<\/p>\n
9361ST MEETING (AM)<\/strong> video<\/a><\/p>\n Fran\u00e7ois\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Report of the Secretary-General (S\/2023\/458)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Middle East Special Coordinator Says Choice Is Clear: ‘Continue along Downward Spiral or Turn towards Constructive Dialogue’<\/strong><\/p>\n A senior United Nations official today warned the Security Council of the alarming spike in violence across the northern and central occupied West Bank, leading to numerous Palestinian and Israeli casualties.<\/p>\n Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said that deepening occupation, settlement-expansion, high levels of violence against civilians and the absence of a political horizon are rapidly eroding hope among Palestinians and Israelis.\u00a0 Military operations \u2014 including air strikes in the West Bank \u2014 attacks and settler-related incidents have intensified, alongside the use of more sophisticated weapons by Palestinians, including an advanced improvised explosive device and rockets launched towards Israel.<\/p>\n The Israeli Government recently approved significant amendments to its settlement-planning procedures that could expedite advancement of Israeli settlements plans, he said.\u00a0 He further expressed alarm over the \u201cextreme levels of settler violence\u201d, many armed and systematically attacking Palestinian villages, terrorizing communities.<\/p>\n Israel, as the occupying Power, has an obligation to protect Palestinians and their property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.\u00a0 Security forces must exercise maximum restraint, apply proportional use of force and use lethal force only when it is strictly unavoidable to protect life.<\/p>\n \u201cThe choice is clear: \u00a0either continue along the downward spiral of violence and provocations leading to a political vacuum; or turn towards constructive dialogue linked to concrete actions that can create hope,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The Arab American Institute\u2019s James Zogby shared stories of Palestinian families, some of whom were given an hour\u2019s notice \u201cbefore the bulldozers came\u201d.\u00a0 These violations, he said, continue to occur daily, impacting the lives of real people.\u00a0There is an extremist political culture in Israel today.\u00a0 Polling data shows that a majority of Israelis do not view Palestinians as equal human beings.<\/p>\n And given the traumatic nightmare visited upon millions of Palestinians for the past 56\u00a0years, is it any wonder that a recent poll shows a majority of Palestinians rejecting moderate leadership and favouring armed struggle, he asked.\u00a0 \u201cThis tragic deformity in Palestinian political culture is the result of the continued brutality of the occupation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n In the ensuing discussion, delegations of the 15-member organ expressed alarm over the deteriorating security situation in the West Bank and Occupied Palestinian Territory and stressed that Israel\u2019s decision to expand settlements is a flagrant violation of international law.<\/p>\n The representative of the United States called Israel\u2019s announcement advancing more than 5,000\u00a0settlement units \u2014 along with changes to settlement administration that expedite the planning and approval of settlements \u2014 deeply troubling.\u00a0 Calling on all parties to refrain from unilateral actions that only further inflame the situation, he underscored that recent violence must serve as a call to action for the Council to redouble efforts towards peace.<\/p>\n The delegate from the United Kingdom condemned all attacks on civilians.\u00a0 While Israel has a right to defend itself, its security operations must be in line with international humanitarian law.\u00a0 Its settlement-expansion is illegal under international law.\u00a0 He also stressed that the glorification of killers affiliated with Hamas is abhorrent and must stop.<\/p>\n Several speakers emphasized the need to improve the economic situation in Gaza, with Brazil\u2019s representative saying that much more needs to be done to alleviate the humanitarian situation there.\u00a0 Unless new funding is received, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East\u00a0(UNRWA) may be unable to maintain critical services, he warned.<\/p>\n Gabon\u2019s delegate\u00a0called on Israel to completely lift the Gaza embargo to allow unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance, as he also urged all parties to uphold the Council\u2019s resolutions, particularly resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016).<\/p>\n Violence begets violence, said the delegate from the United Arab Emirates, recalling an incident during which senior Israeli officials celebrated Israel\u2019s settlements and called for the killings of thousands of Palestinians.\u00a0 \u201cThis must be identified for what it is: \u00a0dangerous and irresponsible incitement to violence.\u201d<\/p>\n Israel\u2019s representative said that, since the start of\u00a02023, Israelis have been victims of over 3,500\u00a0attacks and each day that number grows.\u00a0 Asking why the Council continuously ignores the Palestinian authorities\u2019 promotion of terror and murder of civilians, he emphasized that the terror that Israeli civilians in Jerusalem, Judea and Samara face every single day is exponentially worse than what is conveyed in Council briefings.\u00a0 The Palestinians are interested in one thing only: \u00a0the destruction of the very notion of a Jewish State.\u00a0 Turning to the Israeli building permits in Judea and Samaria, he stressed that those steps are not an impediment to peace and building there will not stop.\u00a0 It is time to condemn Palestinian authorities\u2019 incitement to violence and confront the most pressing threat to global security: \u00a0Iran and its dangerous proxies, he said.<\/p>\n The Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine said that this Israeli Government is \u201cbringing to its ultimate conclusion a plan decades in the making:\u00a0 a State for the settlers in place of the Palestinian State.\u201d\u00a0 He asked the Council: \u00a0\u201cWhat would you do if you were a Palestinian \u2014 if every day could be your last, killed in the street or your home?\u201d\u00a0 Noting that they have asked for protection, that the Council has passed resolutions and that Palestinians have joined the International Criminal Court, he further asked when concrete measures will be taken.\u00a0 If Council members support a two-State solution based on the 1967\u00a0borders, with an independent Palestine living side-by-side with Israel, \u201chow come what is happening in Palestine is possible\u201d, he asked.\u00a0For the Global South, Palestine is an indicator of how well or ill the international law-based order is, he said, urging for Council meetings to be a prelude to action.<\/p>\n The meeting began at 10:27\u00a0a.m. and ended at 12:50\u00a0p.m.<\/p>\n Briefings<\/u><\/p>\n JAMES ZOGBY,\u00a0Arab American Institute<\/u>, said that Palestinian victims need to be known and the impact of the humiliation and abuse on these families must be understood.\u00a0 He shared stories of families given an hour notice \u201cbefore the bulldozers came\u201d or the farmer standing powerless as 100-year-old orchards were demolished.\u00a0 \u201cBehind each incident are real people whose lives were upended, futures darkened, their families traumatized and angry,\u201d he said.\u00a0Annually the General Assembly speaks to these violations of human rights, but its resolutions are ignored.\u00a0When Palestinians prepare a case for the International Criminal Court, they\u2019re threatened with sanctions.\u00a0 These violations continue to occur daily, impacting the lives of real people.<\/p>\n \u201cTheir voices must be heard,\u201d he stressed, underlining the special responsibility the United Nations has in regard to the matter.\u00a0Israel is the only country conditionally admitted for membership, obligating it to implement United Nations resolutions-past prior to its admission.\u00a0 It is not Israel that is being singled out for criticism, rather it is Israel that is being singled-out by some in the United States and excused for its behaviour.\u00a0 There is an extremist political culture in Israel today.\u00a0 Polling data demonstrates that a majority of Israelis do not view Palestinians as equal human beings.<\/p>\n Given the traumatic nightmare visited upon millions of Palestinians for the past 56\u00a0years, is it any wonder that a recent poll shows a majority Palestinian rejecting moderate leadership and favouring armed struggle, he asked.\u00a0 \u201cThis tragic deformity in Palestinian political culture is the result of the continued brutality of the Occupation,\u201d he added.\u00a0 Israel needs to know that there are red lines, which, if crossed, have consequences.\u00a0 And Palestinians need to know they are not alone and that violence is not the answer.\u00a0\u201cOnly after we have changed the political dynamic and helped transform the political deformities infecting both societies can a political horizon emerge and meaningful negotiations take place,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n TOR WENNESLAND, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, speaking via videoconference, said there has been an alarming spike in violence across the northern and central occupied West Bank, leading to numerous Palestinian and Israeli casualties.\u00a0 Military operations \u2014 including air strikes in the West Bank \u2014 attacks and extremely high levels of settler-related violence have intensified dramatically, alongside the use of more sophisticated weapons by Palestinians, including an advanced improvised explosive device and rockets launched towards Israel.\u00a0 Reactions by officials to the incidents have varied, with some rejecting the violence and condemning vigilantism, and others making alarming, inflammatory statements.\u00a0On 18\u00a0June, the Israeli Government approved significant amendments to Israeli settlement-planning procedures that could expedite advancement of Israeli settlements plans.\u00a0 In response to the decision, the Palestinian Authority pulled out of a long-awaited meeting of the Joint Economic Committee.<\/p>\n Regarding other significant developments, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East\u00a0(UNRWA) announced that it had resumed its service delivery to Palestine refugees in the West Bank, after four months of disruption due to a work dispute with the West Bank Staff Union and a strike, he said.\u00a0 Turning to the implementation of the provisions of Security Council resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016), he expressed grave concern by the escalating spiral of violence in the occupied West Bank.\u00a0\u201cI am particularly alarmed by the extreme levels of settler violence, including large numbers of settlers, many armed, systematically attacking Palestinian villages, terrorizing communities, sometimes in the proximity of and\/or with the support of Israeli security forces,\u201d he said.\u00a0 Israel, as the occupying Power, has an obligation to protect Palestinians and their property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and to ensure independent, impartial and transparent investigations into all acts of violence.<\/p>\n He urged security forces to exercise maximum restraint, apply proportional use of force and use lethal force only when it is strictly unavoidable to protect life, and conduct thorough, independent, impartial and prompt investigations into all instances of possible excessive use of force.\u00a0Children must never be the target of violence, used or put in harm\u2019s way.\u00a0 \u201cI remain deeply troubled by the relentless expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, that fuels violence and is impeding access by Palestinians to their land and resources,\u201d he said, noting the alarm the recent Israeli Government decision which may expedite expansion in Area\u00a0C.\u00a0 Israeli settlements constitute a flagrant violation of United Nations resolutions and international law.\u00a0 \u201cI call on the Government of Israel to cease the advancement of all settlement activity immediately,\u201d he added, also urging that country to end the demolition of Palestinian-owned property and prevent the possible displacement and eviction of Palestinians.<\/p>\n While the ceasefire following the Gaza escalation in May has held, there is a constant risk that events in the West Bank could spill over into the Strip, he warned.\u00a0 The Palestinian Authority\u2019s fiscal and institutional challenges, exacerbated by funding shortages, remain concerning and may further aggravate the deterioration on the ground.\u00a0 The deepening occupation, settlement-expansion, the high levels of violence against civilians, the absence of a political horizon are rapidly eroding hope among Palestinians and Israelis, and particularly among youth, that a resolution of the conflict is achievable.\u00a0 \u201cThe choice is clear:\u00a0 either continue along the downward spiral of violence and provocations leading to a political vacuum or turn towards constructive dialogue linked to concrete actions that can create hope and a political horizon,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Statements<\/u><\/p>\n ROBERT A. WOOD (United States<\/u>), expressing concern over the impact of recent violence on United States citizens, said his country is engaging with the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority to secure the welfare of such individuals and to provide \u201cequal measures of justice and security\u201d for all Palestinian and Israeli civilians affected.\u00a0 Israel\u2019s recent announcement advancing more than 5,000\u00a0settlement units \u2014 along with changes to settlement administration that expedite the planning and approval of settlements \u2014 is deeply troubling, he went on to say.\u00a0 Calling on all parties to refrain from unilateral actions that only further inflame the situation, he underscored that recent violence \u201cmust serve as a call to action for all of us in the Council to redouble our efforts towards peace\u201d.\u00a0Also expressing concern over the financial crisis faced by UNRWA, he called on regional actors and the international community to urgently consider providing the Agency with greater financial support.<\/p>\n VASSILY A. NEBENZIA (Russian Federation<\/u>) voiced concern over Israel intensifying steps to create irreversible facts on the ground, including forcible evictions of Palestinians, destruction of their houses and seizures of their property.\u00a0 Since the beginning of\u00a02023, there have been regular outbursts of violence in the West Bank and Gaza \u2014 over the past two months, 100\u00a0people were victims of such violence, including Russian nationals.\u00a0In May, more than 600\u00a0housing units were erected in West Bank.\u00a0 In June, the Israeli Government decided to expedite the bureaucratic procedures that are needed to build more than 4,500\u00a0housing units in the West Bank, which is a violation of international law.\u00a0 On the continued demolition of Palestinian houses, he recalled that, in May, about 200\u00a0people \u2014 including 80\u00a0children \u2014 were evicted.\u00a0 Also, he voiced regret over the unilateral decision made by the United States and the European Union to freeze the activity of the Middle East Quartet of international mediators.<\/p>\n HERN\u00c1N P\u00c9REZ LOOSE (Ecuador<\/u>), expressing regret over the events of the last 10\u00a0days, said that they \u201cmake clear that caution, restraint and common sense have been outdone by inflammatory rhetoric, unilateral decisions, senseless violence and terror\u201d.\u00a0 He appealed to the parties to comply with international law \u2014 including the principles of distinction and proportionality \u2014 and to uphold their obligations to protect civilians.\u00a0 Between 14\u00a0March and 14\u00a0June, Israeli authorities have advanced some 920\u00a0housing units in East Jerusalem and approved 1,890\u00a0such units in the West Bank.\u00a0 It is disheartening to note, he emphasized, that the Council\u2019s consistent calls, along with commitments made voluntarily, have been disregarded.\u00a0 He therefore appealed to the parties to demonstrate \u2014 \u201cwith deeds\u201d \u2014 their will to work towards a solution to the conflict, to avoid further provocation, \u201cto remember that revenge is not justice\u201d and to end the dangerous cycle of violence.<\/p>\n FELIX AKOM NYARKU (Ghana<\/u>) condemned the continuing pattern of violent attacks and direct confrontations between Palestinians and Israelis.\u00a0 Expressing concern over the volatile security and dire humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, he cited developments including Israel\u2019s expediting of construction permits to promote the planned construction of 4,560\u00a0new housing units in the West Bank.\u00a0 He further noted the use of live ammunition by Israel Defense Forces in a refugee camp in Jenin on 19\u00a0June, resulting in the death of many Palestinian civilians including children; and increased incidence of firing of rockets by Palestinian armed groups from Palestinian controlled areas into Israeli territory and Israeli settler communities bordering the West Bank.\u00a0 He called on both parties to refrain from further unilateral actions by establishing a joint civilian committee that will work to promote confidence-building measures and comply fully with international humanitarian law.<\/p>\n MICHEL XAVIER BIANG (Gabon<\/u>) voiced concern about the Israeli Government\u2019s decision on 18\u00a0June to modify the planning procedures for settlement activities and the advancement of the 4,000\u00a0housing units by the Israeli planning authorities.\u00a0 He said that the settlement policy, expulsions and demolitions of Palestinian homes are not only contrary to international law, but are major obstacles to the realization of the two-State solution and an impediment to achieving a just and lasting peace.\u00a0 Underscoring the crucial role of the Kingdom of Jordan as official custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem, he called on each party to abstain from any bellicose rhetoric or other provocations that could reignite tensions.\u00a0 He called on Israel to completely lift the Gaza embargo to allow unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance.\u00a0 Urging restraint, cessation of hostilities and dialogue, he urged the parties to uphold the Council\u2019s resolutions, particularly resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016).<\/p>\n PASCALE CHRISTINE BAERISWYL (Switzerland<\/u>) underscored that Israel is obliged not to take any measures that would introduce permanent changes \u2014 in particular demographic and administrative changes \u2014 in the\u00a0Occupied\u00a0Palestinian\u00a0Territory.\u00a0In this respect, she called on Israel to renounce the change in the approval procedure for construction in the settlements of 18\u00a0June and the construction of more than 4,500\u00a0new housing units in the settlements.\u00a0 Following the operation carried out on 19\u00a0June by the Israeli security forces in the Jenin refugee camp, which claimed the lives of seven Palestinians, including two children, and left nearly 100\u00a0injured, she stressed that the use of force must meet the criterion of proportionality and respect the right to life.\u00a0 Warning against the alarming escalation of violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, she said that 2023\u00a0has followed on from the previous year, with 126\u00a0civilians killed, including 35\u00a0children.<\/p>\n FERGUS JOHN ECKERSLEY (United Kingdom<\/u>) said the security situation in the West Bank and Occupied Palestinian Territory continues to deteriorate.\u00a0 Last week saw more loss of life, when seven people, including two children, were killed in an Israeli raid in the city of Jenin in the West Bank.\u00a0 While Israel has a right to defend itself, its security operations must be in line with international humanitarian law.\u00a0 Terror attacks, such as the killing of four Israelis near the settlement of Eli by Hamas-affiliated gunmen on 20\u00a0June are barbaric and unjustifiable.\u00a0 The glorification of these killers by Hamas and other organizations is abhorrent.\u00a0 He condemned recent scenes of settler violence in Turums Ayya where homes and property were burned down and civilians attacked, resulting in the death of one Palestinian.\u00a0 The United Kingdom opposes settlements, which are illegal under international law, he emphasized, calling on Israel to cease and reverse its policy of supporting their expansion.<\/p>\n ZHANG JUN (China<\/u>) said the fundamental solution to the Palestinian question\u00a0\u2014 the heart of the Middle East issue \u2014 lies in the establishment of a fully sovereign and independent Palestinian State, based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.\u00a0 The international community needs to step up development assistance and humanitarian aid to Palestine, he underscored, calling for peace talks, respect for the status quo of the holy sites in Jerusalem and avoidance of provocative rhetoric and actions.\u00a0 In firm opposition against all violence against civilians, he emphasized that the occupying Power must fulfil its obligations under international law and guarantee the security of the people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.\u00a0 He expressed concern about the new settlement resolution \u2014 recently adopted by Israel \u2014 which streamlines and expedites the settlement approval process, adding:\u00a0\u201cevery inch of settlement-expansion represents a further squeeze on the living space of Palestine\u201d.<\/p>\n NICOLAS DE RIVI\u00c8RE (France<\/u>) strongly condemned all attacks targeting civilians, in particular the terrorist attack perpetrated on 20\u00a0June in the West Bank, killing at least four Israelis, as well as the growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians \u2014 including the destruction of their homes and property.\u00a0Expressing serious concern over clashes that took place on 19\u00a0June during an intervention by the Israeli army in Jenin, which left at least six dead\u00a0\u2014 including a child \u2014 he stressed that children should not be targeted.\u00a0 Calling on the Israeli Government to abandon its intention to approve plans for construction of nearly 5,000\u00a0new housing units in the West Bank, he further noted that the\u00a0World Food Programme (WFP) and UNRWA will have to suspend some activities in Gaza and the West Bank without new resources, urging Member States to help fund humanitarian aid.<\/p>\n ISHIKANE KIMIHIRO (Japan<\/u>) condemned the terrorist attack on 20\u00a0June that killed four Israelis in the West Bank, as well as the subsequent violence by settlers against Palestinians.\u00a0 Alarmed by the possible recurrence of such events during the Eid al-Adha holidays, he also expressed serious concern regarding Israel\u2019s announcement regarding its decision to advance planning for the building of more than 4,000\u00a0new units on 19\u00a0June, as well as 1,000\u00a0units on 21\u00a0June at the Eli settlement.\u00a0 \u201cWe once again call on Israel to cease settlement activities immediately,\u201d he stressed.\u00a0 Both Israel and the State of Palestine need to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from any inflammatory words or actions.\u00a0 UNRWA is key to regional peace and stability, he continued, urging fellow Member States to provide the necessary donations to make sure the Agency is fully funded.<\/p>\n ANT\u00d3NIO MAPUA BAMBISSA (Mozambique<\/u>) strongly condemned Israel\u2019s military attack against the Palestinian civilian population in the refugee camp of Jenin, in the West Bank.\u00a0 Calling for an immediate ceasefire and a slowdown in the escalation of violence in the region, he expressed support the two-State solution, which respects the Palestinian people\u2019s right to self-determination and independence, and the right to existence of the State of Israel.\u00a0 \u201cThe people of Israel and the people of Palestine deserve a firm political commitment of their leaders for a sustainable dialogue, avoiding violent confrontations, occupations and attacks,\u201d he said.\u00a0 Humanitarian assistance plays a decisive role in restoring hope, he noted, highlighting the role of humanitarian institutions, such as the UNRWA and WFP.<\/p>\n FERIT HOXHA (Albania<\/u>) said the key word of the meeting is \u201cviolence\u201d, which risks being a normal, banal thing, with endless carnage on both sides.\u00a0 \u201cHowever, it is a dead end, as it kills hope and annihilates efforts for peace\u201d, he stressed.\u00a0 Noting that last week was extremely fatal for both sides, he called on the parties to reverse the horrible trend of violence and escalation by withdrawing from unilateral acts, renouncing inflammatory rhetoric and nationalist extremism.\u00a0Condemning the Hamas terrorist attack on 20\u00a0June in Eli killing four Israeli civilians, he expressed support for Israel\u2019s right to self-defence from terror through proportionate response \u2014 also voicing concern over the impact of the conflict on Palestinians, often the victims of disproportionate response, and calling for a thorough investigation of settler violence.\u00a0 \u201cUnfortunately, destroying is easier than building,\u201d he stressed, voicing support for the two-State solution \u2014 as peace is the work of the visionary.<\/p>\n VANESSA FRAZIER (Malta<\/u>), voicing concern about deadly violence against civilians, Israel\u2019s military incursions in the West Bank and the disproportionate use of live ammunition of explosive weapons in populated areas, urged Israel to exercise utmost restraint and prioritize the protection of civilians.\u00a0 She also voiced concern about the detention of Palestinian children, as well as the Israeli Government\u2019s decision to expedite the expansion of settlements, stressing that the latter imperils the viability of an independent, contiguous Palestinian State.\u00a0 \u201cImmediate steps must be taken to de-escalate the situation, reverse negative trends and relaunch credible negotiations and dialogue between both parties,\u201d she stressed.\u00a0 She called on both sides to hold further meetings in the Aqaba and Sharm el-Sheikh quintet format and to implement the commitments made in the respective joint communiqu\u00e9s.\u00a0 The international community must come together to participate and support international and regional diplomatic efforts aimed at salvaging the stalled peace process, she added.<\/p>\n JO\u00c3O GEN\u00c9SIO DE ALMEIDA FILHO (Brazil<\/u>) said that escalating Israeli military actions, including aerial strikes, the first in the West Bank in almost 20\u00a0years, further exacerbates the tensions.\u00a0 Among those injured last week, there was the son of a Brazilian citizen, shot in the head and shoulder during the invasion of the Palestinian village of Turmus Ayya by Israeli settlers.\u00a0 Moreover, reports indicate dangerous and hate-filled rhetoric, provocations and incitement from officials of both sides, fuelling violence.\u00a0Brazil condemns all violence against civilians, be they Palestinians or Israelis.\u00a0 Brazil also condemns the recent decisions by the Israeli Government to advance the construction of housing units in existing settlements in the West Bank.\u00a0 Demolitions and evictions raise concerns about the risk of forcible transfer.\u00a0 In Gaza, much more needs to be done to alleviate the humanitarian situation, he said.\u00a0 Unless new funding is received, UNRWA may be unable to maintain critical services.<\/p>\n LANA ZAKI NUSSEIBEH (United Arab Emirates<\/u>), Council President for June, speaking in her national capacity, said it is time for determined, intensified action to de-escalate the situation on the ground via the peace process \u2014 this means greater diplomatic efforts at both the regional and international levels.\u00a0 The international community must also firmly underscore that violence begets violence and security is ephemeral in the absence of justice, rule of law and accountability.\u00a0 Sounding the alarm over repeated and violent incursions by Israel into Palestinian cities and villages, she drew attention to the recent aerial bombardment of the West Bank \u2014 the first since\u00a02002.\u00a0 She also recalled an incident during which senior Israeli officials celebrated the settlements and called for the killings of thousands of Palestinians.\u00a0 \u201cThis must be identified for what it is:\u00a0 dangerous and irresponsible incitement to violence,\u201d she said, adding that such statements from of the highest levels of Government fuel grievances.\u00a0 Further, she called on Israel to put an immediate stop to terrorist attacks by settlers and to prosecute those responsible.<\/p>\n GILAD MENASHE ERDAN (Israel<\/u>), detailing Palestinian terror attacks and noting that they are underreported, said that, since the start of\u00a02023, Israelis have been victims of over 3,500\u00a0attacks, and each day that number grows.\u00a0 The Palestinian terror fueled by incitement and incentivization of violence spewed from all levels of Palestinian leadership is the root cause of this conflict and any escalation, he stressed.\u00a0 Asking why the Council continuously ignores the Palestinian authorities\u2019 promotion of terror and murder of civilians, he emphasized that the terror that Israeli civilians in Jerusalem, Judea and Samara face every single day is exponentially worse than what is conveyed in Council briefings.\u00a0Israel is a democracy governed by the rule of law, he emphasized, stressing that:\u00a0 \u201cExtremists who take the law into their own hands through vigilantism and violence cross a red line and will not be condoned by Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n The Palestinians are interested in one thing only:\u00a0 the destruction of the very notion of a Jewish State, he emphasized.\u00a0 That cancerous hatred, which has poisoned the minds of children and adults, is the root of the conflict and must be addressed and condemned by the Council.\u00a0 Turning to the Israeli building permits in Judea and Samaria, he stressed that those steps are not an impediment to peace and building there will not stop.\u00a0Council meetings tend to neglect the real threat to the Middle East, he underscored, detailing the Ayatollah regime\u2019s actions as the world\u2019s number one State sponsor of terror.\u00a0 It is time to condemn the Palestinian authorities\u2019 incitement to violence and confront the most pressing threat to global security:\u00a0Iran and its dangerous proxies, he stressed, urging the Council to stop ignoring what is truly important and start acting where it can make a difference.<\/p>\n RIYAD H. MANSOUR, Permanent Observer for the\u00a0State of Palestine<\/u>, said he would not dignify his Israeli counterpart\u2019s customary barrage of lies and distortions with a response.\u00a0 Stubborn fascist enemies of peace will not learn from the fact the Council members were not responding in any positive way to those statements, he stressed, calling it \u201ca theatre of the absurd\u201d.\u00a0 He said the Israeli Government is \u201cbringing to its ultimate conclusion a plan decades in the making:\u00a0 a State for the settlers in place of the Palestinian State\u201d.\u00a0 Israel knows its actions are condemned worldwide, but as long as they can displace Palestinians, they will continue \u2014 with the only will facing them being the will of the Palestinian people.\u00a0 The Council condemned this terrorism as it should.\u00a0However, noting that terrorists are usually arrested and prosecuted, he asked if any such action would be taken in this case.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat would you do if you were a Palestinian \u2014 if every day could be your last, killed in the street or your home?\u201d, he asked.\u00a0 Noting they have asked for protection, that the Council has passed resolutions and that Palestinians have joined the International Criminal Court, he further asked when concrete measures will be taken.\u00a0\u201cNo one wins if despair prevails,\u201d he stressed \u2014 as despair will not lead to surrender, but more anger, with the Palestinian people facing an existential threat with no help on the way.\u00a0Noting that Council members support the two-State solution on the 1967\u00a0borders, with an independent Palestine living side by side with Israel, he asked:\u00a0 \u201cHow come what is happening in Palestine is possible?\u201d\u00a0Emphasizing that for the Global South, Palestine is an indicator of how well or ill the international law-based order is, he called for meetings to be a prelude to action \u2014 as the consequences of not acting are infinitely higher.<\/p>\n For information media. Not an official record.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 9361ST MEETING (AM) SC\/15337 27 JUNE 2023 video Fran\u00e7ois\u00a0 Resolution\u00a02334 (2016) Report of the Secretary-General (S\/2023\/458) Middle East Special Coordinator Says Choice Is Clear: ‘Continue along Downward Spiral or Turn towards Constructive Dialogue’ A senior United Nations official today warned the Security Council of the alarming spike in violence across the northern and central […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":172,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[657,723,759,807,834,5615,5533,897,906,969,5248,1593,1074,1152,5684,2321,2553],"document-category":[1329,2805,4389],"document-source":[6750,1362,6169,1877],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[1829,2029,1857,2021,5362,2385,2137,2117,6245,6251],"entity":[2077,1729],"document-language":[6542,6541],"class_list":["post-287938","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","country-albania","country-brazil","country-china","country-ecuador","country-france","country-gabon","country-ghana","country-israel","country-japan","country-malta","country-mozambique","country-palestine-state-of","country-russian-federation","country-switzerland","country-united-arab-republic","country-united-kingdom","country-united-states-of-america","document-category-press-release","document-category-video","document-category-webcast","document-source-arab-american-institute","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-casualties","document-subject-house-demolitions","document-subject-incidents","document-subject-incursions","document-subject-ngo-civil-society","document-subject-security-issues","document-subject-settlements","document-subject-terrorism","document-subject-violence","document-subject-west-bank","entity-non-governmental-organization","entity-united-nations-system","document-language-english","document-language-french"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/287938","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":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/287938\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":287945,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/287938\/revisions\/287945"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=287938"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=287938"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=287938"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=287938"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=287938"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=287938"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=287938"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=287938"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nSC\/15337<\/strong>
\n27 JUNE 2023<\/strong><\/p>\nResolution\u00a0<\/strong>2334 (2016)<\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n