israel<\/u>) said that Iranians are ruled by a regime which remains the biggest threat to peace in the region, recalling its announcement that it would produce more uranium than before the \u201cdisastrous\u201d Iran deal.\u00a0 The regime funds terror, its armed forces shoot live ammunition at protestors and it lied to the international community to cover up the fact that it took the lives of those aboard a Ukrainian flight.\u00a0 It is encouraging that countries are taking steps to hold Iran accountable, but more must be done.\u00a0 Iranians are risking their lives by taking to the streets and demanding their rights.\u00a0 \u201cYou have a tremendously rich heritage that you should be proud of,\u201d he said, speaking directly to them.\u00a0 Iranians gave the world its first declaration of human rights and racial equality, allowing people the right to choose their own religion.\u00a0 It created the first tax system and postal service, among other achievements.\u00a0 He called it absurd that the people who invented human rights are ruled by a regime that tramples them.\u00a0 \u201cIsrael is on your side,\u201d he said.\u00a0 For the regime, it appears that all options are on the table \u2014 except taking responsibility.\u00a0 Iran lies about its nuclear programme and terror-driven regional ambitions; it cannot be trusted.<\/p>\n

Iran suffers from serious infrastructure problems, a weak banking sector and widespread corruption, he said, pointing out that 57\u00a0million Iranians will be living below the absolute poverty line by March.\u00a0 Since the Syria conflict, Iran has spent $30\u00a0billion to support Syria\u2019s President, and every year, gives $100\u00a0million to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad \u2014 funds that would be better spent domestically.\u00a0 Iranians are protesting because they are tired of the violence and the regime\u2019s use of proxies to spread chaos throughout the region.\u00a0 The campaign against Iran\u2019s nuclear aspirations, ballistic\u2011missile programme and regional agenda is one against the regime, not the Iranian people, who must be empowered and seen as partners in building a better future in the Middle East.\u00a0 The international community must not allow their voices to be silenced; more pressure must be applied on the regime.\u00a0 All sanctions must continue, he said, with new ones put in place as the only way to keep the Iranian people safe.<\/p>\n

KELLY CRAFT (United States<\/u>), recalling that this week commemorates the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Holocaust, said Israelis have won 13\u00a0Nobel prizes, improved drip irrigation technologies and enhanced surgical technologies.\u00a0 The Council should not lose sight of these facts.\u00a0 \u201cI will not allow us to,\u201d she said, advocating, as well, for a focus on the regional actor fomenting hatred.\u00a0 Iran has escaped the Council\u2019s scrutiny.\u00a0 When Iran sought to prop up the Assad regime\u2019s repression of its own people, the Council was silent; its failure to address Iran\u2019s central role in destabilizing the region only encourages further instability.<\/p>\n

KAREN VAN VLIERBERGE (Belgium<\/u>) called on the international community to fill funding gaps for humanitarian assistance.\u00a0 Condemning any policy jeopardizing a two-State solution, she called on Israel to end its illegal settlement policy that is unfolding in the West Bank and East Jerusalem amid forced displacement and demolitions.\u00a0 Given that 97\u00a0European Union-funded structures were demolished in\u00a02019, a 90\u00a0per\u00a0cent increase from the previous year, she urged Israeli authorities to end such actions and issue compensation for damages in line with international humanitarian law.\u00a0 She raised concerns about Israel\u2019s dual legal system related to the Green Line, the annexation activities and the chronic violence, particularly by settlers.\u00a0 Those responsible on the ground must exhibit restraint.\u00a0 Recalling Israel\u2019s obligation to protect the rights of the child, she said that all humanitarian law must be respected.\u00a0 She encouraged parties to continue negotiations to settle differences over tax revenues and reiterated the importance of holding elections in Gaza and the West Bank.<\/p>\n

CHRISTOPH HEUSGEN (Germany<\/u>), appealing to Iran to recognize Israel, said that the Council must respect and implement international law, which is not an \u00e0\u2011la\u2011carte affair.\u00a0 As such, settlements and annexations are illegal under international law.\u00a0 In addition, resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016) must be fully implemented, he said, condemning all attacks on Israel.\u00a0 Underlining the importance of strengthening the Palestinian institutions\u2019 democratic legitimacy ahead of elections, he voiced support for UNRWA and the critical services it provides.<\/p>\n

ABDOU ABARRY (Niger<\/u>) said that if resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016) is fully applied, its provisions would help the peace process, but this has not occurred.\u00a0 Instead, ongoing settlement activities and the seizure and demolition of Palestinian property are violating international law.\u00a0 Deploring the Israeli security forces\u2019 excessive use of force, he said that the cycle of violence must end to protect civilians on both sides.\u00a0 Regional developments were affecting the current situation, from the Gaza blockade to boiling tensions threatening to impact youth.\u00a0 Expressing support for UNRWA, he called on donors to ensure the agency can continue to deliver vital services.\u00a0 For its part, the international community must persist in its efforts to advance the peace process for a two-State solution.<\/p>\n

MONCEF BAATI (Tunisia<\/u>) denounced Israel\u2019s expansionist settlement schemes and other practices against Palestinians, in flagrant violation of international law and resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016).\u00a0 \u201cThis behaviour is a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State solution,\u201d he asserted, likewise expressing deep concern over calls to annex parts of the West Bank and carry out settlement projects in East Jerusalem.\u00a0 He decried the siege on Gaza and measures to \u201ctighten the noose around the Palestinian economy,\u201d also rejecting Israel\u2019s attempts to change the legal, historic and demographic character of East Jerusalem.\u00a0 Tunisia will continue to support all efforts to resume negotiations on agreed terms of reference, especially the Arab Peace Initiative and a two\u2013State solution, which is the only viable option for achieving a just and comprehensive peace.\u00a0 He urged the Council to advance efforts to resolve the conflict, including by visiting the occupied Palestinian territories, and advocated support for UNRWA.<\/p>\n

KAREN PIERCE (United Kingdom<\/u>) urged Iran to \u201ccome in from the cold\u201d and pursue its legitimate interests in the region peacefully and in full respect for international rules.\u00a0 She recalled recognition of Israel in this context.\u00a0 The Council must remain engaged to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.\u00a0 Stressing that all sides are obliged to create an atmosphere more conducive to peace, she said that, for Israel, that means a halt to its settlement activities.\u00a0 She condemned Israel\u2019s plans for 1,900\u00a0housing units across the West Bank as illegal under international law and urged avoiding a suggestion that parts of Palestinian territories must be annexed.\u00a0 She called for an immediate end to the demolition of Palestinian-owned homes and eviction of Palestinians from them, pressing Israel to provide a clear route to construction for Palestinians in Area\u00a0C.\u00a0 For Palestinians, she condemned attacks against civilians by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which must cease, and called for renewed efforts towards reconciliation, with the Palestinian Authority resuming its government functions in Gaza.\u00a0 The Palestinian Authority also must set a date for elections in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and in Gaza, as soon as possible.\u00a0 A just resolution that ends the occupation and delivers peace for Israelis and Palestinians is long overdue, she said, underscoring the United Kingdom\u2019s commitment to achieving a negotiated settlement leading to a safe, secure Israel, living alongside a sovereign Palestinian State based on 1967\u00a0borders, with Jerusalem as a shared capital and an agreed settlement for refugees.<\/p>\n

SVEN J\u00dcRGENSON (Estonia<\/u>), associating himself with the European Union, expressed support for a two-State solution that respects internationally agreed parameters and international law.\u00a0 He voiced concern about Israel\u2019s settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories, urging it to end the demolition of Palestinian-owned buildings in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.\u00a0 He likewise expressed concern about calls to annex areas of the West Bank \u2014 moves that would be a serious violation of international law.\u00a0 He encouraged all Palestinian factions to commit to inclusive, comprehensive and fair elections, condemning rocket\u2011fire from Gaza into Israel and calling on all parties to exercise restraint.\u00a0 UNRWA also requires continued support.\u00a0 On the situation in Syria, he reiterated respect for resolution\u00a02254\u00a0(2015), stressing that the success of the political process is linked to a nationwide ceasefire.<\/p>\n

DIAN TRIANSYAH DJANI (Indonesia<\/u>) underlined the need to reverse negative trends, citing the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs findings that 621\u00a0Palestinian structures were demolished or seized in the West Bank in\u00a02019.\u00a0 \u201cWe must not let this unlawful act go unnoticed,\u201d he asserted, pressing the Council to find a durable solution based on the United Nations Charter.\u00a0 The Council must uphold international law and not be silent about the threat of Israel\u2019s formal annexation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.\u00a0 He cited resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016), affirming that changes to the 4\u00a0June\u00a01967 borders other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations constitute a flagrant violation of international law.\u00a0 \u201cThere is no other way forward on this matter,\u201d he said, calling for an end to the Gaza blockade and stressing the vital role of UNRWA.\u00a0 On Syria, he urged all parties to cease hostilities and uphold the ceasefire agreements, while in Lebanon, he urged all parties to avoid violence and expressed strong support to the country in resolving its internal challenges through dialogue.<\/p>\n

JERRY MATTHEWS MATJILA (South Africa<\/u>) expressed concern about the lack of political progress in the Middle East peace process, emphasizing that the only viable and sustainable solution is a two-State approach.\u00a0 Warning against any attempts to divert from that path, he said that the only way to achieve peace and stability runs through the restoration of all legitimate rights of the Palestinian people in line with relevant United Nations resolutions and international terms of reference.\u00a0 He called on all parties to make a concerted effort to ensure that safe and inclusive elections are held throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and called for a \u201csurge in diplomacy\u201d as a critical mediation tool.\u00a0 He went on to express concern about increased tensions around Gaza and called for an end to violent attacks by both sides and a return to negotiations.\u00a0 Turning to Israel\u2019s \u201ccontinuous land\u2011grab\u201d, he cautioned that threats and pronouncements of annexation undermine the prospects for peace and could hinder the chance of reaching a sustainable settlement.\u00a0 In that vein, he underlined the need for full respect for resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016) and reiterated his call for the Council to reconsider a visit to the region.<\/p>\n

NICOLAS DE RIVI\u00c8RE (France<\/u>) called for the urgent resumption of the peace process, particularly as the situation on the ground continues to be a major source of instability.\u00a0 Settling the conflict depends on addressing the agreed terms, including making Jerusalem the capital of the two States, he said, cautioning that a solution devoid of such parameters cannot deliver peace.\u00a0 A two\u2011State solution is the fair, just position in line with international law, and it is futile to imagine any kind of policies or financial incentives that deny this.\u00a0 Pursuant to resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016) and other Council decisions, he condemned calls by Israeli leaders for annexing parts of the West Bank, which is a grave violation of international law.\u00a0 Turning to elections, he said that progress can be made towards peace with a free and fair process alongside the announcement of dates.\u00a0 Calling on the international community to galvanize its support for UNRWA, he said that President Emmanuel Macron will address these and related issues during his forthcoming visit to Israel and the Palestinian territory.<\/p>\n

INGA RHONDA KING (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines<\/u>) expressed support for a two-State solution, as well as solidarity with the State of Palestine as it strives for a peaceful and just resolution to the conflict.\u00a0 Noting that the current and expanding Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory constitute a flagrant violation of international law and an obstacle to peace, she stressed that \u201cit is our duty to protect our universally accepted body of international law on this issue\u201d.\u00a0 Each Member State has the option to remain silent, or to stand on principle.\u00a0 Emphasizing the importance of driving forward sustainable development in the territory, she said the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains a source of grave concern and Israel\u2019s blockade of the area breeds poverty and denies its citizens their rights.\u00a0 In addition, she voiced concern about \u201cattempts to deviate from the settled parameters governing the delicate quest for peace\u201d, and reiterated that the Council will not recognize any changes to the June\u00a01967 lines other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations.<\/p>\n

ZHANG JUN (China<\/u>) said that the question of Palestine is a wound in the world\u2019s history amid ongoing settlement\u2011building and a peace process that is not on the right track.\u00a0 Without a just solution, peace will elude the Middle East.\u00a0 Independent statehood is a right that cannot be traded away, and parties with influence in the region must make joint efforts to encourage both sides to work out differences.\u00a0 In the meantime, Israel must end settlement\u2011expansion, prevent violence against civilians and stop demolition orders.\u00a0 Parties must meet each other half way and create favourable conditions to resume dialogue.\u00a0 For its part, China has met with the parties in the region and remains committed to the peace process.\u00a0 Going forward, the Gaza blockade must be lifted to improve conditions of the people living there, and the international community should continue its support of UNRWA and work to promote peace through development.<\/p>\n

JOS\u00c9 SINGER WEISINGER (Dominican Republic<\/u>) said that, since the 1993\u00a0Oslo Accords, neither side has managed to achieve a dialogue to resolve their differences.\u00a0 To end this long-standing conflict, the parties must inject a new impetus to satisfy their people\u2019s aspirations to forge a peace that can be replicated throughout the region.\u00a0 Parties must abide by international humanitarian and human rights law, keeping in mind the needs of a population that has withstood decades of struggle.\u00a0 Open debates in the Council are meant to re\u2011invigorate the peace process, not to point fingers or deepen rifts.\u00a0 Calling for restraint on both sides, who must respect the current ceasefire arrangements, he drew attention to violence facing women and children in relation to settlement\u2011expansion activities.\u00a0 Deep divisions among Palestinians erode the path to peace and must be resolved to return to that road.<\/p>\n

VASSILY A. NEBENZIA (Russian Federation<\/u>) regretted to note rising tensions and several regional developments, including the unacceptable act of assassinating Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.\u00a0 Countries in the Middle East and North Africa must determine a manner to address their security-related concerns, with a collective goal being to help these States find a way forward.\u00a0 Citing several examples, he said the Astana Process was a milestone for Syria, and steps have been taken to de-escalate tensions in Libya.\u00a0 Expressing hope that progress will be achieved in Yemen, he said that establishing calm in these countries will ripple across the Middle East.\u00a0 Resolving Palestinian issues must advance on agreed terms, he said, rejecting statements that condone settlement activities and claims on occupied territories, including the Syrian Golan.\u00a0 Highlighting the role played by the Quartet (Russian Federation, United States, European Union and the United Nations) in the peace process, he also drew attention to UNRWA, calling on the international community to support its critical activities.<\/p>\n

DANG DINH QUY (Viet Nam<\/u>), Council President for January, spoke in his national capacity, condemning all attacks on civilians \u2014 both Palestinian and Israeli \u2014 as well as the assaults on civilian infrastructure outlined in the Secretary-General\u2019s report.\u00a0 All parties must exercise the utmost restraint, refrain from acts of provocation or violence, end attacks on civilians and act in compliance with international law and Council resolutions.\u00a0 Reiterating his call on Israel to end all its illegal settlement activities in line with resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016), he said that it should also lift restrictions on the movement of people and commodities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.\u00a0 Voicing concern about Israel\u2019s plans to annex parts of the Jordan Valley and the West Bank, he warned that such unconstructive acts \u2014 coupled with new, dangerous flashpoints in the region \u2014 could bring about more casualties and the suffering of civilians.\u00a0 He also welcomed the mediation roles being played by the United Nations and Egypt, as well as UNRWA\u2019s important work, and reaffirmed his delegation\u2019s support for the legitimate struggle of the Palestinian people for their inalienable rights.<\/p>\n

MONA JUUL (Norway<\/u>) said that, absent a credible political process, it is essential to continue to build the institutional and economic foundation for a Palestinian State, including through resolving outstanding issues between the parties.\u00a0 Raising concerns about the health crisis in Gaza, she said donors\u2019 efforts are having positive effects.\u00a0 However, the continuous settlement\u2011expansion violates international law and represents a major obstacle to achieve a two-State solution.\u00a0 Welcoming plans for Palestinian elections, she encouraged all parties, including the Palestinian Authority, factions and Israel, to act constructively to ensure a free, fair and inclusive process.\u00a0 Turning to the broader region, she said that she remains deeply concerned about increased Iran-United States tensions, urging parties to de-escalate and engage through dialogue.\u00a0 Further instability will put the territorial integrity of Iraq at risk, she said, pledging Norway\u2019s support to fight terrorism.\u00a0 The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action remains key to continued confidence in the peaceful nature of Iran\u2019s nuclear programme, and Tehran must return to full compliance.<\/p>\n

BASHAR JA\u2019AFARI (Syria<\/u>) said that ending the Israeli occupation of Arab territories and the question of Palestine are issues that have taken much of the Council\u2019s attention over the past decades.\u00a0 However, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process violated its mandate by failing to mention the Israeli occupation of the Syrian Golan.\u00a0 Moreover, unilateral actions, such as the United States recognition of Israel\u2019s occupation of the Syrian Golan, have increased tensions.\u00a0 No party has the authority to determine the fate of the territories that are part of Syria and occupied Palestine, he said, calling on Israeli authorities to end ongoing wind energy projects and the confiscation of lands in occupied Syrian Golan, which must be returned to Syria based on June\u00a01967 borders.\u00a0 He also renewed his demand to give the State of Palestine full membership at the United Nations.<\/p>\n

NESTOR FRANCISCO POPOLIZIO BARDELES (Peru<\/u>) said that recent developments have stalled the peace process and must be addressed before unilateral decisions or actions result in a further escalation of violence.\u00a0 Expressing support for dialogue, negotiations and the agreed two-State solution, he urged political leaders on both sides to act responsibly and foster calm dialogue.\u00a0 He highlighted certain actions that are undermining the two-State solution, including ongoing settlement activities.\u00a0 The humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinian people must be addressed by focusing on the root causes, he said, urging States to support development projects and provide stable funding to UNRWA.\u00a0 Regarding the fragile situation in the Persian Gulf, he called on the parties to respect the United Nations Charter and urged Iran to abide by its commitments to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.<\/p>\n

SIMA SAMI BAHOUS (Jordan<\/u>) called for the parties to take all measures to return to dialogue in Iraq.\u00a0 Regarding the spread of terrorist groups, she said that all States must address these threats and confront them while working with each other.\u00a0 In Libya, a political solution must be adopted to overcome the crisis.\u00a0 In terms of the Palestinian cause, which remains the world\u2019s \u201cdeepest wound\u201d, she said that Israel continues to violate international law, including by drafting new conditions in East Jerusalem and expanding settlement policies.\u00a0 For its part, Jordan will continue to support the maintenance and care of the holy sites.\u00a0 Peace in the region hinges on ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, she said, adding that Amman will work to fight the spread of extremism and support youth by providing them with opportunities for a brighter future.<\/p>\n

___________<\/p>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The 8705th Meeting was closed.<\/p>\n

For information media. Not an official record.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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