Video (Part I)<\/a> Fran\u00e7ais<\/a><\/p>\n Cooperation and multilateral approaches would be needed to address interlinked conflicts, cross-border humanitarian crises and violent extremism, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process told the Security Council today, as it held its quarterly open debate on that region.<\/p>\n Briefing on the latest developments in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, Special Coordinator Nickolay Mladenov said that a \u201cperfect storm\u201d had engulfed the region, with divisions opening the door to foreign intervention and manipulation.\u00a0 The Middle East required a surge in diplomacy for peace, with Member States assuming a leading role through a united Security Council, he said, quoting the Secretary-General.<\/p>\n \u201cThe complexities of the region\u2019s conflicts means that political solutions based on justice, dignity and social cohesion are required to achieve peace and sustain peace,\u201d he told participants in the day-long meeting, more than 50\u00a0of whom took the floor.\u00a0 \u201cIn today\u2019s world, there can be no justification for terrorism, nor for the glorification of those who commit it,\u201d he added.\u00a0 \u201cBut, without justice, dignity and the protection of human rights, communities will continue to fracture and provide fertile grounds for extremists.\u201d<\/p>\n To that end, it was crucial to address the fragility of States, he said, emphasizing that Governments must respond to the legitimate demands of their people and strengthen social cohesion and reconciliation.\u00a0 That would provide a first line of defence against extremism, while also strengthening the voices of moderation and religious tolerance.<\/p>\n Nikki Haley (United States), Council President for April, presented a concept note for today\u2019s debate, asking Member States to consider, among other questions, which regional players benefitted most from chaos in the Middle East, and which connections linked those States with terrorist groups.<\/p>\n Speaking later in her national capacity, she said the quarterly meetings on the Middle East had become \u201cIsrael-bashing sessions\u201d and urged the 15-nation Council to focus instead on Iran and its partner militia Hizbullah.<\/p>\n The Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine said that, in a time of simmering crises and declining optimism, Middle East instability centred on the question of Palestine.\u00a0 Condemning Israel\u2019s disrespect for Council decisions, he stressed that the colonization, fragmentation and annexation of Palestinian land would never bring peace.\u00a0 Israel must comply with Council demands.<\/p>\n Israel\u2019s representative noted that the Council had met regularly for 17\u00a0years to discuss the Middle East under the false assumption that all regional ills could be traced to his country.\u00a0 It was time to end the obsessive focus on Israel, focus on dictators who gassed their own people, and classify Hizbullah and Hamas as terrorist organizations, he emphasized, adding that Iran was at the heart of an \u201calliance of evil\u201d.<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s representative responded by saying Israel and the United States wished to remove the Palestinian question from the Council\u2019s open debates.\u00a0 Describing Israel as the sole obstacle blocking a Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction, he described the recent military action by the United States against Syria as a clear act of aggression against a Member State, as well as a violation of international law.<\/p>\n Many speakers emphasized the centrality of the Palestinian question \u2014 70\u00a0years after the historic General Assembly resolution on the partition of Palestine \u2014 reiterating calls for the two sides to resume direct negotiations on the basis of a two-State solution.\u00a0 Numerous delegates renewed calls for Israel to halt settlement activities immediately, in accordance with Council resolutions, including most recently resolution\u00a02334 (2016), adopted in December\u00a02016.<\/p>\n France\u2019s representative warned that any escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict risked destabilizing the entire region, stressing that the disappearance of a two-State solution would plunge the situation \u201cinto the unknown\u201d.\u00a0 His counterpart from China said Palestine remained at the crux of the Middle East issue.\u00a0 With the region at a cross-road, the dispute would undermine security and stability in the region and beyond if left unresolved.<\/p>\n Egypt\u2019s representative said injustice against Arab peoples persisted due to foreign interference in the occupied Palestinian and Syrian territories.\u00a0 The question of Palestine was the cause of the oldest conflict and reflected the international community\u2019s failure to find a solution while people remained under siege in the Gaza Strip. \u00a0A mistaken belief that managing the conflict would be enough must be examined against the grim backdrop of the situation on the ground, he emphasized.<\/p>\n Uruguay\u2019s representative pointed out that many rebel groups in Syria hid behind the label \u201cmoderate opposition\u201d, yet they committed acts as reprehensible as those attributed to armed terrorists.\u00a0 The absence of State power, which sometimes resulted from unauthorized foreign military interventions, was among the factors encouraging the spread of terrorist groups in the Middle East.<\/p>\n Jordan\u2019s representative, rejecting Israel\u2019s unilateral steps to change reality on the ground, underlined that the Middle East would know no peace until the occupation ended.\u00a0 Her counterpart from South Africa expressed \u201cdisbelief\u201d that 2017\u00a0marked the occupation\u2019s fiftieth anniversary, saying that, given the Council\u2019s lack of progress, its open debates at least provided opportunities for other Member States to express their views.<\/p>\n Syria\u2019s representative urged the Security Council to focus on Israel\u2019s violations of various resolutions and its refusal to withdraw from occupied Palestinian territories. \u00a0He reiterated Syria\u2019s support for the Palestinian people, and said that Israel had provided support to various armed terrorist groups, including Al-Nusra.<\/p>\n Others speaking today were representatives of Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Sweden, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, Japan, Ethiopia, Senegal, Italy, Bolivia, Venezuela, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Morocco, Brazil, Pakistan, Peru, Cuba, Nicaragua, Indonesia, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan (on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation), Viet Nam, Costa Rica, Malaysia, Qatar, Maldives, Turkey, Norway, Bahrain, Chile, Iceland, United Arab Emirates, Nigeria and Haiti, as well as the European Union and the Holy See.<\/p>\n Also delivering a statement was the Vice-Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.<\/p>\n The meeting began at 10:10\u00a0a.m. and ended at 4:30\u00a0p.m.<\/p>\n Opening Remarks<\/u><\/p>\n NIKKI HALEY (United States<\/u>), Council President for April, called attention to a letter from her delegation dated 10\u00a0April and addressed to the Secretary-General (document\u00a0S\/2017\/305<\/a>), saying it contained a concept note outlining key questions to be addressed today.\u00a0 They included which regional players benefited most from chaos in the region, and the connections between them and terrorist groups; what steps could be taken to identify and address threats to international peace and security; and how the international community could ensure that bad actors did not benefit from post-conflict reconstruction efforts.<\/p>\n Briefing<\/u><\/p>\n NICKOLAY MLADENOV, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said a perfect storm had engulfed the Middle East and continued to threaten international peace and security.\u00a0 Noting the potency of the question of Palestine as a symbol and rallying cry that extremist groups could easily misappropriate and exploit, he said that ending the occupation and realizing a two-State solution would not solve all the region\u2019s problems.\u00a0 As long as the conflict persisted, it would continue to feed those problems, he emphasized.\u00a0 He noted recent reports that Israel had adopted a policy of restraint concerning the building of settlements, describing their construction as illegal under international law and urged an end to all such activities.<\/p>\n On the Palestinian side, he continued, multiple worrying developments were further cementing the divide between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and dangerously increasing the risk of escalation.\u00a0 Calling on all parties to come together and resolve daily electricity outages in Gaza, he said Hamas had tightened its grip on the enclave by forming an administrative committee seen by many as a direct challenge to the legitimate Palestinian Government.<\/p>\n Taking up the question of displacement, he described living conditions in refugee camps as extremely harsh, noting that young Palestinians were particularly vulnerable to the influence of extremists and religious radicals.\u00a0 Several States in the region bore a massive burden from the flood of Syrian refugees, he said, emphasizing that the underlying causes of displacement must be addressed through a political solution between Israel and Palestine.<\/p>\n He went on to state that a comprehensive and credible political settlement of the conflict in Syria and a political transition to an inclusive, democratic and participatory State would be one of the greatest contributions that could be made to defeating listed terrorist organizations, such as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL\/Da\u2019esh) and Al-Nusra.\u00a0 As for the recent reported use of chemical weapons in Syria, he emphasized the Security Council\u2019s primary responsibility in that area, expressing hope that its members would unite to send a strong collective message that the perpetrators of such attacks would be held accountable.<\/p>\n Concerning the situation in Lebanon, he acknowledged the vital progress made in restoring national institutions to full functioning, and said it was now essential to address the question of weapons held outside State authority and control.\u00a0 On Libya, he said that, although important strides had been made against ISIL in that country, the stalled implementation of the Libya Political Agreement contributed to a political and security vacuum.\u00a0 Turning to Iraq, he welcomed Government efforts to secure and rebuild destroyed areas and to advance the national reconciliation process, thus depriving ISIL of legitimacy, access to resources and support.<\/p>\n Noting that social exclusion and marginalization provided fertile ground for the rise of violent extremism across the region, he said listed terrorist organizations and other non-State actors, including armed groups such as Hizbullah, thrived in a climate of weak governance and minimal human rights.\u00a0 An estimated 30,000\u00a0foreign terrorist fighters from more than 100\u00a0Member States had travelled to join such groups in the Middle East, some of whom had returned to their homelands, where they spread violence in local communities.<\/p>\n Describing the humanitarian and social impact of the region\u2019s conflicts as catastrophic, he urged the Council and all stakeholders to do everything possible to protect and spare civilians from the brutal effects, as required under international humanitarian law.\u00a0 \u201cThe complexities of the region\u2019s conflicts means that political solutions based on justice, dignity and social cohesion are required to achieve peace and sustain peace,\u201d he said.\u00a0 Reiterating the Secretary-General\u2019s words, he said the Middle East needed a surge in diplomacy for peace, and Member States would have to assume a leading role, including by advancing the implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions.<\/p>\n \u201cIn today\u2019s world, there can be no justification for terrorism, nor for the glorification of those who commit it,\u201d he continued.\u00a0 \u201cBut, without justice, dignity and the protection of human rights, communities will continue to fracture and provide fertile grounds for extremists.\u201d\u00a0 To that end, it was crucial to address the fragility of States, he said, emphasizing that Governments must respond to the legitimate demands of their people and strengthen social cohesion and reconciliation.\u00a0 That was the first line of defence against extremism, he said, underlining the need to strengthen the voices of moderation and religious tolerance.<\/p>\n Pointing out that divisions within the region had opened the door to foreign intervention and manipulation, breeding instability and sectarian strife, he said multilateral approaches and cooperation would be vital in addressing interlinked conflicts, cross-border humanitarian impacts and violent extremism.\u00a0 Millions of people in the Middle East were fighting every day for their own survival and the true humane essence of their cultures and societies, he noted, stressing that they were the true faces of the region \u201cand we must do all we can to help them prevail\u201d.<\/p>\n Statements<\/u><\/p>\n RIYAD MANSOUR, Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine<\/u>, associated himself with statements to be delivered on behalf of the Arab Group, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).\u00a0 He said that, in a time of simmering crises and declining optimism, the region\u2019s instability centred on the question of Palestine, which was causing misery for millions.\u00a0 Noting that extremists were exploiting persistent injustice that fuelled perceptions of bias and double standards, he emphasized that the conflict was about the denial of a people\u2019s inalienable rights and a prolonged occupation.\u00a0 The Security Council\u2019s role and responsibility was to foster a just and peaceful solution based on related resolutions.<\/p>\n He went on to stress that resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016) was not anti-Israel.\u00a0 Rather, it provided the most viable path to preserving a two-State solution and creating proper conditions in which to end the occupation.\u00a0 Urging full respect for that text, he said written reports would be expected to ensure proper documentation of its implementation.\u00a0 Condemning Israel\u2019s disrespect for Council decisions, he stressed that the colonization, fragmentation and annexation of Palestinian land would never bring peace, reiterating that Israel must comply with Council demands.<\/p>\n Turning to human rights, he cited the recent launch of a hunger strike by more than 1,000\u00a0Palestinians protesting against incarceration and inhumane treatment.\u00a0 Calling for international solidarity with the prisoners\u2019 peaceful effort to compel Israel\u2019s compliance with the law and respect for human rights, he said the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) could play a facilitating role.\u00a0 Other grave concerns included the continuing Gaza blockade, he added.\u00a0 Underlining the Palestinian leadership\u2019s commitment to negotiations, he said it was making every effort, including engagement with the new Trump Administration, to advance a just solution.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, efforts to develop and strengthen national institutions and heal divisions within the Palestinian political system were under way, he said, stressing that there was evident failure to resolve the Palestine question in a just manner, and describing the status quo as \u201cfar beyond unacceptable\u201d.\u00a0 The explosive situation required immediate action to uphold the law, reverse the situation on the ground and avert further crises, he said, calling for responsible collective efforts to advance the peace process.\u00a0 The international community, with the Security Council at the forefront, must act urgently on its obligation to make peace a reality.<\/p>\n DANNY DANON (Israel<\/u>) said the striking Palestinian prisoners on strike included terrorists and murderers, cautioning that glorifying them did not help the drive for peace.\u00a0 For 17\u00a0years, the Council had met regularly to discuss the situation in the Middle East under the false assumption that all regional ills could be traced to Israel.\u00a0 Describing his country as a beacon of hope in a region filled with brutal dictatorships, and the only true democracy in the Middle East where people were free, he said the region was in a state of disarray, characterized by States dissolving amid chaos and a complete disregard for human life.<\/p>\n He went on to say that Iran was sowing that chaos and had influenced Syria, being an accomplice in the atrocities committed against Syrians, including the recent reported gassing incident.\u00a0 Israel fully supported the United States air strike against Syria, he said, emphasizing that the international community must act to rid that country of all chemical weapons.\u00a0 Iran\u2019s influence in Syria was clear, as was the role of Hizbullah in threatening border confrontations.\u00a0 Israel remained concerned about the spread of terrorism in the region, he said, adding that Iran was arming Hizbullah, conducting ballistic missile tests and providing support for Hamas rule in Gaza.<\/p>\n Recalling Israel\u2019s withdrawal from the enclave in\u00a02005, he said that every Israeli home in Gaza had been destroyed, every synagogue reduced to rubble and every Jewish grave removed in hopes that the Palestinians would create a thriving economy and abandon the path of terror.\u00a0 Sadly, those hopes had been dashed because Hamas was spending millions in aid dollars to arm itself.\u00a0 He said personnel of the Â鶹APP Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) served Hamas and had incited violence against Israelis, adding that the group had fired thousands of rockets into Israel and continued to build tunnels with the intention of killing or kidnapping Israelis.\u00a0 The chance for real peace would only come when Palestinians abandoned terror and returned to the negotiating table, he emphasized.<\/p>\n Welcoming efforts to broaden the scope of relevant Council meetings and the attention paid to the region\u2019s real dangers, he said it was time to end the obsessive focus on Israel.\u00a0 The Council should remain focused on dictators gassing their own people and classify Hizbullah and Hamas as terrorist organizations.\u00a0 An alliance of evil with Iran at the centre was spreading through the region, he said, calling upon the Council to condemn that country\u2019s \u201cdangerous\u201d behaviour.\u00a0 Israel was no longer alone in standing up to Iran\u2019s threats, he added, expressing hope that the Council would begin to seek \u201ctrue moral clarity\u201d in relation to the Middle East.\u00a0 Only then would it be effective in fulfilling its stated role of ensuring the maintenance of international peace and security.<\/p>\n Ms. HALEY (United States<\/u>), speaking in her national capacity, said the Council discussed the Middle East every month, holding meetings that routinely turned into \u201cIsrael-bashing sessions\u201d.\u00a0 Such meetings did no favours to anyone in the region, nor did they bring the parties together.\u00a0 Peace was possible between Israel and Palestine, and the United States was working towards that goal, but it would only materialize through direct negotiations, not one-sided Council meetings and resolutions, she emphasized.\u00a0 Thanking the Special Coordinator for having gone beyond the usual \u201cIsrael-bashing\u201d, she encouraged delegations to do the same, arguing that something valuable might be achieved by breaking out of old, familiar, counterproductive patterns.<\/p>\n Given evolving threats, the Council should talk about the factors causing conflict in the region, she continued.\u00a0 \u201cIf we are speaking honestly about conflict in the Middle East, we need to start with the chief culprit, Iran, and its partner militia, Hizbullah,\u201d she said, citing their activities in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere.\u00a0 Hizbullah was a terrorist group spreading its influence across the Middle East with the support of a State sponsor, Iran, and the threat they represented should dominate Council discussions, she said, emphasizing that Member States must live up to their obligations.<\/p>\n She went on to state that Iran\u2019s ballistic missile tests defied Council resolutions and undermined regional stability.\u00a0 Calling for full implementation of resolution\u00a02231\u00a0(2015), 2216\u00a0(2015) and\u00a01701\u00a0(2006), she said the United States and its partners would work closely to document and address violations of those resolutions, adding:\u00a0 \u201cWe must take a stand against Iran\u2019s and Hizbullah\u2019s illegal and dangerous behaviour.\u201d\u00a0 The way one spent one\u2019s time was an indication of one\u2019s priorities, and that also applied to the Council.\u00a0 While the Israel-Palestinian situation was important, it suffered no lack of attention at the Â鶹APP, she said.\u00a0 Priority should instead be accorded to the activities of Iran and Hizbullah.<\/p>\n VOLODYMYR YELCHENKO (Ukraine<\/u>) said that, because of the Russian Federation\u2019s eighth veto, the Council had failed once again to address chemical attacks in Syria, thereby sending a signal to the perpetrators that they could \u201cget away with murder\u201d.\u00a0 Attributing the lack of progress following the latest two rounds of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva to a lack of political will on the part of the regime, he called for clear adherence to the 2012\u00a0Geneva communiqu\u00e9, Security Council resolution\u00a02254\u00a0(2015), as well as to a transparent and strictly scheduled political transition.\u00a0 Turning to Lebanon, he urged continued political momentum following the President\u2019s election and formation of the Government.\u00a0 The Council\u2019s unity was also badly needed on the Yemen question in order to strengthen efforts by the Secretary-General\u2019s Special Envoy to break the current deadlock.\u00a0 Underestimating the ability of ISIL and Al-Qaida to capitalize on the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict could backfire in unexpected and dangerous ways, he warned.\u00a0 Moreover, ISIL remained a viable threat in the region at large, he noted, calling for a \u201cday after strategy\u201d to ensure that any resurgence was prevented.\u00a0 Otherwise, it would be impossible to contain the growing threat of violent extremism and the global spread of terrorist groups, he said.<\/p>\n KAIRAT UMAROV (Kazakhstan<\/u>) called on both sides to demonstrate political will in pursuit of an historic long-awaited peace agreement.\u00a0 He urged the international community to undertake coordinated efforts to combat the terrorist activities of ISIL and other groups, and to help Lebanon consolidate its Government.\u00a0 Turning to Yemen, he urged all parties concerned, as well as their foreign allies, to end warfare and resolve differences through negotiations.\u00a0 The humanitarian situation in the region demanded joint action, he said, reiterating his country\u2019s strong commitment to a long-awaited peace based on compromise, mutual respect and political dialogue.<\/p>\n OLOF SKOOG (Sweden<\/u>) condemned the so-called \u201cregularization law\u201d intended to allow the confiscation of privately owned Palestinian land.\u00a0 Alongside Israel\u2019s announcement about thousands of illegal settlements on occupied land and its decision to establish new settlements on the West Bank, the legislation was in flagrant violation of international law, he said.\u00a0 Furthermore, the situation in Gaza remained tense and unsustainable, requiring all parties to act responsibly and in the interests of the enclave\u2019s inhabitants.\u00a0 Such actions would include continuing intra-Palestinian reconciliation, accelerating reconstruction and ending Israel\u2019s closure policy.\u00a0 Turning to Syria, he condemned the repeated and \u201cappalling\u201d use of chemical weapons, and called for intensified efforts to realize a real nationwide ceasefire and a political agreement based on Security Council resolution\u00a02254\u00a0(2015).\u00a0 While welcoming recent progress in Lebanon, he called for a new electoral framework agreement and for the holding of parliamentary elections.\u00a0 Reverting to the Israel-Palestine conflict, he said a two-State solution not only met the security needs of both sides, it was also in the interest of wider regional peace and security.<\/p>\n PETR ILIICHEV (Russian Federation<\/u>) said he disagreed with the tailoring of today\u2019s meeting to match the foreign policy focus of the United States.\u00a0 That country\u2019s representative had remained silent on several issues, including the fact that ISIL was inflicting much suffering in Syria and other countries.\u00a0 Noting that the authors of the concept note circulated today invited Members States to consider who was benefiting most from chaos in the Middle East, yet the region\u2019s stabilization could not be realized without settling the Israel-Palestine and Arab-Israeli situations, he emphasized.\u00a0 The high level of violence in Palestine and Israel reflected a complex situation amid tensions that risked escalating the conflict.\u00a0 Those tensions were driven by Israel\u2019s unilateral actions, including its increasing settlement activities, he said.<\/p>\n By voting in favour of resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016), the Russian Federation had demonstrated its belief that unilateral action was not acceptable, and that the pursuit of a two-State solution must continue, he said.\u00a0 The Russian Federation stood by its proposal that the leaders of Israel and Palestine meet in Moscow for talks, he said, stressing that his country, recognizing that East and West Jerusalem would be the respective future capitals of Palestine and Israel, would retain its embassy in Tel Aviv.\u00a0 Terrorism was another grave concern, he said, underlining the important Â鶹APP role in that regard.\u00a0 The occupation of Iraq, as well as the clumsy manipulation of the Security Council in the case of Libya, had had a destabilizing effect and extremists were now exploiting that instability.\u00a0 He also underlined the need for swift steps to stop the exodus of Christians from the Middle East.<\/p>\n MATTHEW RYCROFT (United Kingdom<\/u>) said findings had revealed that sarin gas had been used in the recent chemical weapon attack in Syria, most likely by the regime, but the Council had failed to demonstrate leadership in that regard, having been stopped from doing so by one member.\u00a0 \u201cWe will not be deterred by Russia\u2019s veto,\u201d he declared.\u00a0 The struggle against terrorism in the Middle East must continue, he emphasized.\u00a0 Meanwhile, Iran continued to play a destabilizing role, including by violating international law in Syria, failing to allow aid deliveries into Aleppo, and providing Hizbullah with guns and funding.\u00a0 In 2017, on the fiftieth anniversary of the Six-Day War, Israelis and Palestinians must move the peace process forward because neither could afford another half-century of conflict, he said.\u00a0 The United Kingdom strongly condemned settlement activities in the West Bank because they were seriously undermining the peace process, and as a friend of Israel, it urged that country to refrain from any such steps in future in order to further the quest for a peaceful solution.\u00a0 However, settlements were not the only obstacle to peace, he said, emphasizing that the Palestinian leadership must continue to tackle terrorism.<\/p>\n FRAN\u00c7OIS DELATTRE (France<\/u>), warning that any escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict risked destabilizing the entire region, he said that a false perspective on the status quo had hidden daily setbacks on the ground, and the disappearance of a two-State solution would plunge the situation into the unknown.\u00a0 France remained committed to the joint statement signed by more than 70\u00a0States and organizations in Paris last January in support of a two-State solution based on the 1967\u00a0borders and relevant Security Council resolutions.\u00a0 Yet, that potential solution was threatened every day on the ground, including by illegal settlement expansion, rocket launches and incitement to hatred.\u00a0 Israel must cease its settlement activities, he said, adding that acts of violence and terrorism must also end.\u00a0 France would never accord Israel\u2019s security second priority, he said, reiterating that while awaiting a solution to the conflict, his country maintained its non-recognition of any country\u2019s sovereignty over Jerusalem.\u00a0 Turning to Syria, he said reports indicated the use sarin gas in the recent chemical attack and the perpetrators of that war crime must be brought to justice.\u00a0 On Lebanon, he said legislative elections would be crucial, emphasizing that its disengagement from the conflict in Syria remained more necessary than ever before.<\/p>\n KORO BESSHO (Japan<\/u>) expressed his deep concern about Israel\u2019s announcement on the construction of new settlements and called on both Israelis and Palestinians to take concrete steps towards a two-State solution.\u00a0 A surge of diplomacy was needed in Syria and Yemen, he said, adding that Libya needed further international support.\u00a0 While the creation of \u201ctolerant and stable societies\u201d was a common goal for the region, such a process should be different for each country, and be complemented by humanitarian assistance, social stability, good governance, and investment in human capital.\u00a0 In that regard, Japan had contributed to the Funding Facility for Immediate Stabilization in Iraq, and was supporting urban and rural communities in Yemen through microbusinesses and entrepreneurship projects empowering women and youth, he said.<\/p>\n ELBIO ROSSELLI (Uruguay<\/u>) said the rapid spread of terrorist groups in the Middle East had been encouraged by, among other factors, the absence of State power that sometimes resulted from foreign military interventions not authorized by the Council.\u00a0 Many groups hiding behind the label \u201cmoderate opposition\u201d committed acts that were as reprehensible as those attributed to armed terrorists, he noted.\u00a0 Emphasizing that the Israel-Palestine conflict remained the most important of all Middle East situations, he reaffirmed his delegation\u2019s support for a two-State solution, while also underscoring the importance of resolutions\u00a02334\u00a0(2016) and\u00a0242\u00a0(1967), as well as the need to conclude the peace process.<\/p>\n LIU JIEYI (China<\/u>), noting that 2017\u00a0marked the seventieth anniversary of General Assembly resolution\u00a0181 on the partition plan for Palestine, said that question remained at the crux of the Middle East issue.\u00a0 Left unresolved, it would undermine security and stability in the region and beyond, he said, emphasizing the pressing need for both Israel and Palestine to exercise restraint and take concrete action for the resumption of peace talks.\u00a0 Israel should cease settlement expansion and demonstrate good will for negotiations, which should resume at the earliest opportunity, he said, adding that, the earlier they got under way, the earlier people on both sides would benefit.\u00a0 Emphasizing the Middle East was at a cross\u2011road, he urged countries in the region and the broader international community to work more vigorously to de-escalate tensions and find a way forward, with all parties remaining true to the Â鶹APP Charter and other international norms.<\/p>\n TEKEDA ALEMU (Ethiopia<\/u>) said the military approach had become the preferred means around the world to address disputes and misunderstandings when political and diplomatic steps should be favoured instead in addressing the legitimate concerns and demands of all concerned.\u00a0 The primacy of politics should be the major vocation of the Â鶹APP, with the Council as the \u201ctip of the spear\u201d in ensuring international peace and stability.\u00a0 Progress in the Middle East, or the Horn of Africa for that matter, was possible, but priority must be accorded to honest dialogue, he said, emphasizing that Palestinian question could not be ignored and that no diplomatic effort would succeed outside the two-State solution.<\/p>\n FOD\u00c9 SECK (Senegal<\/u>) said conflicts, particularly the Arab-Israeli conflict, had been layered over old crises, with the Palestine question being the essential issue.\u00a0 Reaffirming his delegation\u2019s commitment to a two-State solution, he said resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016) must guide the way.\u00a0 He encouraged the Â鶹APP, as well as Israeli and Palestinian stakeholders, to seek swift solutions to problems of water, sanitation and electricity in Gaza.\u00a0 Turning to Syria, he reaffirmed Senegal\u2019s solidarity with that country\u2019s people and its belief in a negotiated solution.\u00a0 He also voiced support for Iraq\u2019s efforts to stamp out ISIL\u2019s presence on its territory.<\/p>\n SEBASTIANO CARDI (Italy<\/u>) reiterated his delegation\u2019s support for a two-State solution, saying Italy was also open to new schemes aimed at realizing a negotiated solution, in accordance with existing decisions.\u00a0 He expressed worry that the fragile situation on the ground, as well as hope for efforts to improve living conditions for Palestinians.\u00a0 Concerning Lebanon, he said the parliamentary elections would help restore the full functioning of State institutions, with help from the Â鶹APP.\u00a0 In addition, the Â鶹APP Interim Force in Lebanon\u00a0(UNIFIL) and the Â鶹APP Disengagement Observer Force\u00a0(UNDOF) had proven effective in fulfilling their mandates.\u00a0 On Syria, he said that accountability for violations of international law in Syria was imperative, and voiced support for the investigation by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons\u00a0(OPCW).<\/p>\n AMR ABDELLATIF ABOULATTA (Egypt<\/u>) said injustice against Arab peoples persisted due to foreign interference in the occupied Palestinian and Syrian territories.\u00a0 The question of Palestine remained the oldest conflict and reflected the international community failure to find a solution, he said, pointing out that Gaza\u2019s inhabitants remained under siege, trapped under the yoke of occupation.\u00a0 The mistaken belief that managing the conflict would be enough to maintain the status quo must be examined against the grim backdrop of the situation on the ground, he emphasized, calling for efforts beyond the untenable status quo.\u00a0 Reaffirming calls for the two sides to return to the negotiating table, he said Egypt would work with all parties to realize their common goal.<\/p>\n SACHA SERGIO LLORENTTY SOL\u00cdZ (Bolivia<\/u>) reiterated that the Middle East would achieve neither peace nor stability without resolving the question of Palestine.\u00a0 The region, as well as Israel and Palestine, urgently needed peace, he said, citing the Secretary-General\u2019s description of the current state of affairs as an \u201copen wound\u201d.\u00a0 Resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016) must be implemented and settlement activities in occupied Palestinian territories ended, he emphasized, while calling for a written report on the progress made in implementation of resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016).<\/p>\n SAMUEL MONCADA, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Venezuela<\/u>, spoke on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, saying that a lasting solution to the Palestine question was a priority for that grouping.\u00a0 The occupation posed a serious threat to international peace and security, requiring urgent attention in accordance with international law.\u00a0 He condemned Israel\u2019s provocative actions in proceeding with settlement activities in breach of international law, and reiterated call to lift the blockade on Gaza.\u00a0 The Movement deplored Israel\u2019s systematic human rights violations against the Palestinian people, he said, reiterating its readiness to support all relevant efforts, in accordance with the Movement\u2019s twenty-seventh summit, which had declared 2017 the International Year to End the Israeli Occupation of Palestine.\u00a0 Turning to Syria, he condemned Israel\u2019s aggression against that country and its measures to alter the status of the occupied Syrian Golan.<\/p>\n NAWAF SALAM (Lebanon<\/u>) recalled a maritime border dispute between his country and Israel, as well as an interview in which that country\u2019s Education Minister had threatened a massive attack on Lebanese civilian infrastructure that would blow Lebanon back into the Middle Ages.\u00a0 It was high time for the Council to condemn Israeli violations of the Â鶹APP Charter, the basic rules and principles of international law and international humanitarian law, and relevant Â鶹APP resolutions, he emphasized.\u00a0 Reiterating his country\u2019s commitment to full implementation of resolution\u00a01701\u00a0(2006), he called upon the Council to demonstrate leadership and by compelling Israel to do the same.<\/p>\n SIMA SAMI BAHOUS (Jordan<\/u>) emphasized the need for a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and for Israel to demonstrate a genuine desire for peace. \u00a0Jordan\u2019s delegation rejected all unilateral steps by Israel that were changing reality on the ground and thwarting the prospects for a two-State solution, calling for implementation of the resolution on the cessation of all settlement activities. \u00a0The Middle East would not know peace without ending the occupation, she said, stressed that the Palestinian cause was the key to stability and peace in the region and beyond.<\/p>\n CHRISTIAN WENAWESER (Liechtenstein<\/u>), emphasizing that Israel-Palestine hard-won gains were being jeopardized, called on all involved to fully respect the international legal framework and recommit to a two-State solution.\u00a0 On Syria, the Council\u2019s inability to put an end to atrocities reflected a political paralysis, he said, expressing support for strengthening the Code of Conduct regarding that body\u2019s action against genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes.\u00a0 With impunity characterizing the Syrian conflict, there was a growing momentum within the Â鶹APP and from civil society worldwide to ensure accountability, he said, calling on all States to continue to support the Syria accountability mechanism created by the General Assembly in December\u00a02016.<\/p>\n ABDERRAZZAK LAASSEL (Morocco<\/u>), associating his delegation with the Arab Group, said prospects for a two-State solution were in serious danger with the related negotiations verging on collapse. \u00a0The major Powers had tried, through an Arab ministerial committee, to bring an end to the occupation, but Israel\u2019s settlement expansion had prevented concrete results. \u00a0Urging respect for initiatives that would facilitate the creation of a Palestinian State, he stressed that the international community must shoulder its responsibilities to end the impasse in the current negotiations.<\/p>\n MAURO VIEIRA (Brazil<\/u>) said the question of Palestine must not become a forgotten issue on the international agenda.\u00a0 Expressing serious concern over Israel\u2019s approval of new illegal settlements, he urged both parties, as well as those with influence over them to seek a return to negotiations with the aim of eventually ending all terrorist acts, lifting the blockade on Gaza and fostering cooperation between Israelis\u2019 and Palestinians\u2019 cultural and education issues.\u00a0 Concerning Syria, he emphasized the need for an impartial investigation of the reported use of chemical weapons.\u00a0 Effective dialogue among all actors was the only way to end the conflict in that country, he said, calling upon permanent Council members to persevere in the effort to find common ground.\u00a0 Underlining the significance of the Astana Process, he said the humanitarian dimension of the crisis must be urgently addressed.\u00a0 On Lebanon, he emphasized the vital role played by UNIFIL and its maritime task force, and reiterated his delegation\u2019s support for Lebanon on its road to stability and development.<\/p>\n NABEEL MUNIR (Pakistan<\/u>) said that settling the Palestinian question was central to realizing peace in the Middle East, and not an \u201cincidental by-product\u201d. \u00a0Illegal Israeli settlements lay at the heart of peace efforts and it was unfortunate that resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016) had been disparaged as old-world Â鶹APP bias against Israel. \u00a0A viable, independent and contiguous State of Palestine \u2014 established along the pre-1967 borders and with al-Quds al-Sharif [Jerusalem] as its capital \u2014 was the only guarantee of enduring peace, he emphasized. \u00a0Concerning Syria, he advocated an inclusive Syrian-led and Syrian-driven process of political reconciliation that would ensure respect for the country\u2019s sovereignty and territorial integrity.\u00a0 On Iraq, he said that, with Government forces consolidating gains against Da\u2019esh, there was cause for confidence that a strong State would be built on an inclusive vision that would recognize and reconcile the interests of all Iraqis.\u00a0 As for Yemen, he underlined the need for a massive humanitarian response to complement the political process.<\/p>\n GHOLAMALI KHOSHROO (Iran<\/u>), associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement, said that the United States and Israel wanted to remove the Palestinian issue from the open debates of the Security Council.\u00a0 Israel had also refused to adhere to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Chemical and Biological Weapons Convention, and was the only obstacle in the way of establishing a zone free from weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East.\u00a0 He noted that the tragedy in Khan Shaykhun had taken place after the Syrian Government had been disarmed of its chemical weapons by the Â鶹APP, while ISIL and Al-Nusra had not.\u00a0 United States military action against Syria happened without any independent or Â鶹APP verification and was a clear act of aggression against a Member State and a violation of international law.\u00a0 The world was still paying for the \u201ccatastrophic unilateralism of the past premised on self-serving allegations\u201d, including the allegations of weapons of mass destruction in\u00a02003, he stated.<\/p>\n NEVILLE GERTZE (Namibia), Vice-Chair, Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People<\/u>, called for urgent action to reverse negative steps on the ground which were eroding the two-State solution.\u00a0 He also emphasized the need for intra-Palestinian unity.\u00a0 Noting the Committee\u2019s regret over a spike in illegal settlements, he drew the Council\u2019s attention to a shrinking space for human rights defenders in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including access restrictions on Israeli citizens who spoke in favour of peace.\u00a0 \u201cCurrent issues requiring the Council\u2019s imminent attention should not eclipse the urgency to resolve the question of Palestine and its occupation,\u201d he said, adding that overwhelming support among Member States to realize the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people had been echoed during the course of all Committee activities.<\/p>\n GUSTAVO MEZA-CUADRA (Peru<\/u>) called for settlement activities in occupied Palestinian territories to cease, along with violent acts against the civilian population. While the inalienable right of Israel to defend itself was recognized, it should always be done in accordance with the principles of legality and proportionality. He also condemned the use of chemical weapons in Syria against a civilian population and appealed to members of the Security Council to overcome their differences on that subject.<\/p>\n ANA SILVIA RODR\u00cdGUEZ ABASCAL (Cuba<\/u>), associating herself with the Non-Aligned Movement, said that the Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory were unacceptable. It was not possible to achieve a two-State solution as long as the relevant resolutions adopted by the Â鶹APP continued to be violated.\u00a0 Actions taken by Israel to modify the structure of Syrian Golan were legally null and void, and the construction and illegal expansion of settlements there were violations of international law and agreements, as well as the Charter.<\/p>\n BERNADITO AUZA, Permanent Observer of the Holy See<\/u> called the use of chemical agents in Syria a gross violation of international humanitarian law, and the Palm Sunday terrorist bombings in Egypt \u201cabominable\u201d attacks against civilians.\u00a0 He also expressed concern that in Lebanon, where millions of refugees from neighbouring countries were being hosted, militias and armed groups funded by outside sources were active beyond the control of Lebanese authorities.\u00a0 Recalling the Holy See\u2019s support since\u00a01947 for a two-State solution to the Israel-Palestine issue, he called on leaders and citizens on both sides to make fair concessions.\u00a0 Agreement would remain elusive as long as \u201cmutually excluding\u201d demands persisted.\u00a0 Stressing that \u201ctwisted religious claims\u201d, mixed with irredentist ideologies promoted bloodshed in the region, he urged religious leaders to denounce such terror and to control their followers who claimed to act in God\u2019s name by means of terror.\u00a0 He also urged arms suppliers to act in accordance with internationally agreed norms for sales, saying he could not stress enough how much the disregard of arms trade treaties fomented conflict, crime and terrorism.<\/p>\n JAIME HERMIDA (Nicaragua<\/u>), associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement and the Palestinian Rights Committee, underscored the urgent need to implement resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016), which would make the two-State solution viable after 70\u00a0years and restore the inalienable rights of Palestinians.\u00a0 He expressed support for a State of Palestine along 1967\u00a0borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and hope that through dialogue and negotiation, both peoples could live in peace.\u00a0 Creating stability in the Middle East also involved Israel\u2019s withdrawal from Syrian Golan and from the occupied territories of Lebanon, he said, urging an end to foreign interference in the region.<\/p>\n BASHAR JA\u2019AFARI (Syria<\/u>) said that the focus of the Security Council\u2019s discussion should be on the violations by Israel of various resolutions and its refusal to withdraw from the Occupied Palestinian Territory.\u00a0 It was also unacceptable that the representative of the Secretary-General preferred not to mention occupied Syrian Golan, which was part of his mandate.\u00a0 Reiterating support for the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination and an independent State, he denounced the silence in the Council in the face of the Israeli settlement policy.<\/p>\n Condemning Israeli support given to various armed terrorist groups, including Al-Nusra in Syrian Golan where Israel had facilitated the passage of terrorist groups across the demarcation line, he stressed that Syrian sovereignty in Syrian Golan was an inalienable right.\u00a0 He also criticized the aid provided by Israel to ISIL on Syrian territory on 17\u00a0March in Palmyra, stating that Israel and terrorism were two sides of the same coin.\u00a0 Israel had no right to lecture Syria on democracy as it continued to violate the rights of Arab nations in the region.<\/p>\n DIAN TRIANSYAH DJANI (Indonesia<\/u>) asked that future reports on implementing resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016) be distributed ahead of meetings in order for Council members to prepare appropriately.\u00a0 Citing recent developments, including Israel\u2019s decision to expand settlements in violation of international law, he said implementing resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016) tested the Council\u2019s commitment to peace in the Middle East and a two-State solution.\u00a0 The Council must rise to the right side of history by ending the occupation.\u00a0 On Syria, dialogue was the only path to peace, he said, urging talks in Geneva and Astana to yield concrete outcomes.\u00a0 He also called for an independent, objective and impartial investigation of the use of chemical weapons in Khan Shaykhun.\u00a0 Turning to Lebanon, he said UNFIL had contributed significantly to maintaining peace and security.\u00a0 In addition, the Council must pay special attention to Yemen, given the grave humanitarian situation that had left almost 19\u00a0million in need of assistance.<\/p>\n KHALIFA ALI ISSA AL HARTHY (Oman<\/u>), associating himself with the Arab Group, said that Israel was taking advantage of the situation in the region by expanding settlements.\u00a0 That complicated international efforts towards a two-State solution.\u00a0 Developments in Yemen had led to deteriorating conditions for its people.\u00a0 Political parties should engage in a meaningful dialogue to bring that crisis to an end.\u00a0 Oman would continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Yemeni refugees and internally displaced persons.<\/p>\n MANSOUR AYYAD SH A ALOTAIBI (Kuwait<\/u>), associating himself with the Arab Group and the Non-Aligned Movement, said that illegal and illegitimate policies by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory continued unabated.\u00a0 Peace would not be achieved by calling for the resumption of negotiations without a timeframe, but should be based on resolutions and international legitimacy to enable the Palestinian people to establish an independent State.<\/p>\n ABDALLAH Y. AL-MOUALLIMI (Saudi Arabia<\/u>) said Palestinians were suffering a historic injustice that was being abused by terrorists \u201cplaying the Palestinian card\u201d and by regimes in Iran and Syria with support from Hizbullah.\u00a0 Calling on Israel to withdraw from all occupied Arab territories, he expressed support for the 2002\u00a0Arab Initiative and the 2017\u00a0Amman Declaration and pressed Israel to accept that offer. \u00a0Cautioning that countries should not transfer their embassies to Jerusalem, he said the path to peace was through existing mechanisms created to end the occupation. \u00a0In regard to Syria, Syrian authorities had used chemical weapons against Syrians, and the Iranian Republican Guard and Hizbullah were undermining the dignity of the besieged Syrian people.\u00a0 Noting that the Council had not brought those responsible to justice, he declared:\u00a0 \u201cWe cannot accept impunity.\u201d<\/p>\n He also expressed support for the United States\u2019 military operations against military targets in Syria in response to attacks in Khan Shaykhun, and urged an end to the ethnic cleansing of Syrians by Syrian authorities, which had created opportunities for Da\u2019esh and Al-Nusra to fill the power void.\u00a0 Turning to Iran, he noted that there had been hope the nuclear agreement would have ended that country\u2019s nuclear ambitions. \u00a0Instead, that country had shown no respect for diplomatic customs. \u00a0Iran also backed militias in Iraq and Yemen, with the model used by Hizbullah being reproduced in other countries, including Bahrain.<\/p>\n MASUD BIN MOMEN (Bangladesh<\/u>), associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, expressed concern over conflicts raging in the Middle East amid growing involvement by non-State actors. \u00a0There was every reason for States to collectively question the untenable status quo on the Palestinian question. \u00a0Israel\u2019s illegal settlement expansion was a blatant injustice and he urged the Council to ensure the end to all such activities in the occupied Palestinian territories. \u00a0In Gaza, he underscored the need to address the systematic human rights violations.<\/p>\n UMID SHADIEV (Uzbekistan<\/u>), Chair of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, said illegal Israel settlement activities and adoption of the regularization law must be condemned. \u00a0He also appealed for sustained international engagement, as called for by resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016), notably to address Israel\u2019s assaults against Al-Aqsa Mosque and policies aimed at changing the Arab character, status, landmarks and demographic composition of East Jerusalem.\u00a0 He also called for the blockade of Gaza to end, stressing that chronic divisions within the Council had allowed terrorism to flourish in the region.<\/p>\n NGUYEN PHUONG NGA (Viet Nam<\/u>), associating herself with the Non-Aligned Movement, expressed deep concern over the situation in the Middle East.\u00a0 The international response had not kept pace with the danger posed by such complex issues and she lamented that the Council lacked the political will to seek peaceful solutions. \u00a0With the Palestinian question at the heart of regional instability, she called on Israel to halt settlement activities and urged all parties to immediately stop actions that could escalate tensions.\u00a0 Viet Nam had always supported Palestinians\u2019 right to self-determination and advocated a peaceful solution to the conflict through dialogue and negotiation, she stressed.<\/p>\n JO\u00c3O VALE DE ALMEIDA, Head of the European Union<\/u> Delegation, said that actions on the ground continued to dangerously imperil the prospects for a two-State solution. \u00a0Such actions, among others, included Israel\u2019s advanced plans for nearly 6,000\u00a0settlement units in occupied Palestinian territory, a new settlement deep inside the West Bank and the declaration of additional land inside the West Bank as \u201cstate land\u201d. \u00a0As well, Palestinian leaders should condemn terrorist attacks and take all steps within their capacity to end incitement to hatred and violence. \u00a0Palestinian factions should engage in good faith in the reconciliation process, and all parties in the West Bank and Gaza should advance that process, which would lead to democratic elections. \u00a0A single, legitimate and democratic Palestinian authority was critical for achieving a viable Palestinian state.<\/p>\n On Syria, he said that the European Union had endorsed a strategy for Syria in early April that was aimed at promoting a political solution to the situation, and was focused on achieving a framework agreement in the Â鶹APP-mediated intra-Syrian talks in Geneva. \u00a0Condemning the chemical attack on the town of Khan Shaykhun and the attack in Rashidin, he noted that accountability for violations perpetrated in Syria was paramount.\u00a0 He also welcomed progress in Lebanon to end the political stalemate with the election of a president, noting that a timely election was the next important milestone for its democratic process.<\/p>\n ROLANDO CASTRO C\u00d3RDOBA (Costa Rica<\/u>), urging that the Council do its job ending conflict in the Middle East, he condemned the political and the financial support for terrorist acts in the region.\u00a0 Turning to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, he urged a swift return to negotiations with a view to finding a political solution and a new architecture to achieve peace.\u00a0 On Syria, he urged all General Assembly Member States to shoulder their responsibilities, given the inaction of the Council.\u00a0 Multilateralism must be put into practice to ensure the interests of all Member States, not just certain nations, were met.\u00a0 He called on permanent Council members to commit to not using their veto power when addressing humanitarian concerns.<\/p>\n MUHAMMAD SHAHRUL IKRAM YAAKOB (Malaysia<\/u>) voiced his opposition to any attempt to dilute or sideline the question of Palestine at the Security Council.\u00a0 Furthermore, it should not ignore the undeniable realities on the ground. Settlement expansions by Israel had continued in\u00a02017 in total disregard of international law and various Council resolutions.\u00a0 Such activities threatened the territorial contiguity of a future Palestinian State and undermined the two-State solution.\u00a0 A week after the briefing on the implementation of resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016), Israel announced its decision to build a new settlement.\u00a0 That decision came on the heels of the \u201cRegularisation Law\u201d by its Parliament, which would legalize illegal outpost built on privately owned Palestinian land.\u00a0 Such actions called into question Israel\u2019s sincerity to work together with Palestine towards a two-State solution.<\/p>\n ALYA AHMED SAIF AL-THANI (Qatar<\/u>), underscoring that terrorism was a looming threat to peace, she added that, in fighting that scourge, initiatives must respect international law.\u00a0 Advances in the Israel-Palestine conflict towards peace depended on Israel ending its settlement policies and the Gaza blockade.\u00a0 The recent chemical attack in Khan Shaykhun had only deepened problems, proving that the international community was powerless and incapable of changing the situation, she said, expressing support for the United States\u2019 action on Syrian military installations.\u00a0 The chemical weapon attack was a danger to international peace and security while demonstrating that impunity for such crimes had continued.<\/p>\n FRAZANA ZAHIR (Maldives<\/u>) said Israel continued to blatantly violate Council resolutions and international law thereby hindering the right of Palestinians to self-determination and undermining any credible progress towards peace.\u00a0 Condemning settlement construction in Geulat Zion, she called on Israel to abide by resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016).\u00a0 She also supported calls for a substantive written report on that resolution\u2019s implementation.\u00a0 Turning to Syria, she called on the international community and Council members to achieve progress on implementing its resolutions in a concrete manner.<\/p>\n FERIDUN H. SINIRLIO\u011eLU (Turkey<\/u>) said resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016) had put on record the destructive effects of Israeli settlement activities, while the Paris peace conference in January enabled the international community to reaffirm its commitment to the two-State solution.\u00a0 Israel was expected to listen to those calls, end the occupation and step into a future of harmony with its neighbours.\u00a0 Turning to Syria, he said that, in line with resolution 2235 (2015), Turkey was sharing with relevant Â鶹APP authorities its findings in connection with a gas attack, which pointed to the use of sarin. \u00a0Calling the recent United States operation in Syria proportional and timely, he said negotiations towards a political transition would not bear fruit without an end to the fighting.\u00a0 It was crucial, he added, to keep up the momentum achieved at the last round of Geneva talks, which the regime should not be allowed to poison.<\/p>\n MAY-ELIN STENER (Norway<\/u>) said that, since only a political solution could provide lasting peace in Syria, civil society and women must be represented in the forthcoming talks in Geneva.\u00a0 Encouraging donors to deliver on their promises at the recent Syria conference in Brussels, she said that Norway would uphold its four-year pledge.\u00a0 Concerned about the deteriorating situation for religious minorities in the region, she urged the international community and regional countries to do their part in protecting them.\u00a0 As chair of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, which was the only existing international mechanism where both Israeli and Palestinian parties met regularly, she called on donors to reconsider aid commitments ahead of the next meeting in Brussels in May.\u00a0 She also called on parties to resolve outstanding fiscal issues and to implement the electricity agreement from\u00a02016, moving faster on key infrastructure projects on water and energy, especially in Gaza.<\/p>\n JAMAL FARES ALROWAIEI (Bahrain<\/u>) said resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016) an historic turning point, a victory for the Palestinian people and a sign of international consensus on the Palestinian question. \u00a0The international community should shoulder its responsibilities and force Israel to abide by international law and relevant Council resolutions, thus ensuring a future of peace and tolerance for the Middle East and the world.\u00a0 On Syria, he said the chemical weapons attack at Khan Shaykhun should push the international community towards a solution that would address the Syrian people\u2019s legitimate aspirations while combatting terrorism.\u00a0 He added that Yemen had seen serious interference from certain foreign forces, and that Iran must stop interfering in neighbouring States.<\/p>\n CRISTI\u00c1N BARROS MELET (Chile<\/u>) said the international community should foster the Middle East peace process by promoting the resumption of negotiations, as well as responsible conduct by the parties concerned.\u00a0 Welcoming resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016), he said that settlement construction jeopardized the viability of the two-State solution.\u00a0 Reiterating Chile\u2019s condemnation of the use of chemical weapons in Syria, he said permanent Council members should limit the use of their veto with regard to Syria, Palestine and other conflicts.<\/p>\n EINAR GUNNARSSON (Iceland<\/u>), emphasizing the Council\u2019s clear responsibility to end the conflict in Syria, said that, despite a bleak outlook in much of the Middle East, the Israel-Palestine conflict was amenable to resolution.\u00a0 Protecting and nurturing the two-State solution should be a Council priority, even when both parties to the conflict seemed, at times, hell-bent on tearing up that plan.\u00a0 By adopting resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016), the Council had undertaken important damage\u2011control measures.\u00a0 Monitoring of its implementation must continue, he added, urging faster and more intensive diplomatic efforts towards a comprehensive, just and lasting Middle East peace.<\/p>\n MAHLATSE MMINELE (South Africa<\/u>) said the Council\u2019s quarterly debate on the Middle East should not stray away from the core Israel-Palestine issue, which had been on its agenda for over 70\u00a0years.\u00a0 Given a lack of Council progress on the issue, open debates at least gave other Member States the opportunity to express their views.\u00a0 Expressing his Government\u2019s deep concern at Israeli plans to continue with illegal settlements in defiance of resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016), he said that development would undermine conditions for final status negotiations and for advancing the two-State solution.\u00a0 Noting \u201cwith disbelief\u201d that 2017\u00a0marked the fiftieth anniversary of Israel\u2019s military conquest of Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, he expressed support for placing the Â鶹APP at the centre of multinational efforts to counter terrorism.<\/p>\n JAMAL JAMA AL MUSHARAKH (United Arab Emirates<\/u>) voiced support for the Â鶹APP military oppositions following the Syrian regime\u2019s use of chemical weapons.\u00a0 Calling on parties to work on ensuring that non-State actors and extremist militias were not in control of Syria, he said the international community must work to create a space conducive for the Syrian people to determine their own future.\u00a0 Turning to Yemen, he said Houthi militias were endangering peace and security of that country and the region.\u00a0 Only a Â鶹APP-led peace process could resolve the conflict.\u00a0 Iran was the common denominator in conflicts in Syria and Yemen, posing an existential threat to the region as a State-sponsor of terrorism.\u00a0 Urging the Council to continue to investigate Iran\u2019s sanctions violations, he also called for special attention to be paid to the plight of youth across the region because, in the absence of economic opportunities, they were at risk of being exploited by terrorist organizations.<\/p>\n SAMSON SUNDAY ITEGBOJE (Nigeria<\/u>) said Palestinians in Gaza, living in a protracted humanitarian crisis, could no longer be held hostage by disagreements, divisions and closures.\u00a0 All parties, including the international community, must work collectively to ensure the early resolution of the persistent energy crisis in Gaza, with the Â鶹APP playing a vital role.\u00a0 The Council must once again call on parties to resume direct negotiations, he said, urging Israel to halt settlement activities and Palestinian leaders to signal a readiness to return to negotiations, as the current stalemate was unsustainable.\u00a0 There were potent weapons to stamp out terrorism in the region, including criminalizing financing terrorists and their organizations, and implementing relevant Council sanctions regimes.<\/p>\n DENIS R\u00c9GIS (Haiti<\/u>) said that, despite calls from across the world for a just two-State solution, a total lack of political and diplomatic progress was fuelling violence on the ground and stymying the peace process.\u00a0 The two-State solution was slipping away, and the situations in Iraq, Syria and Yemen demonstrated that the region was plagued with a range of crises.\u00a0 The Council and some members\u2019 use of the veto, including on a recent vote on a resolution on the use of chemical weapons against civilians in Syria, had demonstrated a persistent paralysis.\u00a0 The Council must instead address the root causes of conflict and swiftly act when required.\u00a0 In cases of mass atrocities, he voiced support for Liechtenstein and Mexico to find common ground with regard to veto power.<\/p>\n __________<\/p>\n * \u00a0The 7928th Meeting was closed.<\/p>\n SC\/12800 20 April 2017 7929th Meeting* (AM) Video (Part I) Video (Part II) Video (Part III) Fran\u00e7ais Amid Calls to Resume Direct Talks, State of Palestine\u00a0Cites Hunger Strike, as Israel Says Protesters Include \u2018Terrorists and Murderers\u2019 Cooperation and multilateral approaches would be needed to address interlinked conflicts, cross-border humanitarian crises and violent extremism, the Special 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\nVideo (Part II)<\/a>
\nVideo (Part III)<\/a><\/p>\nAmid Calls to Resume Direct Talks, State of Palestine\u00a0Cites Hunger Strike, as Israel Says Protesters Include \u2018Terrorists and Murderers\u2019<\/h4>\n