{"id":239146,"date":"2020-09-29T23:06:20","date_gmt":"2020-09-30T03:06:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&#038;p=239146"},"modified":"2020-10-15T23:09:35","modified_gmt":"2020-10-16T03:09:35","slug":"special-coordinator-briefs-security-council-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-including-the-palestinian-question-press-release-sc-14315","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/special-coordinator-briefs-security-council-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-including-the-palestinian-question-press-release-sc-14315\/","title":{"rendered":"Special Coordinator Briefs Security Council on the Situation in the Middle, Including the Palestinian Question \u2013 Press Release (SC\/14315)"},"content":{"rendered":"<h6 style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong>8762ND MEETING (PM)<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>SC\/14315<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>29 SEPTEMBER 2020<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/h6>\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden\">\n<div class=\"field-items\">\n<div class=\"field-item even\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/press\/fr\/2020\/cs14315.doc.htm\">Fran\u00e7ais\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/auto-insert-178173\/\">UNSC Resolution 2334 (2016)<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"entry-title fusion-responsive-typography-calculated\" data-fontsize=\"18\" data-lineheight=\"25.2px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/implementation-of-security-council-resolution-2334-report-of-the-secretary-general-s-2020-555\/\">Report of the Secretary-General (S\/2020\/555)<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-fontsize=\"18\" data-lineheight=\"25.2px\"><a href=\"http:\/\/webtv.un.org\/search\/nickolay-mladenov-unsco-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-including-the-palestinian-question-8762nd-meeting-of-security-council\/6196009567001\/?term=&amp;lan=english&amp;page=3\">Video (Special Coordinator&#8217;s Remarks Only)<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-fontsize=\"18\" data-lineheight=\"25.2px\"><a href=\"http:\/\/webtv.un.org\/search\/middle-east-including-the-palestinian-question-8762nd-meeting-of-security-council\/6196023555001\/?term=&amp;lan=english&amp;page=1\">Video (Full Meeting)<\/a><\/p>\n<h4>Delegates Stress Primacy of Peace Process, as United States Urges Palestinian Leaders to Embrace Newly Signed Abraham Accords<\/h4>\n<p>The recent normalization of relations between Israel and two Arab countries presents an opportunity to re-engage Palestine and Israel in negotiations towards a two-State solution to their long-standing conflict, a senior United Nations mediator told the Security Council today.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Secretary-General hopes that these developments will encourage Palestinian and Israeli leaders to re-engage in meaningful negotiations towards a two-State solution and will create opportunities for regional cooperation,\u201d said Nickolay Mladenov, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process.<\/p>\n<p>Citing the agreements \u2014 collectively known as the Abraham Accords \u2014 between Israel on the one hand and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain on the other, he noted that the new relations suspended Israel\u2019s plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank.\u00a0 He welcomed the recent call by the foreign ministers of Jordan, Egypt, France and Germany for restored hope in the peace process and resumed negotiations, as well as recent moves by rival Palestinian factions towards strengthening unity with a view to holding long-awaited national presidential and legislative elections.<\/p>\n<p>However, some negative trends persist on the ground, he warned, citing a sharp rise in demolitions of Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.\u00a0 \u201cWe are again at a pivotal moment in the search for peace as a convergence of destabilizing factors threatens to pull Israelis and Palestinians further towards a one-State reality of perpetual occupation and conflict,\u201d he said, expressing the commitment of the United Nations to the vision of two States \u2014 Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, viable and sovereign Palestine \u2014 based on the pre-1967 borders, with Jerusalem as the capital of both.<\/p>\n<p>In the ensuing discussion, Council members exchanged views on the Abraham Accords, brokered by the United States.<\/p>\n<p>That country\u2019s delegate declared:\u00a0 \u201cInstead of just talking about peace month after month [\u2026] the United States led the way through action, and we achieved tangible results.\u201d\u00a0 Recalling that President Donald J. Trump laid out a broader Middle East peace plan earlier in\u00a02020, he said the Abraham Accords build further on that sensible vision.\u00a0 However, despite those positive developments, Palestinian terrorists have continued to fire a barrage of rockets at Israel, he said, calling upon Palestinian leaders to embrace the peace deal.<\/p>\n<p>The United Kingdom\u2019s delegate urged other countries across the Middle East to follow the example of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, noting that the developments represent \u201ca profound shift\u201d in the region.\u00a0 The international community should build on this momentum to take forward the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he said, urging the Palestinian Authority to resume cooperation with Israel, while also calling upon both sides to resume dialogue.<\/p>\n<p>Indonesia\u2019s representative, however, pointed out that the root cause of the Palestinian\u2013Israeli conflict is the illegal occupation, amplified by decades of creeping annexation and illegal settlement policy in flagrant violation of international law and resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016).\u00a0 \u201cPeace without addressing the root causes is not peace at all,\u201d he emphasized.<\/p>\n<p>The representative of Niger, Council President for September, speaking in his national capacity, stressed that the Abraham Accords must not overshadow the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians.\u00a0 Instead, the parties should be compelled to return to revitalized peace talks, in line with agreed international parameters and Council resolutions, he said.<\/p>\n<p>South Africa\u2019s representative underlined that any peace initiative must factor in the needs and aspirations of the Palestinian people and ensure that a Palestinian State is not reduced to an entity without the basic tenets of sovereignty, territorial contiguity and economic viability.\u00a0 \u201cA realistic and credible peace plan will result in a genuine two-State solution, not one viable State and a Bantustan,\u201d he stressed, pointing out that Palestinians remain under occupation, denied basic civil and human rights.<\/p>\n<p>The Dominican Republic\u2019s delegate acknowledged that the Abraham Accords contribute to regional stability, urging the Palestinian side to constructively take advantage of the developments.\u00a0 \u201cPalestine might be in the darkest hour now, but dawn comes soon after,\u201d he said, expressing full support for the two-State formula.<\/p>\n<p>Belgium\u2019s delegate welcomed Israel\u2019s decision to suspend its annexation plan, but called for it to abandon the project indefinitely.\u00a0 It is time to reverse the trend on the ground, she added, emphasizing that Israel\u2019s illegal settlement activities must cease, while expressing grave concern about the increase in demolitions of Palestinian property.<\/p>\n<p>Also speaking were representatives of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, China, France, Estonia, Viet Nam, Tunisia, Russian Federation and Germany.<\/p>\n<p>The meeting began at 3:06\u00a0p.m. and ended at 4:56\u00a0p.m.<\/p>\n<p><u>Briefing<\/u><\/p>\n<p>NICKOLAY MLADENOV, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General, presented the latest report on the implementation of Security Council resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016), covering the period from 5\u00a0June to 20\u00a0September.\u00a0 He noted the recent normalization of relations between Israel and two Arab countries, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, highlighting the suspension of Israel\u2019s plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank.\u00a0 \u201cThe Secretary-General hopes that these developments will encourage Palestinian and Israeli leaders to re-engage in meaningful negotiations towards a two-State solution and will create opportunities for regional cooperation,\u201d he said.\u00a0 Citing the recent call by the foreign ministers of Jordan, Egypt, France and Germany for restored hope in the peace process and resumed negotiations based on international law and agreed parameters, he said he was also encouraged by recent moves towards strengthening Palestinian unity, as demonstrated by the outcome of the Fatah-Hamas meetings calling for long-awaited national presidential and legislative elections.<\/p>\n<p>Turning to the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic, he called for focused attention on the Gaza Strip, given the extreme vulnerability of the enclave\u2019s population.\u00a0 \u201cAny increased responsibilities taken on by the United Nations should be limited, time-bound and not replace the responsibilities of the Palestinian Authority or the Government of Israel,\u201d he said, urging the parties to find a path forward to address the urgent health crisis.\u00a0 He also expressed support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East\u00a0(UNRWA), the Inter-Agency Plan for COVID-19 and the United Nations Development Response Plan in support of the Palestinian Government.<\/p>\n<p>He said that, although Israel\u2019s settlement advancement was limited over the past two reporting periods, he remains concerned about plans for settlement construction in the E1\u00a0area and other sensitive locations of the occupied West Bank, which are pending approval by Israeli authorities.\u00a0 As clearly set out in resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016), Israel\u2019s establishment of settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since\u00a01967, including East Jerusalem, have no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law, he emphasized, expressing deep concern over the spike in demolitions and seizures of Palestinian\u2011owned structures in the occupied West Bank.\u00a0 While Israel\u2019s suspension of its annexation plans removed a critical threat with the potential to upend peace and regional stability, the threat posed by continued settlement expansion and demolitions remains, he cautioned.<\/p>\n<p>Given the severe economic and health crisis, the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships must urgently re-engage and strengthen efforts to advance the goal of a negotiated two-State solution, he said, also urging Israel, as the occupying Power, to ensure the safety and security of the Palestinian population.\u00a0 He called upon Israeli security forces to exercise maximum restraint and to use lethal force only when strictly unavoidable to protect life.\u00a0 Palestinian militants in Gaza must halt the launching of indiscriminate rockets and incendiary devices towards Israeli population centres in violation of international law, he stressed.\u00a0 In addition, children and schools should never be the target of violence by any party, nor should children be exposed to violence.<\/p>\n<p>It is critical that the Egypt-led intra-Palestinian reconciliation efforts continue, he said, underlining that Gaza must remain an integral part of a future Palestinian State, as part of a two-State solution.\u00a0 \u201cWe are again at a pivotal moment in the search for peace as a convergence of destabilizing factors threatens to pull Israelis and Palestinians further towards a one-State reality of perpetual occupation and conflict,\u201d he warned.\u00a0 The United Nations remains committed to supporting the efforts of both sides to resolve the conflict, in pursuit of the vision of two States \u2014 Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, viable and sovereign Palestine \u2014 within secure and recognized borders, based on the pre\u20111967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both.<\/p>\n<p><u>Statements<\/u><\/p>\n<p>RODNEY HUNTER (<u>United States<\/u>) emphasized that the recent agreements brokered by Washington, D.C., to normalize relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain \u2014 known collectively as the Abraham Accords \u2014 represent the most crucial steps toward peace in the Middle East in many years.\u00a0 In Israel\u2019s entire history, there have been only two such agreements, and now two more have been achieved in just one month\u2019s time, helping to build trust among strategic allies of the United States in the region, he noted.\u00a0 \u201cInstead of just talking about peace month after month [\u2026] the United States led the way through action, and we achieved tangible results,\u201d he added.\u00a0 Recalling that his country\u2019s Government has also laid out a broader Middle East peace plan, he said the Abraham Accords build further on that sensible vision. \u00a0However, despite those positive developments, Palestinian terrorists have continued to fire a barrage of rockets at Israel, he said.\u00a0 Deploring such violence, he called upon Palestinian leaders to embrace the peace deal as well as the Abraham Accords.\u00a0 He went on to note that on 30\u00a0September, the United States and the United Arab Emirates will co-host an informal briefing on how the agreements can serve as a springboard to break the long-standing Middle East stalemate.<\/p>\n<p>JERRY MATTHEWS MATJILA (<u>South Africa<\/u>) said that, despite many agreements and some newly forged partnerships, it remains shameful that Palestinians continue to live under occupation and are denied their basic civil and human rights.\u00a0 \u201cWe should ask ourselves:\u00a0 do these agreements that some of us welcome change the day\u2011to\u2011day lives of those living under occupation?\u201d\u00a0 No plan can succeed if all parties are not included in talks, as equal partners, from the start, he emphasized.\u00a0 Any peace initiative must factor in the needs and aspirations of the Palestinian people and ensure that a Palestinian State is not reduced to an entity without the basic tenets of sovereignty, territorial contiguity and economic viability.\u00a0 \u201cA realistic and credible peace plan will result in a genuine two\u2011State solution, not one viable State and a Bantustan,\u201d he stressed.\u00a0 Vowing to work with like-minded countries in support of a two-State solution, he expressed support for the recent call by President Abbas\u2019 for the Secretary-General to begin preparations \u2014 together with the Council and the Middle East Quartet \u2014 for an international conference on a genuine peace process, including resolution of all final status issues.<\/p>\n<p>INGA RHONDA KING (<u>Saint Vincent and the Grenadines<\/u>) said that demolitions and settlement activities contravene international humanitarian law and international human rights law, eroding the viability of a two-State solution\u00a0 He called upon Israel to fully respect Security Council resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016), as well as other United Nations resolutions and relevant provisions of international law.\u00a0 International efforts to promote a peaceful settlement can only bear success by facilitating direct and meaningful negotiations between the parties, she said, calling upon the Middle East Quartet to renew their efforts to restore belief on both sides that a negotiated peace agreement remains possible. \u00a0Noting that poverty rates in Gaza stand at 53\u00a0per\u00a0cent, far exceeding 13.9\u00a0per\u00a0cent in the West Bank, she urged Israel to end its blockade of the Strip.<\/p>\n<p>GENG SHUANG (<u>China<\/u>) urged States with influence to uphold the cause of advancing the peace process.\u00a0 Welcoming positive progress on intra-Palestinian reconciliation, he stressed the importance of unity in advancing the a two-State formula.\u00a0 Israel\u2019s plan to annex some parts of the occupied West Bank, if implemented, would violate United Nations resolutions and undermine the prospects for a two-State solution.\u00a0 Expressing support for the Secretary-General\u2019s call on Israel to abandon its annexation plan, he also urged all parties to heed his call for an immediate global ceasefire.\u00a0 Turning to Israel\u2019s illegal settlement activities and demolition of Palestinian property, he called for full implementation of resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016).\u00a0 Calling also for the lifting of the Gaza blockade, he expressed China\u2019s firm commitment to addressing Palestine\u2019s humanitarian plights and supporting the Strip\u2019s development.<\/p>\n<p>NICOLAS DE RIVIERE (<u>France<\/u>) noted that the parameters of a two-State solution are long-standing and well-known, and it is on that basis that the Council bears a responsibility to work towards resumed negotiations between the parties.\u00a0 The recently normalized relations between States in the region can contribute to that goal, he said, emphasizing nevertheless that the aspirations of all parties must be considered.\u00a0 While pledging that France will not compromise Israel\u2019s security nor abandon the Palestinian people and their rights, he stressed:\u00a0 the suspension of Israel\u2019s annexation project must become permanent; the policy of settlement must be halted; and resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016) must be fully implemented.\u00a0 \u201cSettlement must not make it possible for annexation to take place through other means,\u201d he said, also calling for progress in resolving intra-Palestinian relations and for more support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).\u00a0 The Council must unite behind all those elements as part of the long-standing basis for peace \u2014 \u201cthe one we have built together\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>SVEN J\u00dcRGENSON (<u>Estonia<\/u>) welcomed Israel\u2019s signing of agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, as well as the constructive role played by the United States and the fact that Israel committed to suspending its plans to unilaterally annex areas of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.\u00a0 Those developments can contribute to building momentum towards finding a comprehensive solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he said. \u00a0A two-State solution and a lasting peace can be achieved only through direct negotiations, taking into account the legitimate aspirations of both parties as well as Israel\u2019s security concerns, he added.\u00a0 Urging Israeli and Palestinian leaders to re-engage in meaningful negotiations, he called upon both sides to implement Council resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016) \u2014 including by taking steps to prevent acts of violence and terror against civilians \u2014 and to refrain from unilateral steps that could undermine the prospects of a two-State solution or increase instability in the region.<\/p>\n<p>KAREN VAN VLIERBERGE (<u>Belgium<\/u>) emphasized the need for talks to resume, urging the parties to sit down at the negotiation table without preconditions.\u00a0 Warning against unilateral measures, she urged respect for United Nations resolutions and international law. \u00a0She went on to state that the normalization of relations between Israel and some Arab countries, namely the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, has given new momentum to the peace process based on a two-State solution.\u00a0 Israel\u2019s decision to suspend its annexation plan is a step in that direction, but it should abandon the project indefinitely, she said.\u00a0 It is time to reverse the trend on the ground, she added, emphasizing that Israel\u2019s illegal settlement activities must cease, while also expressing grave concern about the increase in demolitions of Palestinian property. \u00a0Turning to Gaza, she expressed hope that intra-Palestinian reconciliation would pave the way for a fair presidential election.\u00a0 She stressed that civil society and human rights defenders must be allowed to work without impediment.<\/p>\n<p>DANG DINH QUY (<u>Viet Nam<\/u>) described the recent ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel as \u201ca step in the right direction\u201d, also welcoming the latest efforts by rival Palestinian parties to prepare for upcoming elections, which would help meet the Palestinian people\u2019s expectations.\u00a0 However, the situation is fragile since the deep-seated causes of the conflict have not been eradicated, he said, urging all parties to refrain from any unilateral action that may lead to more violence.\u00a0 Expressing full support for the Secretary-General and his Special Coordinator, he underlined the importance of continued United Nations engagement in the Middle East peace process, adding that it is high time all stakeholders redoubled their efforts to restart negotiations.<\/p>\n<p>DIAN TRIANSYAH DJANI (<u>Indonesia<\/u>) declared: \u00a0\u201cPeace without addressing the root causes is not peace at all.\u201d\u00a0 The root cause of the Palestinian\u2013Israeli conflict is the illegal occupation, which has been amplified by decades of Israel\u2019s creeping annexation and illegal settlement policy in flagrant violation of international law and resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016), he said.\u00a0 Promising peace without addressing those issues is just an illusion, he said, stressing that any solution that disregards the main parties is unjust and one-sided.\u00a0 The Council should support the Secretary General\u2019s call upon both Israeli and Palestinian leaders to re-engage in meaningful negotiations.\u00a0 Describing the many struggles facing the Palestinian people living under occupation \u2014 now exacerbated by COVID-19 and its spill-over effects \u2014 he called upon all States to demonstrate their solidarity and humanity by supporting civilians.\u00a0 In that vein, he called upon Israel to end its blockade of Gaza and allow unhindered access for humanitarian assistance and goods.<\/p>\n<p>TAREK LADEB (<u>Tunisia<\/u>) recalled that, during the General Assembly\u2019s seventy\u2011fifth high-level debate, Heads of State reiterated the importance of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and helping the Palestinian people realize their rights to self-determination and to an independent State.\u00a0 Rejecting Israel\u2019s annexationist efforts and calling for their abandonment \u201conce and for all\u201d, he said efforts must continue \u2014 with the full participation of the Palestinian side as a prerequisite \u2014 to resume negotiations between the parties.\u00a0 The Council has a vital role to play in moving the peace process forward and in ending Israel\u2019s impunity.\u00a0 Echoing expressions of support for the proposal to hold an international conference, he also voiced hope that Palestinian elections will soon be organized and that the blockade against Gaza \u2014 which constitutes a form of collective punishment \u2014 will be promptly lifted.<\/p>\n<p>JOS\u00c9 SINGER WEISINGER (<u>Dominican Republic<\/u>), expressing concern over the increase in COVID-19 cases in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, called for a permanent ceasefire by both sides to alleviate human suffering caused by the pandemic.\u00a0 Welcoming the recent normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, he said it will deepen cooperation among nations and enhance stability in the region.\u00a0 Urging the Palestinian side to constructively take advantage of these developments, he said Palestine might be in the darkest hour now, but dawn comes soon after.\u00a0 Expressing full support for the two-State formula, he emphasized the that the basis for a solution has not changed.\u00a0 There must be a peace agreement between the two sides, he said, adding that they must negotiate a way out of the conflict.<\/p>\n<p>JONATHAN GUY ALLEN (<u>United Kingdom<\/u>) welcomed the normalization of relations between Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates and Israel as \u201cpositive steps\u201d that are already having an impact, such as direct flights from Israel to the Emirates and early commercial agreements.\u00a0 Predicting more progress to come, including on trade, cultural and scientific links, he urged others across the region to follow the example of the two Arab countries.\u00a0 The developments represent \u201ca profound shift\u201d in the region, he said, calling upon the international community to build on this momentum to take forward the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.\u00a0 Describing the suspension of annexation plans as an opportunity, he urged the Palestinian Authority to resume cooperation with Israel, also calling upon both sides to take constructive and open steps towards a return to dialogue.<\/p>\n<p>VASSILY A. NEBENZIA (<u>Russian Federation<\/u>) noted that, at every juncture of the international community\u2019s work on the Middle East, his delegation has supported a comprehensive peace underpinned by a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the creation of an independent Palestinian State.\u00a0 Emphasizing that all final status issues must be resolved by the parties themselves through negotiations at the earliest possible date, he welcomed the recent proposal by President Abbas to set such a process in motion.\u00a0 \u201cIsolated efforts will not lead to any breakthroughs,\u201d he said, warning against actions that might collapse gains already made.\u00a0 The United Nations, the European Union and other partners, alongside key regional actors, must step up their support, he added.\u00a0 Calling upon the parties to refrain from unilateral actions or provocations \u2014 including annexation efforts, violence or terrorist attacks \u2014 he said active international steps are needed to reverse the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and elsewhere in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.\u00a0 Meanwhile, UNRWA needs more resources, as it not only supports humanitarian efforts, but also plays a crucial stabilizing role, he pointed out.<\/p>\n<p>G\u00dcNTER SAUTTER (<u>Germany<\/u>) expressed hope that the momentum generated by the recently signed normalization agreements will contribute to the quest for peace and stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 However, a just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must be based on international law, United Nations resolutions and internationally agreed parameters, he said, emphasizing that \u201cnormalization must not result in consolidating the status quo\u201d.\u00a0 Reiterating his country\u2019s support for a negotiated two-State solution leading to two sovereign, independent States, he pledged that Germany will continue its support and good offices as a path back to credible dialogue and a negotiated, peaceful settlement.\u00a0 He went on to note that settlement activities are illegal under international law and only serve to undermine peace efforts, stating: \u00a0\u201cWe trust that Israeli annexation plans are truly and permanently suspended.\u201d\u00a0 Meanwhile, he cautioned, any changes to the legal and traditional status quo on the Haram al-Sharif\/Temple Mount and the city of Hebron would further erode signed agreements and trust \u201cat a time when the COVID-19 crisis warrants close cooperation\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>ABDOU ABARRY (<u>Niger<\/u>), Council President for September, spoke in his national capacity, expressing support for all initiatives aimed at helping restore stability to the Middle East.\u00a0 While welcoming the recently signed Abraham Accords in that regard, he nevertheless emphasized that they must not overshadow a peace process between Israelis and Palestinians themselves.\u00a0 Instead, the parties should be compelled to return to revitalized peace talks, in line with agreed international parameters and Council resolutions, he said.\u00a0 Indeed, the path to peace has already been clearly defined:\u00a0 an end to the occupation and annexation of Palestinian land, and a two-State solution leading to Israeli and Palestinian States living side by side in peace and security.\u00a0 Expressing concern over the accelerating spread of COVID-19 among both Palestinians and Israelis, he called upon the international community to demonstrate greater generosity, while pointing out that it is Israel\u2019s responsibility, as the occupying Power, to keep people safe in territories under its control.<\/p>\n<p><strong>For information media. Not an official record.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>8762ND MEETING (PM) SC\/14315 29 SEPTEMBER 2020 Fran\u00e7ais\u00a0 UNSC Resolution 2334 (2016) Report of the Secretary-General (S\/2020\/555) Video (Special Coordinator&#8217;s Remarks Only) Video (Full Meeting) Delegates Stress Primacy of Peace Process, as United States Urges Palestinian Leaders to Embrace Newly Signed Abraham Accords The recent normalization of relations between Israel and two Arab countries presents <a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/special-coordinator-briefs-security-council-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-including-the-palestinian-question-press-release-sc-14315\/\"> [&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":172,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"template-page.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[690,897,1197],"document-category":[1329,2805,4389],"document-source":[1362,6169,1877],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[2849,2533,2365,2181,1905,2137,6245],"entity":[1729],"document-language":[6541],"class_list":["post-239146","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","country-bahrain","country-israel","country-united-arab-emirates","document-category-press-release","document-category-video","document-category-webcast","document-source-security-council","document-source-united-nations-department-of-global-communications","document-source-united-nations-special-coordinator-for-the-middle-east-peace-process-unsco","document-subject-annexation","document-subject-health","document-subject-international-presence","document-subject-negotiations-and-agreements","document-subject-peace-proposals-and-efforts","document-subject-settlements","document-subject-violence","entity-united-nations-system","document-language-french"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/239146","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/document"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/172"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/239146\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=239146"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=239146"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=239146"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=239146"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=239146"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=239146"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=239146"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=239146"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}