{"id":232133,"date":"2020-02-11T20:28:49","date_gmt":"2020-02-12T01:28:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&p=232133"},"modified":"2020-07-22T00:39:35","modified_gmt":"2020-07-22T04:39:35","slug":"security-council-middle-east-sc-14103","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/security-council-middle-east-sc-14103\/","title":{"rendered":"Key Players Reject Proposed US Peace Plan as Failing to Meet Minimum Rights of Palestinians, Special Coordinator Tells Security Council – Press Release (SC\/14103)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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SC\/14103<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
11 FEBRUARY 2020<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n

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

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

Palestinian Leader\u2019s Presence a ‘Distraction\u2019,\u00a0Says Israel, as Arab League Warns against \u2018Another Type of Apartheid\u2019 in Holy Land<\/h4>\n

The Palestinian Authority, as well as the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation\u00a0(OIC), have all rejected the peace plan proposed by the United States on 28\u00a0January as failing to meet the minimum rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people, the Â鶹APP Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process told the Security Council today.<\/p>\n

Briefing Council members on the situation, Special Coordinator Nickolay Mladenov said that the European Union\u2019s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy described the United States proposal as departing from internationally agreed parameters, adding that a number of African Union member States similarly rejected it during that regional bloc\u2019s recent summit.<\/p>\n

However, senior figures within the Government of Israel said they would be willing to use the proposal as the basis for direct negotiations, he noted.\u00a0 Similarly, some Member States have expressed hope that its release will offer an opportunity to bring the parties to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict back to the negotiating table.\u00a0 He went on to emphasize that \u201cthe Â鶹APP policy on this issue is defined by relevant Â鶹APP resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements\u201d.<\/p>\n

Since the proposal was announced, he continued, violent incidents have occurred throughout the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as in and around the Gaza Strip.\u00a0 However, escalation will only serve those seeking to radicalize people, he warned, emphasizing:\u00a0 \u201cAll must show restraint and unequivocally condemn violence.\u201d<\/p>\n

He went on to note that senior Israeli officials vowed to unilaterally annex large portions of the West Bank, including all settlements in the Jordan Valley.\u00a0 Underlining the Secretary-General\u2019s consistent opposition to such unilateral action, he cautioned that such plans could close the door to negotiations, severely undermining opportunities for normalization and peace.\u00a0 However, those who reject the proposal should not turn to violence, he stressed, declaring:\u00a0 \u201cThat would be the worst possible response at this sensitive moment.\u201d\u00a0 What is needed, rather, is political leadership and serious reflection on what must be done to bring the parties back to the negotiating table, he said.<\/p>\n

Recalling that the Â鶹APP has long supported a two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on Â鶹APP resolutions, international law and previous agreements, he said it is time to hear proposals on how to return to a mutually agreed mediation framework that ensures the resumption of meaningful negotiations.\u00a0 While it is difficult to envision a comprehensive agreement under current circumstances, \u201cwe must avoid continued entrenchment in the status quo\u201d, he emphasized.<\/p>\n

Warning that continuing on the current trajectory would only push the sides further apart, he said:\u00a0 \u201cThere is no other road to achieve this goal except through negotiations.\u201d \u00a0There is no framework other than the one that the two sides agreed together on the basis of relevant Â鶹APP resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements.\u00a0 He went on to warn that the absence of a peace accord could drag both peoples, and the region, into a spiral with no end in sight.<\/p>\n

Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres said \u201cthis is the time for dialogue, for reconciliation, for reason\u201d.\u00a0 Urging Israeli and Palestinian leaders to demonstrate the necessary will to advance peace, he reiterated that the position of the Â鶹APP remains defined by General Assembly and Security Council resolutions.\u00a0 The Organization remains committed to the end goal of two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, based on the pre\u20111967\u00a0lines, he affirmed.<\/p>\n

President Mahmoud Abbas of the State of Palestine reaffirmed his rejection of the peace plan proposed by Israel and the United States, saying it violates the Arab Peace Initiative and the right of Palestinians to self-determination.\u00a0 \u201cThis plan, or any part of it, should not be considered as an international reference for negotiations,\u201d he declared, emphasizing:\u00a0 \u201cWe will never surrender our rights.\u201d \u00a0He went on to reiterate his readiness to begin negotiations immediately with an Israeli partner who is similarly ready for peace, under the auspices of the Middle East Quartet (Â鶹APP, Russian Federation, United States, European Union) and within internationally agreed parameters.<\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s representative, while also stating his readiness to take steps towards peace, said President Abbas came to the Council to distract the international community instead of going to start negotiations in Jerusalem.\u00a0 Meanwhile, those who voted in favour of more than 150\u00a0related Â鶹APP resolutions only encourage his behaviour.\u00a0 In fact, the United States plan is simply a starting point for negotiations, using a new approach to replace the failed old strategies presented over the past 70\u00a0years, he said, pointing out that previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements acknowledged that borders were to be the subject of bilateral negotiations.<\/p>\n

The Secretary-General of the League of Arab States said the measures proposed in the United States peace plan will impact many issues that should be addressed through negotiations, adding that the measures benefit only the Israeli side.\u00a0 Whereas the \u201cblueprint\u201d was presented as the \u201cfruit\u201d of negotiations, it excludes the Palestinians and seems to imply that the plan will be imposed upon them.\u00a0 The plan appears to have been drafted with the idea of seeing it rejected by Palestine and the world, he said, adding that it also sets new parameters \u2014 granting land, settlements and Jerusalem to Israel, while not proposing a realistic two-State solution.\u00a0 Instead, it seems to propose the creation of a single State with two categories of citizens: \u00a0those with and those without rights, he noted.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is shameful,\u201d he said, pointing out that the international community would be accepting another type of apartheid \u2014 and in the Holy Land, no less.\u00a0 The League of Arab States already has a peace plan, he continued, describing the 2002\u00a0Arab Peace Initiative strategy as a viable proposal that is subject to negotiations.\u00a0 By contrast, the United States plan undermines the idea of negotiations whereas it should, in fact, have been the fruit of discussions.\u00a0 It appears there cannot be peace unless one side admits defeat and submits.\u00a0 He concluded by saying he was appalled to hear a call to exclude President Abbas from negotiations on the grounds that he is not a good dialogue partner.\u00a0 The question is not about any individual, he stressed, recalling that the same type of characterization was made about another Palestinian President 15\u00a0years ago.<\/p>\n

Some Council members took issue with the United States proposal, saying it remains a unilateral plan that excludes input from the Palestinian authorities.\u00a0 France\u2019s representative emphasized that international law and Security Council resolutions are not mere options that Member States can choose to embrace or abandon.\u00a0 Cautioning against executing any annexation plans in occupied Palestinian territory, he emphasized that no solution can emerge from unilateral decisions.\u00a0 The proposal by President Abbas to establish a multilateral mechanism for the relaunch of negotiations warrants close consideration, he added.<\/p>\n

The representative of the United States explained that the proposed peace plan remains a fresh, viable option for reopening a path to peace talks.\u00a0 Describing it as a blueprint for a Palestinian State and an opening offer to talk, she expressed hope that the Council will give the new approach a fair hearing and that Israelis and Palestinians will have the courage to sit down and talk with one another.<\/p>\n

Some delegates said that a range of proposals should be considered, since previous efforts to restart peace talks have all failed.\u00a0 Germany\u2019s representative said the outline for talks contained in the United States proposal merits consideration.\u00a0 He also noted the ideas of President Abbas in that regard and invited the parties to submit proposals.<\/p>\n

In a similar vein, the United Kingdom\u2019s delegate said the United States proposal reflects a genuine desire to resolve the conflict, adding that Palestinian leaders owe it to their people to give it due consideration.\u00a0 Where there is disagreement or outrage, the only path forward is dialogue, she added.\u00a0 \u201cWe must now take the first step towards negotiations; there is no other way forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Russian Federation\u2019s representative said his country\u2019s vision aligns with Arab assessments in the outcome of the 1\u00a0February meeting of the League of Arab States.\u00a0 By contrast, the United States proposal fails to reflect the core elements of an internationally recognized legal framework, as set out in the Arab Peace Initiative and countless Â鶹APP resolutions, he noted.\u00a0 What is to be done when Palestinians reject it?, he asked. \u00a0The silver lining is that the Palestinian situation, relegated for years to the back burner, is once again in the global spotlight, with the so-called \u201cdeal of the century\u201d calling attention to the need for peace in the Middle East and advocating international action to formulate a lasting settlement, he said, calling for the revival of the Middle East Quartet as an international mediator and the sole mechanism recognized by the Council for that purpose.\u00a0 The Moscow platform should be revived without preconditions, he added.<\/p>\n

South Africa\u2019s representative recalled that Nelson Mandela was released from prison 30\u00a0years ago today, and that his eventual election as President of a united and democratic South Africa demonstrated that what had once seemed intractable was solvable.\u00a0 \u201cMay this be a lesson in finding peace between Palestinians and Israelis.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tunisia\u2019s representative said that his delegation, alongside Indonesia and others, is preparing a draft resolution with a view to ending the Israeli occupation and promoting a solution to the conflict.<\/p>\n

Also delivering statements were representatives of Indonesia, China, Estonia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Viet Nam, Dominican Republic and Belgium.<\/p>\n

The meeting began at 10:09\u00a0a.m. and ended at 12:41\u00a0p.m.<\/p>\n

Opening Remarks<\/u><\/p>\n

ANT\u00d3NIO GUTERRES, Secretary-General of the Â鶹APP, expressed deep concern over instability around the globe, particularly in the Middle East, saying tensions and risks have risen to troubling levels.\u00a0 In such a volatile context, there is need for a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he emphasized, noting that it has lasted far too long.\u00a0 The position of the Â鶹APP has been defined by General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, he added, reiterating the Organization\u2019s continuing commitment to the vision of two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 lines.\u00a0 \u201cThis is the time for dialogue, for reconciliation, for reason,\u201d he stressed, urging Israeli and Palestinian leaders to demonstrate the necessary will required to advance the goal of a just and lasting peace, which the international community must support.<\/p>\n

Briefing<\/u><\/p>\n

NICKOLAY MLADENOV, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, reported that the Palestinian Authority, League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation\u00a0(OIC) have rejected the peace plan proposed by the United States on 28\u00a0January, as failing to meet the minimum rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people.\u00a0 The European Union\u2019s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy described the proposal as departing from internationally agreed parameters, while a number of African Union member States similarly rejected it during the bloc\u2019s recent summit.<\/p>\n

Noting that senior figures in the Government of Israel said they would be willing to use the proposal as the basis for direct negotiations, he said that some Member States have expressed hope that its release will offer an opportunity to bring the parties back to the negotiating table, while pointing out that \u201cthe Â鶹APP policy on this issue is defined by relevant Â鶹APP resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements\u201d.\u00a0 Since the proposal was announced, however, violent incidents have occurred throughout the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as in and around Gaza, he said, warning that escalation will only serve those seeking to radicalize people.\u00a0 \u201cAll must show restraint and unequivocally condemn violence,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n

He went on to note that senior Israeli officials vowed to unilaterally annex large portions of the West Bank, including all settlements in the Jordan Valley.\u00a0 The United States, meanwhile, announced that it will establish a joint committee with Israel to produce a more detailed version of the proposal\u2019s conceptual maps, which, in turn, would allow it to recognize any decision by Israel to apply its laws in specified areas of the West Bank.\u00a0 Underlining the Secretary-General\u2019s consistent opposition to unilateral plans, including the possible annexation of territory in the West Bank, he cautioned that such moves would close the door to negotiations, severely undermining opportunities for normalization and peace.\u00a0 However, those who reject the proposal should not turn to violence, he said, emphasizing:\u00a0 \u201cThat would be the worst possible response at this sensitive moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rather, what is needed is political leadership and serious reflection on what must be done to bring the parties back to the negotiating table, he continued.\u00a0 Recalling that the Â鶹APP has long supported a two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian based on Â鶹APP resolutions, international law and previous agreements, he said it is time to hear proposals on how to return to a mutually agreed mediation framework that ensures the resumption of meaningful negotiations.\u00a0 While it is difficult to envision a comprehensive agreement under current circumstances, \u201cwe must avoid continued entrenchment in the status quo\u201d, he emphasized, warning that continuing on the current trajectory would only push the sides further apart.<\/p>\n

Underlining that the Â鶹APP remains deeply committed to working with Israelis and Palestinians, as well as international and regional partners, to realize the objective of a lasting and just peace, he declared:\u00a0 \u201cThere is no other road to achieve this goal except through negotiations.\u201d\u00a0 There is no framework other than the one that the sides agreed together on the basis of relevant Â鶹APP resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements, he added, warning that the absence of a peace accord will drag both peoples, and the region, into a spiral with no end in sight.<\/p>\n

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

MAHMOUD ABBAS, President of the\u00a0State of Palestine<\/u>, said he was attending the Council on behalf of 13\u00a0million Palestinians to call for a just peace and reaffirm their rejection of the proposal by Israel and the United States.\u00a0 It violates international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative and annuls the very legitimacy of Palestinian rights to self-determination, freedom and independence, he said, adding that it legitimizes what is illegal:\u00a0 settlements and the annexation of Palestinian land.\u00a0 \u201cThis plan, or any part of it, should not be considered as an international reference for negotiations,\u201d he emphasized, noting that it considers East Jerusalem no longer under the sovereignty of the State of Palestine.\u00a0 \u201cThat alone is enough for us to reject this plan,\u201d he stressed, pointing out that it leaves Palestine fragmented and lacking control over its own land, air and sea; ends the question of Palestine refugees; and ends all steps towards a peace plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis plan will not bring peace or stability to the region,\u201d he reiterated, underlining that Palestinians, therefore, will not accept it and will confront its application on the ground.\u00a0 Describing a map of its terms as resembling Swiss cheese, he demanded:\u00a0 \u201cWho among you will accept a similar state and similar conditions?\u201d\u00a0 The deal entails the entrenchment of occupation and annexation by military force, he said, stressing that it only strengthens an apartheid regime, rewarding the occupation instead of holding it accountable for the crimes it perpetrated against Palestinian land and people.\u00a0 He went on to thank those who helped Palestinians support the international consensus, all Israelis who rejected the proposal, those who stood with Palestinians in the United States House of Representatives and Senate \u2014 some of whom are presidential candidates \u2014 as well as Gazans who took to the streets in rejection of the plan.\u00a0 \u201cThis deal is not just,\u201d he reiterated.\u00a0 However, peace between Israelis and Palestinians is still possible and achievable, he said, adding that his presence today was intended to build an international partnership to pursue a just, comprehensive and lasting peace \u2014 a goal to which Palestinians are committed as a strategic choice.<\/p>\n

He went on to question the unilateral drafting of the proposal, recalling that he had entered into dialogue with the President of the United States in\u00a02017 to discuss all final\u2011status issues and a two-State solution, and was assured that the United States would, in fact, declare a Palestinian State.\u00a0 He said he was surprised at the closure of the Palestine Liberation Organization\u00a0(PLO) office in Washington, D.C., the decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel\u2019s capital and the cutting of contributions to the Â鶹APP Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East\u00a0(UNRWA).\u00a0 Citing the 1991\u00a0Madrid Peace Conference, the Washington, D.C., negotiations, the 1993\u00a0Oslo Accords and the 2007\u00a0Annapolis Conference, he called for negotiations over Jerusalem.\u00a0 \u201cJerusalem is occupied land,\u201d he pointed out, demanding:\u00a0 \u201cWho has the right to give this as a gift to one State or another?\u201d<\/p>\n

Palestinians are committed to all Council resolutions and have behaved responsibly, he said, noting that 140\u00a0countries now recognize the State of Palestine.\u00a0 Palestinians are now recognized as an observer State at the Â鶹APP, have joined 120\u00a0regional and international organizations, and recently chaired the \u201cGroup of\u00a077\u201d developing countries and China.\u00a0 They continue to build their national institutions on the basis of the rule of law and within international parameters in their quest for a modern State that supports transparency and accountability, he said, urging the Council to send a fact\u2011finding mission in order to understand Palestine\u2019s fight against corruption.\u00a0 The State is also empowering women and young people, as well as spreading a culture of peace, he said, noting that it has signed protocols with 83\u00a0countries, including the United States, Canada, Russian Federation and Japan.\u00a0 \u201cWe are not terrorists,\u201d he emphasized, expressing belief in democracy.<\/p>\n

Recalling Israel\u2019s rejection of the Palestinian push to hold elections out of concern about the polls being conducted in Jerusalem, he declared:\u00a0 \u201cEast Jerusalem is ours and West Jerusalem is theirs,\u201d stressing:\u00a0 \u201cNothing prevents cooperation between both States and both capitals.\u201d\u00a0 He went on to reject criticism that Palestinians have wasted opportunities for peace, pointing to their acceptance of 87\u00a0Â鶹APP resolutions and their signing of the Oslo Accords, in which they recognize Israel.\u00a0 Palestinians have responded to all offers of dialogue yet have never been offered the bare minimum of justice, he pointed out, recalling that he personally travelled to Moscow three times.\u00a0 Israel, meanwhile, has sought to destroy every effort for peace while advancing its settlements on land occupied since\u00a01967, changing the characteristics of Jerusalem, fomenting violence against Muslim and Christian holy sites and continuing war in Gaza, he said.<\/p>\n

Criticizing the proposal further for linking economic assistance to a political settlement, he underlined that Palestinians cannot accept an economic solution before a political one.\u00a0 \u201cIf you impose peace, it will not last,\u201d he cautioned, adding:\u00a0 \u201cLet us reach peace between one another,\u201d as was done in Oslo, without outside intervention.\u00a0 Paying tribute to Israel\u2019s late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, he urged the Council and the Middle East Quartet to organize an international peace conference. \u00a0Members must uphold all resolutions, particularly resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016) and the Arab Peace Initiative, the latter of which is part of resolution\u00a01515\u00a0(2003) and establishes an international mechanism to sponsor negotiations between the two sides.<\/p>\n

He went on to stress that the United States cannot be the sole mediator and to call for pressure on Israel.\u00a0 \u201cWhat gives you the right to annex these lands?\u201d, he asked, reiterating:\u00a0 \u201cYou will destroy every opportunity for peace.\u201d\u00a0 Expressing hope of finding a real partner in Israel, he emphasized \u201cwe have to be partners\u201d and remain committed to this just choice, before it is too late.\u00a0 Palestinians are not against the Jewish people, he said, adding that their fight is against those attacking Palestinian land.\u00a0 \u201cWe will never surrender our rights,\u201d he stressed, reiterating his readiness to begin negotiations immediately with an Israeli partner who is similarly ready for peace, under the auspices of the Middle East Quartet and within internationally agreed parameters.<\/p>\n

DANNY BEN YOSEF DANON (Israel<\/u>) said that, if President Abbas is truly interested in peace, he would not be present today, but would instead have used the opportunity to start negotiations in Jerusalem or with partners in Washington, D.C.\u00a0 President Anwar Sadat did not come to New York in a time of crisis, but went to the Knesset, speaking directly to the Israeli people, he said, recalling that he listened to that speech as a child.\u00a0 All of Israel was listening and not long after that show of leadership, President Sadat and Prime Minister Menachem Begin signed a peace agreement, he said.\u00a0 However, President Abbas came to distract the international community from his unwillingness to speak to Israel, evidenced by that fact that he has met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu only once in the last decade.\u00a0 Complaining instead of leading is not leadership, he emphasized, describing his words as lip service and his call for sovereignty as a battle cry to keep the conflict alive.<\/p>\n

At the same time, more than 150\u00a0Â鶹APP resolutions have been adopted over past decades, he said, adding that voting in favour of one-sided resolutions only encourages the behaviour of President Abbas.\u00a0 Citing previous agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, he recalled that they agreed a border would only be determined through bilateral negotiations, and not what has been called for regarding the pre-1967 lines.\u00a0 He went on to state that, when President Abbas feels there is no reason for compromise, it makes peace an ever more impossible goal.\u00a0 Instead, the international community should focus on bringing both sides to the negotiating table, he said.\u00a0 Indeed, it is time to reconsider the international community\u2019s approach because the current strategy is not working and all previous attempts have failed, he added.<\/p>\n

President Trump\u2019s proposal takes a sane, new approach to resolving the conflict, he said, noting that the plan refuses to accept failed concepts from previous peace plans dating back more than 70\u00a0years.\u00a0 Taking a new approach represents a pragmatic way to resolve a chronic problem, he said, adding that the spirit of the proposal represents the need for such a new approach, with its drafters recommending that it serve as a starting point for negotiations.\u00a0 However, President Abbas is not committed to finding a realistic solution, he said, emphasizing that there will be no progress if President Abbas continues to choose rejectionism.\u00a0 Only when he steps down can Israelis and Palestinians start negotiating, he added.\u00a0 For its part, Israel remains determined to fight for peace and is willing to negotiate, despite the consistent refusal of President Abbas to do so, he said, urging the Council to advise him that speeches at the Â鶹APP cannot replace direct negotiations.<\/p>\n

TAREK LADEB (Tunisia<\/u>) said that, at the present critical juncture, amid violence and a stalled peace process, the Council must play its role of advancing a settlement through a two-State solution.\u00a0 With Indonesia and other actors, Tunisia is preparing a draft resolution with a view to ending the Israeli occupation and promoting a solution to the conflict, he said.\u00a0 Yet, the occupying Power continues to violate international law through blockades, collective punishment and annexation plans, he added, emphasizing that Israel must end such policies, which only fuel violence and threaten the prospects for peace.\u00a0 The international community must adopt a unified position and reject the violations, he said, stressing that restoring peace and stability in the region is contingent upon Israel ending its occupation of Arab territory and complying with relevant resolutions.<\/p>\n

DIAN TRIANSYAH DJANI (Indonesia<\/u>) said his country\u2019s position on the question of Palestine is guided by the Bandung Principles \u2014 adopted at the 1955\u00a0Bandung Conference \u2014 in which representatives of Asian and African countries expressed support for the independence of Palestine.\u00a0 Reaffirming that a two-State solution is in accordance with international law and based on internationally agreed parameters, he warned that the occupying Power\u2019s measures to change the demographic character of the Occupied Palestinian Territory will only imperil the viability of the two-State formula and jeopardize the pursuit of peace.\u00a0 He went on to stress the need for credible multilateral negotiations, calling for early resumption of talks on the question of Palestine and reaffirming the importance of dialogue among the relevant parties, under the multilateral framework, and guided by the internationally agreed parameters.<\/p>\n

DIAN TRIANSYAH DJANI (Indonesia<\/u>) said his country\u2019s position on the question of Palestine is guided by the Bandung Principles \u2014 adopted at the 1955\u00a0Bandung Conference \u2014 in which representatives of Asian and African countries expressed support for the independence of Palestine.\u00a0 Reaffirming that a two-State solution is in accordance with international law and based on internationally agreed parameters, he warned that the occupying Power\u2019s measures to change the demographic character of the Occupied Palestinian Territory will only imperil the viability of the two-State formula and jeopardize the pursuit of peace.\u00a0 He went on to stress the need for credible multilateral negotiations, calling for early resumption of talks on the question of Palestine and reaffirming the importance of dialogue among the relevant parties, under the multilateral framework, and guided by the internationally agreed parameters.<\/p>\n

KELLY CRAFT (United States<\/u>), pointing out that none of the resolutions addressing the question of Palestine has led to a just and lasting peace, said the United States proposal challenges the status quo.\u00a0 \u201cI heard you speak of hope,\u201d she said to President Abbas, noting that, to keep hope alive, there must be willingness to compromise.\u00a0 It is time for a new conversation, she said, emphasizing that the United States is not here to lecture or to tell people how to live.\u00a0 It is here to offer partnership based on shared interest and values.\u00a0 Stressing that real peace is based on real experiences of security, economic opportunity and freedom, she questioned whether documents filled with high-level principles will ever lead to dignity.\u00a0 Lasting peace is intrinsic to the 28\u00a0January plan, she said, describing its vision as specific and realistic.\u00a0 Israel\u2019s acceptance of the proposal represents a historic step towards the creation of a Palestinian State with its capital in East Jerusalem, she added, emphasizing that the plan also respects Jordan\u2019s role in ensuring the ability of Muslims to worship at Al\u2011Aqsa Mosque.<\/p>\n

She went on to state that the proposed plan offers realistic prospects for a self-governing and fully recognized Palestinian State, and more broadly, recognizes that a political solution to the conflict is not enough.\u00a0 It proposes historic levels of economic investment in a Palestinian future \u2014 more than $50\u00a0billion \u2014 to reverse the cycle of poverty that has trapped Palestinians for decades, she said.\u00a0 In laying the foundations for economic opportunity, the plan outlines a blueprint for a flourishing Palestinian State, she added.\u00a0 It is implementable, she emphasized.\u00a0 Disputing claims that it is a \u201ctake\u2011it\u2011or\u2011leave\u2011it\u201d proposition, she said that, rather, the plan represents the start of a conversation, underlining that the United States supports all efforts to begin that conversation.\u00a0 Expressing support for Israel, she similarly made clear that the United States stands by the Palestinian people and supports their will for themselves and for their children.\u00a0 She encouraged Palestinian leaders to see the plan for the opportunity it is and to begin a new conversation with Israel.<\/p>\n

NICOLAS DE RIVI\u00c8RE (France<\/u>) emphasized that international law and Security Council resolutions are not merely options that Member States can choose to embrace or abandon.\u00a0 In the absence of efforts to advance a two-State solution, the political vacuum and the deteriorating situation on the ground threaten to dash the hopes of new generations and risks fostering radicalization among young Palestinians, he warned.\u00a0 He went on to underline the importance of security guarantees for Israel, while stressing that peace negotiations must begin immediately.\u00a0 The United States plan was the fruit of months-long efforts, and action must be taken to relaunch the political process, with the involvement of both parties and their partners.\u00a0 Emphasizing that a solution cannot come from unilateral decisions, he said the proposal by President Abbas to establish a multilateral mechanism for the relaunch of negotiations warrants close consideration.\u00a0 Calling upon the parties to create suitable conditions for dialogue, he said all sides must stop the violence, emphasizing the need to end settlement activity, as well as any unilateral actions contravening international law.\u00a0 He went on to caution against any annexation plans in the West Bank, emphasizing that France remains committed to restarting the peace process, with the Security Council and the Â鶹APP playing their respective roles in that regard.<\/p>\n

ZHANG JUN (China<\/u>) said political means and a start to dialogue are the only way to advance peace, with due consideration for the views of the major parties.\u00a0 Expressing support for efforts by Indonesia and Tunisia, he said the Council must base its work on resolutions adopted in the past and call upon the parties to abide by them.\u00a0 He went on to state that China is highly concerned about the economic and humanitarian conditions, calling upon all parties to fully implement all relevant resolutions, including by lifting the blockade on the Gaza Strip.\u00a0 In addition, the international community must increase its contributions to UNRWA and provide inputs for economic reconstruction.<\/p>\n

SVEN J\u00dcRGENSON (Estonia<\/u>) welcomed all efforts to find a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, emphasizing that the European Union and the United States must work as closely as possible on that complex global issue.\u00a0 Estonia urges Israel and the Palestinians to take steps towards a resumption of negotiations to resolve all permanent status issues related to borders, Jerusalem, security and the refugee question, he said, emphasizing that direct talks between the two sides are the only way to reach lasting peace. \u00a0Estonia is committed to a negotiated two-State solution that meets the needs of both sides for security, as well as Palestinian aspirations for statehood, based on the pre\u20111967\u00a0lines, he emphasized, urging all parties to refrain from unilateral actions, while expressing concern over Israel\u2019s settlement activity.<\/p>\n

INGA RHONDA KING (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines<\/u>) said that an essential contribution that small countries like her own can make is to advocate tirelessly for the timeless principles enshrined in international law.\u00a0 Expressing deep concern about attempts to deviate from the settled parameters governing the delicate quest for peace between Israel and Palestine, she emphasized that any measures aimed at altering the legal, geographic and demographic character and status of Jerusalem, and of the Occupied Palestinian Territory as a whole, are null and void.\u00a0 While acknowledging the ongoing efforts by the United States to reinvigorate the peace process, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines remains committed to supporting the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including to self\u2011determination, and for a two-State solution based on the pre-1967 borders, she stressed.<\/p>\n

DANG DINH QUY (Viet Nam<\/u>) reaffirmed his delegation\u2019s support for the inalienable rights of Palestinians and its strong support for a two-State solution entailing a sovereign Palestinian State, the borders of which are enshrined in Â鶹APP resolutions, existing peacefully alongside Israel in mutual recognition.\u00a0 However, he expressed concern about Israel\u2019s settlement activities and calls for annexing Palestinian territory, instead supporting a just and comprehensive negotiated settlement based on international law and relevant Â鶹APP resolutions, particularly resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016).\u00a0 He went on to caution against any actions that could further complicate the situation and welcomed all efforts to re-start the Middle East peace process on the basis of international law.<\/p>\n

JUERGEN SCHULZ (Germany<\/u>) expressed his delegation\u2019s commitment to a negotiated two-State solution along the pre-1967 lines and with Jerusalem as the future capital of both Israel and an independent, contiguous viable State of Palestine.\u00a0 Unilateral actions and the creation of facts on the ground to impose certain outcomes will not result in a just and lasting settlement, nor lead to peace and security, he warned, emphasizing that questions of borders, Jerusalem, security and refugees must be resolved through direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.\u00a0 He urged the parties to refrain from measures that could undermine the viability of a two-State solution.\u00a0 Noting that the proposal by the United States departs from the internationally agreed parameters regarding Jerusalem, borders and settlements, he stressed that the absence of direct negotiations is a source of frustration \u2014 for Israelis and Palestinians first and foremost.\u00a0 However, Germany welcomes fresh thinking to revive the political process, he said, emphasizing that any viable proposal must be accepted by both parties.\u00a0 The outline for talks contained in the United States proposal merits consideration because reviving a multilateral format would allow for the elaboration of proposals that could then create an environment suitable for reviving genuine negotiations, he said.\u00a0 Noting the ideas of President Abbas in that regard, he invited the parties to submit proposals, urging them, as well as relevant regional actors, to demonstrate commitment to a negotiated solution.\u00a0 Adherence to the United States proposal for an immediate temporary halt to settlement\u2011expansion would be an important step to advance peace and respect Council resolutions, he noted, while expressing concern about Israel\u2019s plans to annex Palestinian territory, in violation of international law, and cautioning against any such steps.\u00a0 Germany will continue to distinguish between Israel and land occupied since\u00a01967, he stressed.\u00a0 He went on to call for free and fair Palestinian elections while pressing both Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad to stop launching rockets into Israel.<\/p>\n

XOLISA MFUNDISO MABHONGO (South Africa<\/u>), recalling that the Security Council held its first meeting on the question of Palestine on 9\u00a0December\u00a01947, said that, unfortunately, there has been no progress since.\u00a0 Noting that the recently proposed initiative does not consider the substantive views and aspirations of the Palestinian people, he emphasized that lasting peace and stability can be achieved only through initiatives developed with the full participation of all parties, specifically Palestinians themselves.\u00a0 The Council must support the necessary environment for Israel and Palestine to come together, he said, stressing that peace initiatives must conform to internationally endorsed terms of reference and agreed parameters.\u00a0 Nelson Mandela was released from prison 30\u00a0years ago today, he recalled, stressing that his eventual election as President of a united and democratic South Africa demonstrated that what had once seemed intractable could be solved.\u00a0 \u201cMay this be a lesson in finding peace between Palestinians and Israelis,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

KAREN PIERCE (United Kingdom<\/u>) said the current political vacuum will only continue to fuel violence and extremism.\u00a0 Palestinians deserve self-determination and Israelis deserve security, she noted, emphasizing that finding a path towards negotiations remains the only way forward after a decade-long impasse.\u00a0 The United States has proposed to break the deadlock, reflecting a genuine desire to resolve the conflict, she said, stressing that Palestinian leaders owe it to their people to give the plan due consideration.\u00a0 Noting that President Abbas has expressed serious reservations, she emphasized that, where there is disagreement or outrage, dialogue is the only path forward.\u00a0 With the United States plan on the table, the United Kingdom anticipates that the Palestinians will offer talks or counter\u2011plans, she added.\u00a0 However, unilateral actions by either party \u2014 including annexation plans and any changes to the status quo \u2014 are unacceptable and cannot be taken forward without agreement among the parties themselves, she stressed.\u00a0 \u201cWe must now take the first step towards negotiations; there is no other way forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

JOS\u00c9 SINGER WEISINGER (Dominican Republic<\/u>) said international law must be respected to ensure peace, justice and development for all nations.\u00a0 Calling for a just resolution of the conflict, he reaffirmed his delegation\u2019s support for the two-State approach.\u00a0 Reconciliation efforts must be redoubled to guarantee the inalienable rights of Palestinians to self-determination, as well as the rights of Israelis to live in safety, he said, emphasizing that there is no need to pass new resolutions or revisit ground already covered.\u00a0 Previous bilateral agreements exist between Israel and Palestine, he added.\u00a0 Meanwhile, collective international action must help overcome the impasse until constructive dialogue resumes.<\/p>\n

VASSILY A. NEBENZIA (Russian Federation<\/u>) expressed his country\u2019s continuing for a just solution to the Palestinian question on the basis of relevant Â鶹APP resolutions, the Madrid Principles and the Arab Peace Initiative, all of which call for the creation of a contiguous Palestinian State within the pre-1967 borders, existing peacefully alongside Israel and with East Jerusalem as its capital.\u00a0 The Russian vision aligns with Arab assessments in the outcome of the 1\u00a0February meeting of the League of Arab States, he added, pointing out that the United States proposal fails to reflect the core elements of an internationally recognized legal framework, as set out in the Arab Peace Initiative and countless Â鶹APP resolutions.\u00a0 What is to be done when Palestinians reject it?, he asked.\u00a0 The silver lining is that the Palestinian situation, for years relegated to the back burner, is once again in the global spotlight, with the so-called \u201cdeal of the century\u201d calling attention to the need for peace in the Middle East and advocating international action to formulate a lasting settlement.\u00a0 Calling for the revival of the Middle East Quartet as an international mediator \u2014 and the sole mechanism recognized by the Council for that purpose \u2014 he said the Russian Federation is ready to work with Israel, Arab partners and others to facilitate a compromise.\u00a0 He added that the Moscow platform should be revived without preconditions.<\/p>\n

MARC PECSTEEN DE BUYTSWERVE (Belgium<\/u>), Council President for February, spoke in his national capacity, emphasizing the need to renew international efforts for a lasting peace.\u00a0 There is no alternative to forging a credible negotiation process within the framework of international law and Security Council resolutions, he said.\u00a0 Recalling that the international community has ratified the parameters, notably those relating to borders, he said Israel\u2019s settlement\u2011building represents a growing risk to the two-formula and there must be efforts to end it.\u00a0 He went on to stress that any annexation would violate international law and the European Union will not be able to recognize changes to the pre-1967 borders unless the parties accepted them beforehand. \u00a0The status of Jerusalem as the future capital of both States must be negotiated, he added. \u00a0Any peace plan must respect Palestinian sovereignty, as well as Israel\u2019s need for safety, precluding the prospects for terrorism.<\/p>\n

AHMED ABOUL GHEIT, Secretary-General of the\u00a0League of Arab States<\/u>, said the collective decision to reject the United States peace plan reflects due consideration of the matter.\u00a0 International law remains on the side of the Palestinian people, who are calling for the international community\u2019s recognition of justice.\u00a0 Direct negotiations are of vital importance, but have yet to lead to peace, he noted.\u00a0 Measures proposed in the United States plan will impact many issues that should be addressed through negotiations and benefit only the Israeli side, he said, adding that, whereas the \u201cblueprint\u201d was presented as the \u201cfruit\u201d of negotiations, it excludes the Palestinians and seems to imply that the plan will be imposed on them.<\/p>\n

In fact, the plan appears to have been drafted with the idea of having it rejected by Palestine and the world, he said, adding that it also has new parameters \u2014 granting land, settlements and Jerusalem to Israel, while not proposing a realistic two-State solution.\u00a0 Instead, he noted, it seems to propose the creation of a single State with two categories of citizens: those with and those without rights.\u00a0 \u201cThis is shameful,\u201d he said, pointing out that the international community would be accepting another type of apartheid, and in the Holy Land, no less.\u00a0 The League of Arab States already has a peace plan, he continued, describing the 2002\u00a0Arab Peace Initiative strategy as a viable proposal that is subject to negotiations.\u00a0 By contrast, the United States plan undermines the idea of negotiations whereas it should, in fact, have been the fruit of discussions.<\/p>\n

It appears there cannot be peace unless one party admits defeat and submits, he continued, suggesting that perhaps today\u2019s power struggles allow such ideas to surface.\u00a0 What is needed is for the international community to safeguard its own credibility and principles that recognize agreed parameters for negotiations dating back to the Oslo Accords, he said.\u00a0 He concluded by stating that he was appalled today upon hearing a call to exclude President Abbas from negotiations on the grounds that he is not a good dialogue partner.\u00a0 Underlining that the question is not about any individual, he recalled that the same type of characterization was made about another Palestinian President 15\u00a0years ago.<\/p>\n

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

SC\/14103 11 FEBRUARY 2020 Video Fran\u00e7ais Palestinian Leader\u2019s Presence a ‘Distraction\u2019,\u00a0Says Israel, as Arab League Warns against \u2018Another Type of Apartheid\u2019 in Holy Land The Palestinian Authority, as well as the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation\u00a0(OIC), have all rejected the peace plan proposed by the United States on 28\u00a0January as […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":172,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"template-page.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[2553],"document-category":[2433,1329,3745,4389],"document-source":[5352,1362,6169,1877],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[6156,1813,1749,1905,1626],"entity":[5343,1729],"document-language":[6542,6541],"class_list":["post-232133","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","country-united-states-of-america","document-category-french-text","document-category-press-release","document-category-voting-record","document-category-webcast","document-source-secretary-general","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-agenda-item","document-subject-middle-east-situation","document-subject-palestine-question","document-subject-peace-proposals-and-efforts","document-subject-security-council-briefings","entity-palestine-plo-palestinian-authority","entity-united-nations-system","document-language-english","document-language-french"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/232133","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/document"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/172"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/232133\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=232133"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=232133"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=232133"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=232133"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=232133"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=232133"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=232133"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=232133"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}