{"id":259160,"date":"2021-10-04T11:45:06","date_gmt":"2021-10-04T15:45:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&p=259160"},"modified":"2021-11-10T16:30:47","modified_gmt":"2021-11-10T21:30:47","slug":"addressing-fourth-committee-senior-officials-cite-funding-shortfalls-affecting-support-to-palestine-refugees-press-release-excerpts-ga-spd-729","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/addressing-fourth-committee-senior-officials-cite-funding-shortfalls-affecting-support-to-palestine-refugees-press-release-excerpts-ga-spd-729\/","title":{"rendered":"UNRWA, Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Address UNGA 4th Committee – Press Release (Excerpts) (GA\/SPD\/729)"},"content":{"rendered":"

SEVENTY-SIXTH SESSION,<\/span>\u00a02ND MEETING (PM)
\nGA\/SPD\/729
\n4 OCTOBER 2021<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Fran\u00e7ais\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) today heard introductory statements and held interactive discussions on the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East\u00a0(UNRWA) and the Special Committee tasked with investigating Israeli practices affecting human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, while also beginning its consideration of agenda items related to the issue of decolonization.<\/p>\n

Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA, presented that body\u2019s latest report, saying that sustaining quality services is becoming an impossible mission.\u00a0 There is a serious disconnect between the growing reliance of Palestine refugees on UNRWA services and decreased donor funding, he stressed, warning that disruptions to Agency services could cause a humanitarian disaster that the region cannot afford.<\/p>\n

Highlighting the effectiveness of the UNRWA\u2019s education services, he reported that over 540,000\u00a0girls and boys go to 711\u00a0UNRWA schools in the region.\u00a0 Warning that a reduction or suspension of services may need to be considered without proper funding, he added that the Agency\u2019s achievements are under threat amid politically motivated attacks aimed to delegitimize and defund it.\u00a0 Citing UNRWA\u2019s zero-tolerance policy for hate speech, incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, he declared: \u201cTo continue succeeding, [UNRWA] needs to be shielded from political attacks\u201d.<\/p>\n

In the ensuing interactive dialogue, Israel\u2019s representative said the fact that UNRWA pleads for new funding year after year proves that its work is unsustainable, while its inability to ease the situation of Palestinians across the region shows how ineffective the Agency is.\u00a0 Among other things, a Hamas tunnel was recently found under an UNRWA\u00a0boys\u2019 school, and UNRWA\u00a0textbooks have been found to display maps that erase Israel entirely.\u00a0 Moreover, it is clear that the Hamas\u00a0terror organization continually uses UNRWA\u00a0infrastructure to pursue its aims, he said.<\/p>\n

The observer for the State of Palestine disagreed, expressing appreciation for UNRWA and dismissing accusations and attacks against it \u2014 including attacks on the Agency\u2019s education programme \u2014 as distortions and attempts to distract attention from the real issue, namely, the continuation of the conflict.\u00a0 Thanking UNRWA\u00a0staff for their tireless efforts amid volatile conditions, she noted with concern that they continue to be hampered by a lack of sustained, predictable funding, and appealed to the global community to mobilize resources for UNRWA\u2019s\u00a0essential operating costs from the United Nations regular budget.<\/p>\n

Mohan Peiris (Sri Lanka), Chair of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting Human Rights of Palestinian People and Other Arabs of Occupied Territories, said the body\u2019s latest report provided updates on human rights violations, including during the May escalation of hostilities in the Gaza\u00a0Strip and the subsequent critical humanitarian situation.\u00a0 Citing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a raft of human rights issues \u2014 including access to education, health care, water, sanitation, and restrictions on freedom of movement \u2014 he noted that only 16\u00a0per\u00a0cent of Palestinians eligible for COVID-19 vaccines had reportedly received two doses as of 31\u00a0August.\u00a0 Israel must comply with its international legal responsibility as the occupying Power, he said in that regard.<\/p>\n

Ilze Brands Kehris, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights at the\u00a0Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights\u00a0(OHCHR), presented three related reports.\u00a0 She said excessive use of force by Israeli Security Forces in the context of law enforcement amounts to collective punishment and restrictions on freedom of movement.\u00a0 \u201cA lack of accountability for international human rights and international humanitarian law violations by Israeli Security Forces remained pervasive,\u201d she stated.\u00a0 During the reporting period, demolition and confiscations of Palestinian structures in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem, increased by 59\u00a0per\u00a0cent in comparison to the previous period \u2014 the highest number since the United Nations began publicly recording them, she added.<\/p>\n

\/…<\/p>\n

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East<\/u><\/p>\n

PHILIPPE LAZZARINI, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East\u00a0(UNRWA), introduced his annual report (document\u00a0A\/76\/13<\/a>).\u00a0 He warned that, for the first time in decades, four out of the five areas where UNRWA operates are simultaneously in crisis:\u00a0 The Gaza Strip; the West Bank, including East Jerusalem; Lebanon; and Syria. \u00a0As a result of the conflict in Gaza in May \u2014 the fourth since 2008 \u2014 UNRWA lost 20 of its students and over 1,300\u00a0shelters were damaged and made uninhabitable.\u00a0 The Agency is now providing food assistance to almost all Palestine refugees in Gaza, 70\u00a0per\u00a0cent of the total population.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one wants to be a refugee,\u201d he went on, adding: \u201cNo one enjoys being handed food and humanitarian assistance\u201d. \u00a0Unfortunately, sustaining quality services is becoming an impossible mission. \u00a0There is a serious disconnect between the growing reliance of Palestine refugees on UNRWA\u00a0services and decreased donor funding, he stressed, warning that disruptions to Agency services could cause a humanitarian disaster that the region cannot afford.\u00a0 Nevertheless, with the support of donors, the Agency has found creative ways to manage its cash flow and pay salaries on time, he said, reporting that austerity and efficiency gains helped save over $600\u00a0million in the last six years.\u00a0 Over the long term, however, continued austerity comes at a price and causes immense distress among the Palestine refugees across the region.<\/p>\n

As for Agency reforms, he reported that UNRWA strengthened its internal oversight body, made the ethics function independent and put in place an Ombudsman.\u00a0 Turning to the Agency\u2019s education services, he cited a recent study authored by the World Bank and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees\u00a0(UNHCR) which argued that the UNRWA\u2019s education programme is the best value for money and its students outperform their local counterparts by one\u00a0year of learning.\u00a0 Today, over 540,000\u00a0girls and boys go to 711\u00a0UNRWA schools in the region.\u00a0 Moreover, he said he has never seen an organization that goes to such great lengths to abide by United Nations humanitarian principles.\u00a0 Noting that those achievements are nevertheless under threat, he warned of politically motivated attacks on the Agency\u2019s education system, which aimed to delegitimize and defund UNRWA.\u00a0 Citing its zero-tolerance policy for hate speech, incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, he declared:\u00a0 \u201cTo continue succeeding, [UNRWA] needs to be shielded from political attacks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Turning to the Agency\u2019s dire financial crisis, he stressed that UNRWA lacks the funds needed to operate in November and December and is suffering a shortfall of $15\u00a0million in October alone.\u00a0 Without proper funding, a reduction or suspension of services may need to be considered, he cautioned, appealing to Member States \u2014 particularly those who have not yet contributed and those who did not contribute to the level of previous years \u2014 to help the Agency sustain its services.\u00a0 \u201cThe mandate of UNRWA is a common responsibility and the stability of the region is in our common interest,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

As the floor was opened for questions and comments, the representative of\u00a0Israel<\/u>\u00a0said the fact that UNRWA pleads for new funding year after year proves that its work is unsustainable, while its inability to ease the situation of Palestinians across the region shows how ineffective the Agency is.\u00a0 Expressing shock at the Commissioner General\u2019s remarks about the Agency\u2019s educational system, he stated that he had intended to bring photographic evidence of an UNRWA\u00a0teacher\u2019s social media post, featuring a picture glorifying Adolph Hitler, but he was prevented from doing so.<\/p>\n

In June, a Hamas tunnel was found under an UNRWA\u00a0boys\u2019 school, he continued, adding that UNRWA\u00a0textbooks contain passages that refer to Jews as \u201cSatan\u2019s helpers\u201d and display maps that erase Israel entirely. \u00a0Moreover, it is clear that the Hamas\u00a0terror organization continually uses UNRWA\u00a0infrastructure to pursue its aims.\u00a0 Noting that many countries support the Agency under the impression that it is part of the solution, he said it is instead part of the problem. \u00a0As such, he called on the international community to cut off funding for an Agency that only exacerbates the conflict.<\/p>\n

The representative of the\u00a0European\u00a0Union<\/u>, in its capacity as observer, said UNRWA is an essential provider of services and a stabilizing force in the region.\u00a0 Indeed, until a solution to the issue of Palestine\u00a0refugees is found, the Agency will remain essential.\u00a0 Recalling that the European\u00a0Union\u2019s member States are collectively the largest contributor to the Agency, he welcomed the renewed commitment from the United States and called on Arab Gulf States to step up their own contributions.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Morocco<\/u>\u00a0recalled that, as chair of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation\u2019s Al Quds Committee, Morocco continues to protect Jerusalem, which is a symbol of religious coexistence.\u00a0 The Al Quds Committee implements projects in all areas which benefit the people of Jerusalem, he went on to say, adding that Morocco will continue supporting the UNRWA to help it fulfill its Mandate.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Jordan<\/u>\u00a0thanked UNWRA for its efforts despite economic and financial challenges, which have been complicated during the pandemic.\u00a0 He further welcomed the resumption of funding to UNRWA by the United States \u2014 which helps meet the humanitarian, educational and health needs of Palestine refugees \u2014 and thanked Sweden for mobilizing international support for the Agency.\u00a0 He went on to call on international donors to intensify their efforts to support the Agency in its aims to obtain funding for 2022 and beyond.\u00a0 \u201cUNWRA should be able to perform its mandate in line with the General Assembly decision\u00a0194,\u201d\u00a0he said, stressing that Jordan stands in favour of a two-State solution.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Turkey<\/u>\u00a0reiterated her country\u2019s longstanding support to and solidarity with the Palestine refugees, and the lifeline services provided to them by UNWRA.\u00a0 She praised innovative frontline services provided by the Agency, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and noted with appreciation the significant progress achieved in implementing management reforms, which strengthen the Agency\u2019s accountability, transparency and governance. \u00a0She noted that further slashing of UNRWA\u2019s budget will not only come at a further cost to Palestine refugees but will also impact its mandate and asked the Commissioner-General to elaborate on his expectations for Member States in that regard.<\/p>\n

The observer for the\u00a0State of Palestine<\/u>, expressed appreciation for UNRWA and dismissed accusations and attacks against it \u2014 including attacks on the Agency\u2019s education programme \u2014 as distortions and attempts to distract attention from the real issue, namely, the continuation of the conflict.\u00a0 Thanking the Commissioner-General for sharing his vision for the road ahead to ensure implementation of UNWRA\u2019s mandate, she expressed deep appreciation to the Agency\u2019s staff for their tireless efforts amid volatile conditions.\u00a0 She went on to express gratitude to all donor countries and organizations for their generous support extended to UNRWA, and noted that Palestine looks forward to the November\u00a0international donor conference, to be convened by Jordan and Sweden, as an important opportunity to mobilize funds to support the functioning of the Agency.\u00a0 Noting with regret that despite all efforts, including cost-cutting measures and the resumption of funding by the United States, UNWRA continues to be hampered by a lack of sustained, predictable funding, she appealed to the global community to mobilize resources for UNRWA\u2019s\u00a0essential operating costs from the United Nations regular budget.<\/p>\n

The representative of the\u00a0United States<\/u>\u00a0said his country is proud to be the largest donor to UNRWA, having contributed more than $315\u00a0million in\u00a02021.\u00a0 In that context, he encouraged donors that have yet not contributed to the Agency to do so. \u00a0The United States is committed to serving as a strong partner to the Agency, to help it to provide the most efficient services possible, in line with United Nations principles.\u00a0 In that context, he asked the Commissioner-General what steps the Agency is taking to increase its efficiency while ensuring it does so in line with aforementioned principles.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0India<\/u>\u00a0said that, even amid the ongoing threat of COVID-19 and a dire funding crisis, UNRWA managed to adapt and provide essential services to Palestine refugees.\u00a0 For its part, India has made contributions to the Agency\u2019s core budget, he reported. \u00a0Expressing appreciation for UNRWA\u2019s steps to ensure transparency, he said India considers the Agency essential.<\/p>\n

Responding, Mr. LAZZARINI said that, since\u00a02013, UNRWA\u2019s income has remained the same despite multiple crises that have unfolded in the region during that time, significantly increasing the needs of the refugees.\u00a0 That mismatch between income and expectations explains why the Agency has constantly been running behind on cash and on the edge of a budget crash.\u00a0 Indeed, UNRWA never knows if it will be able to keep up its critical activities month to month.\u00a0 That uncertainty is highly unnerving for both refugees and host countries, and is unsettling for the staff and the supporters of the Agency.\u00a0 To address the gap, UNRWA is undertaking discussions with a group of friends of donors.\u00a0 As for its efforts to ensure that Agency activities reflect the highest United Nations standards, he reiterated that he has never seen an agency that puts so much effort into making sure its staff uphold those principles. \u00a0For example, the Agency has put in place several measures to help teachers address content in schoolbooks that could be questionable.\u00a0 In addition, UNRWA is developing a digital learning platform where guidance material is available for teachers, and it continues to carry out inspections of Agency premises to ensure they are only used for United Nations purposes.<\/p>\n

SEBNEM MANAV, representing the Chairmanship of the Working Group on the Financing of UNRWA, briefed the Committee on the work of the Working Group as reflected in its recent report (document\u00a0A\/76\/306<\/a>). \u00a0Noting that the financial difficulties faced by the Agency threaten the human development of Palestine\u00a0refugees and the stability in the region, she said these challenges were further exacerbated by the challenges posed by COVID-19.\u00a0 With the Agency’s programme budget shortfall currently standing at $100\u00a0million, she urged the General Assembly and the international community to undertake efforts to ensure that UNRWA\u00a0services are maintained at an acceptable level. \u00a0She further drew attention to several recommendations, contained in the report, including calls for funding increases and the maintenance of voluntary contributions to UNWRA.<\/p>\n

Stressing that Member States\u2019 contributions should keep pace with the requirements of the Agency, while taking into account the effects of inflation and other factors, she added that contributions should also reflect appropriate international burden-sharing. \u00a0In its report, the Working Group commended UNWRA for the measures it has taken to increase its efficiency, while maintaining the quality of services to Palestine refugees, and for the measures taken to increase transparency through reporting to the International Aid Transparency Initiative. \u00a0She urged Member States to provide UNRWA with unearmarked, multi-year funding and make sustained unpredictable contributions, in line with the recommendations made at the World Humanitarian Summit, as the Agency continues to serve more than 5,000,000\u00a0Palestinian refugees.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Pakistan<\/u>\u00a0stressed that Palestine refugees continue to live in a suspended state of exile with few opportunities for comfort and relief, aside from the services provided by UNRWA. \u00a0The Agency\u2019s crucial role has been further underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic, during which UNRWA provided remote schooling and telemedicine programmes.\u00a0 Moreover, its cash support and food delivery services have provided a lifeline to the most vulnerable refugees.\u00a0 However, he echoed other speakers in noting that the continuation of the Agency\u2019s activities requires sufficient and predictable funding.<\/p>\n

Israeli Practices and Settlement Activities Affecting the Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories<\/u><\/p>\n

PETER MOHAN MAITHRI\u00a0PIERIS (Sri Lanka), speaking on behalf of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories, presented the fifty-third report of the Special Committee, which was made available to the Fourth Committee in its advance form and will be circulated later as document\u00a0A\/76\/360.\u00a0 Noting that the members were not able to travel to the region due to pandemic-related travel restrictions, he said the report\u2019s contents are therefore based mostly on the accounts offered during online consultations with Member States, United Nations agencies and civil society representatives. \u00a0The report provides updates on human rights violations, including the escalation of hostilities in Gaza in May\u00a0and the subsequent critical humanitarian situation. \u00a0Stressing that the Special Committee was appalled by the 11-day confrontation between Israel, Hamas and Palestinian armed groups, he noted that it claimed lives of 257\u00a0Palestinians and caused substantial damage to civilian assets and infrastructure in Gaza, in violation of the principle of distinction under international humanitarian law.<\/p>\n

Drawing attention to the continued practices of evictions and demolitions of Palestinian homes by Israel, he said the Special Committee was particularly concerned by the situation of Bedouin and herder communities in the Jordan Valley and those located in areas designated by Israel as closed military zones.<\/p>\n

Citing the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank and the increase in violent attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians and their property since January, he noted the construction of an illegal building of the Evyatar outpost on private Palestinian land near the West Bank city of Nablus, which led to Israeli security forces using \u201cincommensurate force\u201d against Palestinians opposing the construction. \u00a0He further spotlighted the impact of COVID-19 on a raft of human rights issues, including access to education, health care, water, sanitation and restrictions on freedom of movement, as well as on the situation of Palestinian detainees. \u00a0Noting that only 16\u00a0per\u00a0cent of Palestinians eligible for vaccination against COVID-19 had reportedly received two\u00a0doses as of 31\u00a0August, he called on Israel to comply with its international legal responsibility as the occupying Power in that regard.\u00a0 He also expressed the Special Committee\u2019s intention to continue to call upon the international community to use its influence and compel Israel to end its occupation.<\/p>\n

ILZE BRANDS KEHRIS, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights\u00a0(OHCHR), presented three reports, starting with the report of the Secretary-General on Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, which was made available to the Fourth Committee in its advance form and will be circulated as document\u00a0A\/76\/333. \u00a0Underscoring the deterioration of the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which stems from Israeli policies and practices, she pointed to the May\u00a02021 escalation in hostilities between Israel and Palestinian armed groups, during which international humanitarian law was violated by all parties and 258\u00a0Palestinians were killed by Israeli attacks.<\/p>\n

She said the report cites excessive use of force by Israeli Security Forces in the context of law enforcement, including unlawful killings, as well as undue restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, arbitrary detention and ill-treatment \u2014 practices that may amount to collective punishment and restrictions on freedom of movement. \u00a0\u201cA lack of accountability for international human rights and international humanitarian law violations by Israeli Security Forces remained pervasive,\u201d she stated. \u00a0Turning to the issue of freedom of movement, she noted that during the reporting period \u2014 from 1\u00a0June\u00a02020 to 31\u00a0May\u00a02021 \u2014 Israeli authorities continued to restrict movement across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including to and from Gaza, thus profoundly affecting the enjoyment of fundamental human rights such as the right to work, to an adequate standard of living, to health and education, and to family life.<\/p>\n

Turning to the Secretary-General\u2019s report on Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and the occupied Syrian Golan \u2014 which was made available to the Fourth Committee in its advance form and will be circulated as document\u00a0A\/76\/336 \u2014 she observed that, during the reporting period, demolition and confiscations of Palestinian structures in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem, increased by 59\u00a0per\u00a0cent in comparison to the previous period \u2014 the highest number since the United Nations began publicly recording them. \u00a0She further noted intensified settler violence against Palestinians, stressing that on many occasions Israeli Security Forces intervened \u201cwith unnecessary and\/or disproportionate force against Palestinians in the aftermath of settler attacks or when they demonstrated against settlement expansion and outposts\u201d. \u00a0In that context, she drew attention to the difficult situation of Palestinian herding communities located in or near Israeli-declared firing zones and settler outposts in Area C.<\/p>\n

Introducing the latest report of the Secretary-General on the occupied Syrian\u00a0Golan\u00a0(document\u00a0A\/76\/304<\/a>), she noted that responses concerning the implementation of General Assembly resolution\u00a075\/99 were received from Cuba, Iraq and Syria.<\/p>\n

The floor was then opened for questions and comments on those items.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Israel<\/u>\u00a0stressed that the Special Committee confirms its deep-seated bias against his country, year after year, while its recycled claims only incite hatred and silence discourse.\u00a0 Therefore, Israel objects to the operation of the Special Committee, whose sole purpose is to systematically attack the only vibrant democracy in the Middle East.\u00a0 Indeed, it outrageously attributes every Palestinian hardship to Israel, and its reports fail to mention that Hamas subjects Gaza\u2019s citizens to terror and uses Israel as a scapegoat.\u00a0 Moreover, the Special Committee\u2019s reports are based on unverified allegations, he said, pointing out that the historic Abraham Accords signed in recent months are evidence that Israel is tangibly working toward peace and stability in the region.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Jordan<\/u>\u00a0welcomed all the efforts made to secure a ceasefire after the recent escalation and to relaunch negotiations to establish an independent Palestinian State within the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. He called for an end to unilateral coercive measures, in particular, the demolition of houses, which are operations meant to chase Palestinians out of their homes.\u00a0 He added that the occupation of the Syrian Golan also needs to be put to an end, in line with Security Council resolutions.<\/p>\n

The observer for the\u00a0State of Palestine<\/u>\u00a0said the reports before the Committee describe the distressing conditions that are a consequence of systematic violations of international law by Israel.\u00a0 Even so, there will be States that have normalized that inhumanity and will accuse the Special Committee of bias.\u00a0 Those countries ignore the fact that the reports are based solely on international law and only document the violations being perpetrated by Israel.\u00a0 Noting that their sources are not only United Nations bodies but also international human rights organizations, including some Israeli organizations, she said that, instead of honestly reflecting on the reality Israel has created, those States persist in bashing the Special Committee in an effort to delegitimize its work.\u00a0 If Palestinians are not allowed to use diplomatic tools available to them, she wondered what alternatives exist.\u00a0 In fact, the reports contain only a fraction of the suffering being endured by Palestinians daily.\u00a0 In that context, she asked Ms.\u00a0Brands Kheris if any steps have been taken to ensure Israel\u2019s adherence to international law, and whether any action has been taken to ensure States do not support the human rights abuses Israel perpetrates in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.<\/p>\n

Ms. BRANDS KHERIS, responding to questions relating to her presentation, said the report is based on the Geneva Conventions and on the rules applicable to Israel as the occupying Power.\u00a0 With regard to the seizure of territory by Israel, which is unacceptable, she said the latter constitutes a violation of international law, in particular as regards the establishment of settlements as defined in Security Council resolution\u00a02334<\/a>\u00a0(2016).\u00a0 To that end, some measures were undertaken by the third States in\u00a02019-2020, mainly in relation to Israel\u2019s publicly announced plans to annex parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.\u00a0 For example, in May\u00a02021 Ireland became the first European Union country to declare that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory amount to an illegal annexation.<\/p>\n

She underlined that, in her report to the Human Rights Council, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights emphasized the need for accountability.\u00a0 Member States must use their influence to ensure respect for international humanitarian law and oppose serious violations of its instruments, including the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions, relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts.\u00a0 Pointing to Security Council resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016), she stressed that \u201cthe status quo is not sustainable\u201d and that significant steps are urgently needed to stabilize the situation and to reverse negative trends on the ground, which are steadily eroding chances for a two-State solution.<\/p>\n

For information media. Not an official record.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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SEVENTY-SIXTH SESSION,\u00a02ND MEETING (PM) GA\/SPD\/729 4 OCTOBER 2021 Fran\u00e7ais\u00a0 The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) today heard introductory statements and held interactive discussions on the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East\u00a0(UNRWA) and the Special Committee tasked with investigating Israeli practices affecting human rights in […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":172,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"template-page.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[897,909,996,1035,1593,1182],"document-category":[1329],"document-source":[5618],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[1769,1945,2033,2441,1745,2729],"entity":[1729],"document-language":[6541],"class_list":["post-259160","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","country-israel","country-jordan","country-morocco","country-pakistan","country-palestine-state-of","country-turkiye","document-category-press-release","document-source-general-assembly-fourth-committee-special-political-and-decolonization","document-subject-armed-conflict","document-subject-assistance","document-subject-children","document-subject-education-and-culture","document-subject-refugees-and-displaced-persons","document-subject-shelter","entity-united-nations-system","document-language-french"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/259160","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\/259160\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=259160"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=259160"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=259160"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=259160"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=259160"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=259160"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=259160"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=259160"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}