video part II<\/a><\/p>\nDelegates Welcome Recent Meeting between Palestinian President, Israeli Minister<\/h4>\n
Eight months after a fragile ceasefire ended full-scale fighting in the Gaza Strip, the senior Â鶹APP official for the Middle East peace process told the Security Council that the situation is once again characterized by daily clashes and rising tensions, as he warned delegates against piecemeal approaches and diplomatic \u201chalf measures\u201d that will only let the conflict fester further.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout a realistic prospect of an end to the occupation and the realization of a two-State solution \u2026 it is only a matter of time before we face an irreversible, dangerous collapse and widespread instability,\u201d said Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, during the 15-member Council\u2019s open debate.\u00a0 Noting the deterioration of the Occupied Palestinian Territory\u2019s economic, security and political situations, he outlined recent, near-daily instances of violence, as well as continued Israeli settlement expansion, evictions of Palestinians and home demolitions \u2014 all of which feed hopelessness and diminish the prospects of peace.<\/p>\n
In a positive development, he recalled that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz for the second time in four months, on 28\u00a0December 2021.\u00a0 Significant steps followed, with Israel announcing its decision to update the registration of some 9,500\u00a0Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza and to issue an advance against clearance revenues Israel collects on the Palestinian Authority\u2019s behalf.\u00a0 Welcoming those steps and the ongoing high-level engagement, he urged both sides to expand their cooperation to include underlying political issues.\u00a0 Meanwhile, he voiced concern over the Palestinian Authority\u2019s dire fiscal situation, calling for political and economic reforms that would ensure its effective functioning and boost donor confidence.<\/p>\n
Joining Mr.\u00a0Wennesland in briefing the Council were the co-directors of EcoPeace Middle East, a regional peacebuilding organization working on environmental cooperation.\u00a0 Nada Majdalani, the group\u2019s Palestinian Director, described the experience of children growing up in Gaza amid water shortages, cold nights with no electricity and 15\u00a0years of economic blockade.\u00a0 Noting that those challenges are only being compounded by climate change, she said EcoPeace advocates for a \u201cGreen Blue Deal\u201d in the Middle East, which would provide for positive diplomatic cooperation in one of the world\u2019s most water-scarce regions.\u00a0 Outlining successes already registered by the programme, she cautioned that the international community\u2019s continued failure to act will only deepen water and food insecurity, as well as Palestinians\u2019 poverty and frustration.<\/p>\n
Gidon Bromberg, EcoPeace\u2019s co-founder and Israel Director, said Israel\u2019s leadership in the water sector, the dire impact of the climate crisis on Palestinian freshwater availability and the new coalition Government in Israel all combine to create a unique context with opportunities for conflict resolution and trust building.\u00a0 Indeed, Governments must act cooperatively on water issues, rather than holding water issues hostage to the politics of final status.\u00a0 Noting that the current status quo threatens water security and public health, he said Israel has reached out to the Palestinian Authority with the aim of expanding cooperation in the environment and water sectors.\u00a0 Against that backdrop, the Council should embrace a climate resilience perspective and call on the parties to agree on new arrangements for natural water allocation and pollution control.<\/p>\n
Riad Malaki, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine, focused his intervention on the broader history of his people suffering under the Israeli occupation, while describing 2021 as one of the deadliest years for Palestinians in over a decade.\u00a0 The early days of 2022 have been similarly bleak amid numerous deaths at the hands of Israeli forces.\u00a0 Urging the international community to save the prospects of a two-State solution, he warned that \u201cleaving the parties alone means leaving the steering wheel in the hands of extremist Israeli settlers\u201d.\u00a0 The Council must uphold its own resolutions, and every State can help advance peace by supporting action and not apartheid, he stressed.<\/p>\n
Israel\u2019s representative, meanwhile, expressed regret that \u201cthe same old falsehoods and the same old hypocrisy\u201d are being voiced, with the Palestinian leadership failing to condemn terrorism constantly carried out in its name.\u00a0 Israel, a country with a robust legal system and zero tolerance for violence or terror, continues to be blamed by the international community, while Palestinian terror is whitewashed.\u00a0 Citing a successful water-for-energy deal struck between Israel, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, he said such progress shows that regional cooperation \u2014 especially around environmental matters \u2014 is indeed possible.\u00a0 Sadly, Palestinian leaders have shown that they have other priorities, he said, adding that the Council\u2019s own discussions should become more balanced and better reflect the real threats to peace and stability in the region.<\/p>\n
Throughout the ensuing debate, Council members and non-members took the floor to voice their views on both the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and more recent developments.\u00a0 Several praised the 28\u00a0December diplomatic meeting between President Abbas and Defence Minister Gantz, calling on the parties to build upon it, while in contrast others issued dire warnings that the situation on the ground was rapidly worsening.\u00a0 Many speakers also condemned a 17\u00a0January missile attack on the United Arab Emirates \u2014 which was claimed by the Yemeni group Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis \u2014 that killed three people and caused a fire near the Abu Dhabi airport.<\/p>\n
Anniken Huitfeldt, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Norway and Council President for January, said in her national capacity that civilian protection, respect for human rights and a vibrant civil society in Palestine are crucial.\u00a0 Welcoming Israel\u2019s willingness to adjust its policies in Gaza, she called for an immediate end to the eviction of Palestinian families and urged Israel to also revise policies and actions that weaken the Palestinian Authority and the economy.\u00a0 She further praised the normalization of relations between Israel and several Arab States, adding that the Palestinians must also benefit from that process.<\/p>\n
The representative of India, reiterating his country\u2019s support for a two-State solution leading to the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine, voiced deep concern over recent events in the West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza, where attacks on civilians have increased and new settlements have been announced.\u00a0 India has consistently called for direct peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine based on the internationally agreed framework, he said, urging the Â鶹APP and the Middle East Quartet to prioritize the revival of such negotiations.<\/p>\n
Kenya\u2019s delegate, echoing the urgent need for dialogue to facilitate a negotiated peaceful settlement, said his country looks forward to the implementation of practical outcomes from the 28\u00a0December meeting between Defence Minister Gantz and President Abbas, \u201cthe second one in the same year after a decade of no top-level meetings between both parties\u201d.\u00a0 Against that backdrop, he also called for the cessation of Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, including those posing a risk to the territorial contiguity of a viable Palestinian State.<\/p>\n
Also on the question of settlements, the representative of Egypt, speaking on behalf of the Arab Group, recalled that December 2021 marked five years since the adoption of resolution 2334 (2016) which reaffirmed the illegality of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.\u00a0 Nonetheless, Israeli settlements continue to expand, with Palestinian homes and structures \u2014 including those funded by donors \u2014 demolished and unarmed Palestinians killed.\u00a0 He joined other speakers in condemning the targeting of civilians and their infrastructure by terrorist Houthi militias in the United Arab Emirates and pressed the international community to stand united in confronting this threat.<\/p>\n
On that matter, the representative of the United Arab Emirates condemned attempts by the Houthis to spread chaos in the Middle East.\u00a0 Spotlighting the need to actively counter terrorism and end the region\u2019s crises and conflicts, she reiterated her country\u2019s support for the right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent and sovereign Palestinian State and called for an end to all illegal practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.\u00a0 Escalation must be prevented, the latest ceasefire must be maintained, and a credible peace process must be urgently relaunched, she stressed.<\/p>\n
Also speaking were Government ministers and representatives from Ghana, United States, Russian Federation, China, Ireland, Brazil, Mexico, Albania, France, United Kingdom, Gabon, Hungary, Morocco, Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Cuba, Syria, Indonesia, Malaysia, Argentina, Chile, Bahrain, Japan, Kuwait and South Africa.<\/p>\n
Observers for the League of Arab States and the European Union also participated, as did the Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.<\/p>\n
The meeting began at 10:09\u00a0a.m., suspended at 1:27\u00a0p.m., resumed at 3:04\u00a0p.m. and ended at 4:21\u00a0p.m.<\/p>\n
Briefings<\/u><\/p>\n
TOR WENNESLAND, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, expressed regret that the deterioration of the economic, security and political situation across the Occupied Palestinian Territory had continued since his last briefing.\u00a0 \u201cUrgent steps are required to prevent the situation from worsening,\u201d he said, noting that the Palestinian Authority\u2019s fiscal situation remains dire, threatening its institutional stability and its ability to provide services to its people. \u00a0Violence, including settler violence, also continues unabated, leading to numerous Palestinian and Israeli casualties and increasing the risk of a broader escalation. \u00a0Meanwhile, settlement activity, demolitions and evictions continue, feeding hopelessness and further diminishing prospects for a negotiated solution.<\/p>\n
Warning against piecemeal approaches and half measures, which will only allow the conflict to fester, he said unilateral steps and conflict drivers must stop. \u00a0Political and economic reforms must be implemented to ensure the Palestinian Authority\u2019s continued ability to function effectively, while boosting donor confidence and support. \u00a0Above all, efforts by the parties and the international community to stabilize and improve conditions on the ground should be linked to a political framework.\u00a0 \u201cWithout a realistic prospect of an end to the occupation and the realization of a two-State solution \u2026 it is only a matter of time before we face an irreversible, dangerous collapse and widespread instability,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Outlining daily violence that continued throughout the reporting period, he said that, on 29\u00a0December, a Palestinian opened fired towards the Gaza perimeter fence, injuring an Israeli civilian. \u00a0In retaliation, Israeli forces fired several tank shells at what they said were Hamas observation posts in the northern Gaza Strip. \u00a0Four Palestinian civilians were reportedly injured, including a 16-year-old boy.\u00a0 In the occupied West Bank, six Palestinian men were killed by Israeli security forces and another died in unclear circumstances, amid demonstrations, clashes, search-and-arrest operations and other incidents, and 249\u00a0Palestinians were injured.\u00a0 In all, Palestinians perpetrated 89\u00a0attacks against Israeli settlers and other civilians, resulting in 15\u00a0Israeli civilians injured and damage to property.<\/p>\n
Settler-related violence also remained a serious concern, he said, noting that 156\u00a0Palestinians were injured by Israeli forces from 23\u00a0to 25\u00a0December in confrontations that erupted in and around the town of Burqa.\u00a0 The incident occurred after settlers repeatedly raided the village, vandalized property and clashed with residents.\u00a0 Israeli authorities postponed discussions on plans for some 3,500\u00a0housing units in the controversial E1 area in the West Bank, while also publishing tenders for some 300\u00a0settlement housing units in occupied East Jerusalem. \u00a0Noting that all settlements are illegal under international law and constitute an obstacle to peace, he called on the Government of Israel to cease the advancement of all settlement activity immediately, adding that continued evictions of Palestinians and home demolitions \u2014 including from the Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighbourhoods of East Jerusalem \u2014 pose the risk of escalating violence.<\/p>\n
On political developments, he recalled that, on 28\u00a0December, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz for the second time in four months. \u00a0Following the meeting, Israel announced several measures, including updating the registration of some 9,500\u00a0Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, an advance of 100\u00a0million Israeli Shekels against clearance revenues Israel collects on the Palestinian Authority\u2019s behalf, as well as additional entry permits for Palestinian officials and businesspeople.\u00a0 Welcoming those steps and the ongoing high-level engagement, he urged both sides to continue and expand their cooperation to encompass underlying political issues.<\/p>\n
He noted that, on 27\u00a0December, Qatar announced that it had signed an agreement with the Palestinian Authority and the Gaza Electricity Distribution Corporation to advance construction of a natural gas pipeline from Israel to Gaza. \u00a0The pipeline aims to reduce costs and increase efficiency and electricity generation at the Gaza Power Plant. \u00a0Urging all parties to facilitate implementation of that important project, he went on to note that the Â鶹APP Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) was able to sustain its critical services during the reporting period thanks to exceptional financial contributions and an advance on 2022 contributions, among other donor support.\u00a0 However, the Agency still faces a serious financial existential threat and requires additional support in 2022.<\/p>\n
NADA MAJDALANI, Palestinian Director of\u00a0EcoPeace Middle East<\/u>, described the helplessness of parents as children continue to be impacted by this week’s flash floods in the Gaza Strip.\u00a0 \u201cChildren my daughter\u2019s age in Gaza are growing up in a reality that no child in the world should experience,\u201d she said, also citing water shortages, cold nights without electricity or fuel, wars and close to 15\u00a0years of economic blockade.\u00a0 Those challenges are only compounded by the reality of climate change, she said, noting that her organization\u2019s call for a \u201cGreen Blue Deal in the Middle East\u201d could turn the region from a source of disturbing news into a recognized positive model for climate diplomacy and cooperation.\u00a0 The proposed plan would create regional linkages and healthy interdependencies through the exchange of renewable energy and water.<\/p>\n
Outlining successes made thanks to the Governments supporting that work \u2014 including Sweden, the United States, Germany and others \u2014 she described the training of young leaders, outreach to some 40,000\u00a0students and the development of a renowned virtual reality platform on water diplomacy. \u00a0That simulation programme benefits decision makers, activists and journalists, facilitating \u201csecond track discussions\u201d on water and energy security. \u00a0Meanwhile, EcoPeace\u2019s impact investment programme is supporting several green businesses, all led by local entrepreneurs, and has helped raised some $500\u00a0million in investments for Jordanian and Palestinian water and sanitation projects.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe water crisis in Palestine is due to the political conflict, poor infrastructure, internal management issues, and now climate change,\u201d she continued.\u00a0 Noting that many communities subsist on as little as 30\u00a0litres of water per person per day, she said families are often forced to purchase water from trucks at prices 10\u00a0to 20\u00a0times higher than that of municipal water, leaving very little money for food and other basic needs.\u00a0 Water issues \u2014 together with refugees, borders, settlements and the status of Jerusalem \u2014 remain to be resolved as a single package, she said, adding that failure to act will only deepen water and food insecurity, as well as Palestinians\u2019 poverty and frustration.\u00a0 Calling on the Council to consider the Green Blue Deal proposal, she added that climate issues must be seen as an integral part of the Middle East peace process.<\/p>\n
GIDON BROMBERG, co-founder and Israel Director,\u00a0EcoPeace Middle East<\/u>, said Israel\u2019s leadership in the water sector, the dire impact of the climate crisis on Palestinian freshwater availability and the new coalition Government in Israel, all combine to create a unique context in which decisions could be taken towards conflict resolution, cooperation and trust building in the water and climate sectors. \u00a0With that in mind, he highlighted the EcoPeace\u00a0Green Blue Deal<\/em>\u00a0report, which calls on the Governments to act cooperatively on water issues under a climate crisis paradigm, rather than continuing to hold water issues hostage to the politics of final status.<\/p>\nNoting that the status quo threatens water security and public health, he said conflict-related sanitation crisis in the West Bank and Gaza threatens the gains that have been made. \u00a0In the West Bank, over 60\u00a0million cubic metres of Palestinian sourced raw and poorly treated sewage is released annually into the environment, while sewage from Gaza released into the Mediterranean leads to the intermittent closure of Israel\u2019s southernmost desalination plants, directly impacting its water supply.\u00a0 The combination of conflict, internal management issues and the climate crisis, is significantly contributing to Palestinian water insecurity, loss of livelihood and animosity towards Israel.<\/p>\n
Coalition partners in Israel have reached out to the Palestinian Authority with a desire to increase cooperation in the environment and water sectors, he continued. \u00a0Israel also has expressed interest in working with the United States in the global fight against climate change, and most recently, created a National Climate Forum.\u00a0 Against this backdrop, he urged the Council and relevant Â鶹APP agencies to embrace a climate resilience perspective and call on the parties to agree on new arrangements for natural water allocation and pollution control. \u00a0He invited foreign ministers to create a \u201ccoalition of the willing\u201d to advance a Green Blue Deal of climate resilience in the Middle East. \u00a0He also called on the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum to widen its mandate to include renewable energy and climate concerns, and the Security Council itself to recognize that climate change is a \u201cthreat to peace\u201d within the meaning of Article 39 of the Charter of the Â鶹APP.<\/p>\n
RIAD AL-MALKI, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the\u00a0State of Palestine<\/u>, said that today before dawn, Israel\u2019s forces raided the Salhiye family house in Sheikh Jarrah, violently uprooting them and arresting several family members and supporters. \u00a0\u201cThe Salhiye family, forcibly displaced in 1948, is displaced once again,\u201d he said, stressing that Israel can rely on the fact while there will be condemnations, there will be no consequences.\u00a0 \u201cYou want to help us end this conflict, end Israeli impunity.\u201d\u00a0 Indeed, bias favouring Israel has prevented the Council from acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the Â鶹APP.\u00a0 It has allowed Israel to accuse even its closest partners of anti-Semitism for passing resolutions rooted in international law, and enabled Israel to become a Member of the Â鶹APP while, 75\u00a0years later, Palestinians have yet to gain that status.<\/p>\n
In contrast, he said 2021 was among the deadliest years for Palestinians in over a decade, particularly in Gaza.\u00a0 The early days of 2022 offer a similarly bleak picture, marked by the killing of Sheikh Suleiman Al-Hazaleen, the 80-year-old icon of peaceful resistance.\u00a0 \u201cThe Palestinian people are here to stay,\u201d he assured, urging the Council provide them with the international protection they are entitled to and help them end the colonial occupation now.\u00a0 He pressed the international community to save the two-State solution, warning that \u201cleaving the parties alone means leaving the steering wheel in the hands of extremist Israeli settlers\u201d.<\/p>\n
Resolutions, including resolution 2334 (2016), offer the only path to peace, he insisted, underscoring the Council\u2019s duty to pursue implementation of its own instruments.\u00a0 And while the new United States Administration has reversed several of the unlawful policies of its predecessor, it has yet to ensure that Israel renounces its colonial practices and abandons its rejection of the two-State solution.\u00a0 The Middle East Quartet also has a responsibility in this regard, and he echoed a call by the Russian Federation for it to convene at the ministerial level as soon as possible.\u00a0 In parallel, every State can help advance peace by upholding its own obligations in line with international law, including those of distinction between Israel and the territories it has occupied since 1967, non-recognition and non-assistance to illegal actions and policies. \u00a0\u201cThis is a time for action,\u201d he said. \u00a0\u201cNot apartheid.\u201d<\/p>\n
GILAD MENASHE ERDAN (Israel<\/u>) recalled that, a year ago, he voiced his hope that the Council\u2019s discussions on the Middle East would become more balanced and reflect the real threats to peace and stability in the region.\u00a0 However, today he is unfortunately forced to express that wish as the threat posed by the Iranian regime continues. \u00a0\u201cThe same old falsehoods and the same old hypocrisy\u201d are meanwhile expressed in the Council Chamber.\u00a0 Indeed, even as the Palestinian Minister points his finger at Israel, he fails to acknowledge that more than 100\u00a0terror attacks were carried out by Palestinians against Israeli civilians in just the last month.<\/p>\n
Holding up a large rock, he said almost nothing is mentioned in the Council about attacks committed daily by Palestinians with rocks, which are used directly against human bodies or thrown into car windshields.\u00a0 Palestinian authorities never condemn such attacks, he said, asking: \u00a0\u201cWhere is the voice of the Palestinian Authority against violence?\u201d\u00a0 Instead, Palestine\u2019s leaders honour and glorify terrorists, sending the clear message that terror pays.\u00a0 In contrast, the Government of Israel condemns violence, launches credible investigations and holds the perpetrators of attacks accountable. \u00a0Nevertheless, Israel, a country with a robust legal system and zero tolerance for violence or terror, continues to be blamed by the international community, while Palestinian terror is whitewashed.<\/p>\n
He stressed that it is not too late for the Council to make 2022 be the year it no longer allows Palestinian attacks, and when the Â鶹APP ends its hypocrisy against Israel.\u00a0 As long as the Organization allows itself to be misled by the falsehoods put forward by Palestinians, the Middle East will regrettably continue to \u201cwander in the wilderness of an ongoing conflict\u201d. \u00a0Citing a successful water-for-energy deal struck between Israel, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, he said such progress shows that regional cooperation \u2014 especially around natural resources and environmental protection \u2014 is indeed possible.\u00a0 Sadly, Palestinian leaders have shown that they have other priorities.\u00a0 Concluding, he referred to the recent terrorist attack on the United Arab Emirates \u2014 which was sponsored by Iran \u2014 noting that if Tehran thinks the world is not serious about stopping its activities it will only press forward with the development of nuclear weapons and the imposition of its radical Shiite hegemony. \u00a0\u201cThis problem should be the focus of this Council in 2022,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Statements<\/u><\/p>\n
ANNIKEN HUITFELDT, Minister for Foreign Affairs of\u00a0Norway<\/u>\u00a0and Council President for the month, speaking in her national capacity, stressed the importance of civilian protection, respect for human rights and a vibrant civil society in Palestine.\u00a0 \u201cLast night, another Palestinian family was evicted from their home in East Jerusalem. \u00a0This must stop,\u201d she said, calling on Israel to revise policies and actions that weaken the Palestinian Authority and the economy.\u00a0 The donor group chaired by her country has outlined a programme for continued Palestinian State-building, she noted, adding that the international community must cooperate with any Palestinian Government that rejects the use of violence.\u00a0 Welcoming Israel\u2019s willingness to adjust its policies in Gaza, she stressed the need for long-term solutions and ceasefire.\u00a0 Also welcoming the normalization of relations between Israel and several Arab States, she said it is essential that the Palestinians benefit from this process. \u00a0Urging the parties to explore how they can resume talks, she voiced support for a return to negotiations based on the 1967 lines, relevant Security Council resolutions, international law and internationally agreed parameters.<\/p>\n
SHIRLEY AYORKOR BOTCHWEY, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of\u00a0Ghana<\/u>, said the unending suffering of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples must compel the Council to urgently address the question of how to revitalize peace talks.\u00a0 Stressing the importance of a two-State solution, she commended Norway\u2019s facilitation of the in-person ministerial meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee in November 2021. \u00a0It is vital to act on the measures identified to support Palestinian institution-building and address fiscal challenges, as well as de-escalate tensions, she said, also emphasizing the role of regional and international actors in sustaining momentum around the recent high-level engagements.\u00a0 Both sides must work to overcome past mistrust and engage their publics on a vision of peace, she said, adding: \u00a0\u201cNone of this would be easy. \u00a0The cost of not doing it would be harder.\u201d<\/p>\n
LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD (United States<\/u>) called for a recommitment to a political solution to the conflict, and reiterated support for a two-State solution. \u00a0She expressed concern about continuing tensions in the West Bank, Gaza and in and around Jerusalem, and emphasized the need for parties to refrain from taking unilateral steps that impede progress, such as evictions carried out in Sheikh Jarrah, as well as compensation provided for individuals in prison for acts of terrorism.\u00a0 Recalling her November 2021 visit to the West Bank, she noted that \u201cboth sides are locked in a spiral of mutual mistrust\u201d, with Israelis not believing that Palestinians are a partner for peace, while Palestinians are in despair due to an absence of a political horizon.\u00a0 \u201cThis is the single biggest obstacle to peace,\u201d she said, calling for trust to be built between both parties. \u00a0The recent meeting between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz resulted in several tangible steps; such progress must be built on.\u00a0 She welcomed the constructive role played by Jordan and Egypt in preventing violence, including through a meeting held with Palestine on 26\u00a0December 2021, and also commended Norway\u2019s efforts through the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians.\u00a0 Israeli and Palestinian civil society members are instrumental in building bridges for peace, she said, underlining the importance of dialogue and initiatives such as the Green Blue Deal for the Middle East to address \u201cshared issues that know no borders, like climate change\u201d, adding: \u00a0\u201cSuch exchanges can be broadened to include the Abraham Accord signatories.\u201d \u00a0Noting that 27\u00a0January will mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day, she said recent tragic events in Texas are a reminder to stand together against anti-Semitism and terrorism.<\/p>\n
LANA ZAKI NUSSEIBEH (United Arab Emirates<\/u>) condemned recent attempts to spread chaos in the Middle East, notably by the Houthi militias, who attacked civilians and civilian facilities in her country, and thanked the 90\u00a0nations who condemned such terrorist acts.\u00a0 She highlighted the need to actively counter terrorism and end the region\u2019s crises and conflicts, which range from Palestine and Yemen, through Iraq and Syria, to Lebanon and Libya, and reiterated her country\u2019s support for the right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent and sovereign Palestinian State based on the borders of 4\u00a0June 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.\u00a0 She called for an end to all illegal practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory \u2014 including the construction and expansion of settlements, the confiscation and demolition of Palestinian property and the forced displacement of residents as witnessed today in Sheikh Jarrah \u2014 and for Israel to comply with its responsibilities under international law. \u00a0Further, escalation must be prevented; the latest ceasefire must be maintained; and there is an urgent need to break the current stalemate and relaunch a credible peace process, she said, adding: \u00a0\u201cWe hope that the recent high-level meeting between the parties will lead to new opportunities to engage in dialogue.\u201d \u00a0Turning to the humanitarian situation, which has worsened during the pandemic, she underlined the importance of helping the Palestinian people.\u00a0 The United Arab Emirates recently sent vaccines and medical aid to the Gaza Strip, helped it respond to the water crisis and supported the construction of a new UNRWA school. \u00a0The Council must work to create an environment that fosters peace to achieve a stable future for the Middle East, and all parties must fully comply with Council resolutions.<\/p>\n
DMITRY A. POLYANSKIY (Russian Federation<\/u>), noting that the situation described by the Special Coordinator is being further exacerbated by unilateral actions, expressed concern over the eviction of a Palestinian family from Sheikh Jerrah on 18\u00a0January.\u00a0 Calling on the parties to exercise restraint and come back in line with previous agreements, he underlined the important role played by UNRWA and pledged to continue to provide annual voluntary contributions to the Agency.\u00a0 Underlining the urgent need to step up multilateral efforts towards an expeditious relaunch of direct negotiations between the parties, he vowed to push forward to that end alongside his Middle East Quartet partners.\u00a0 While voicing Moscow\u2019s support of a two-State solution, he added that progress is impossible without Palestinian reunification, and voiced support for regional diplomatic efforts to that end.\u00a0 He also expressed concern over plans newly unveiled by Israel for new settlements in the Golan Heights, which flies in the face of the 1949 Geneva Conventions.\u00a0 The Russian Federation does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is an integral part of Syria, he said.<\/p>\n
GENG SHUANG (China<\/u>) said violence and hostilities must end, and tensions must be urgently eased, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.\u00a0 Recalling the major clashes seen in May 2021, he urged all parties to remain calm and consolidate the ceasefire in Gaza.\u00a0 While Israel must abide by international law, its legitimate security concerns should be respected.\u00a0 Calling for an end to Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank, which runs counter to international law, he echoed concerns raised by other speakers over Israel\u2019s recent announcement that it will invest more than $300 million in settlements in the Golan Heights.\u00a0 In addition, he voiced concern over the humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, welcomed regional efforts to accelerate Gaza\u2019s reconstruction and called upon Israel to lift its long-standing blockade on the Gaza Strip.\u00a0 Meanwhile, the international community should uphold an objective and fair approach to the situation and do more to support the two sides in returning to direct negotiations, he said.<\/p>\n
GERALDINE BYRNE NASON (Ireland<\/u>) said that it is incumbent upon the Council and the wider international community to create fresh momentum for the resumption of direct negotiations between the parties. \u00a0Her delegation has no illusions about the scale of the challenge, but that does not absolve the Council of its responsibility to reinvigorate its efforts, not least for the sake of young people and their future. \u00a0More than 40\u00a0per cent of Israel\u2019s population is under the age of 25 and more than 70\u00a0per cent of the population of the Occupied Palestinian Territory is under the age of 30. \u00a0\u201cWe have a collective duty to help ensure that these young people are given the prospect of a renewed political horizon,\u201d she said. \u00a0Reiterating her country\u2019s long-standing position on the illegality of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, she said that this week\u2019s decision regarding the construction of 1,465\u00a0units as part of the \u201cLower Aqueduct\u201d plan, as well as planned construction in the sensitive areas of E1, Atarot, and Givat Hamatos, threaten the contiguity of a future Palestinian State and must not proceed.<\/p>\n
RONALDO COSTA FILHO (Brazil<\/u>) emphasized the need for cooperation, mutual respect and new initiatives aimed at a lasting solution to the conflict. \u00a0The Abraham Accords are also such an effort, and through them old rivalries give way to dialogue and diplomacy.\u00a0 Expressing concern about the lack of progress on the Middle East peace process, he noted that the escalation of violence and tensions in Gaza at the start of the year demonstrated the fragility of the ceasefire reached in May 2021.\u00a0 There can be no justification for any attacks against civilians, he said, urging both parties to de-escalate, exercise maximum restraint and protect civilian lives.\u00a0 Welcoming recent direct talks between Palestinian and Israeli high-level authorities, he expressed the hope that they can be held more frequently to rekindle the political process.\u00a0 Expressing concern about the economic and fiscal crisis in the Palestinian territories, which worsens prospects for political stability, he said poverty and political instability in Gaza provide fertile ground for extremist forces.\u00a0 Brazil supports the reconstruction of Gaza and the provision of humanitarian aid on a predictable, responsible and regular basis.\u00a0 Turning to UNRWA, he expressed concern about the lack of resources to sustain its valuable work, including providing essential services to 2\u00a0million Palestinian refugees across the region.<\/p>\n
JUAN RAM\u00d3N DE LA FUENTE RAM\u00cdREZ (Mexico<\/u>) recalled that at the 1991 Madrid Conference, the first steps were taken to develop a dialogue between Arab and Israeli leaders.\u00a0 Since then, there were the Oslo Accords to the recent Abraham Accords, along with regional cooperation in water management.\u00a0 Welcoming the recent meeting between the Palestinian President and Israel\u2019s Defence Minister, he called on the parties to keep communications channels open, and to strengthen cooperation on both security and tax issues.\u00a0 He said the Gaza blockade must be lifted for good, expressing regret that Palestinians\u2019 central demand for self-determination remains outstanding.\u00a0 He reiterated Mexico\u2019s support for the two-State solution and raised concerns over conditions on the ground, which undermine it, citing in particular evictions in Sheikh Jarrah.\u00a0 He similarly condemned Israel\u2019s expansion of settlements in occupied territories, and in all cases, the use of force, urging the parties to exercise maximum constraint.<\/p>\n
T.S. TIRUMURTI (India<\/u>) reiterated support for a two-State solution leading to the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine living within secure and recognized borders, alongside Israel, citing his country\u2019s partnership with the Palestinian Authority and assistance to UNRWA as a reflection of the same.\u00a0 He expressed deep concern over recent events in the West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza, where attacks on civilians have increased and new settlements have been announced.\u00a0 Welcoming the recent meeting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israel\u2019s Defence Minister Benny Gantz, he said such initiatives are in the interest of both parties and help prevent terror and violence.\u00a0 India has consistently called for direct peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine based on the internationally agreed framework. \u00a0He called on the Â鶹APP and the Middle East Quartet, in particular, to prioritize the revival of these negotiations.\u00a0 He also strongly condemned the recent terror attack in Abu Dhabi, in which two Indians tragically lost their lives.<\/p>\n
FERIT HOXHA (Albania<\/u>) noted that though the Council played a pivotal role in creating the international framework to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict, the situation on the ground remains volatile.\u00a0 \u201cWe do not take the moral high ground to lecture the parties,\u201d he said, offering instead his country\u2019s lived experience, its path through \u201cexistential threats, wars we did not choose and other serious challenges\u201d in its neighbourhood.\u00a0 Albania\u2019s historic friendship with the Jewish people has stood the test of the darkest hour of humanity, he said, voicing firm support for Israel\u2019s legitimate right to defend itself.\u00a0 Also voicing concern for the Palestinian situation and the dimming hope of a better future, he stressed that the status quo is unsustainable. \u00a0The only viable and just solution is a negotiated two-State solution, with Jerusalem as a shared capital, he said, welcoming steps taken by the Israeli Government relating to employment authorizations and the transfer of tax payments, after the recent meeting between Israeli Defence Minister Gantz and Palestinian President Abbas.\u00a0 The expansion of settlements threatens a two-State reality, he said, also voicing support for the preservation of the status quo regarding the holy sites in Jerusalem.<\/p>\n
NICOLAS DE RIVI\u00c8RE (France<\/u>) noted that the parameters of the solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict are well known but need to be implemented through negotiations between the parties. \u00a0Voicing concern about the ongoing weakening of the two-State solution due to settlements, he said the creation of hundreds of new housing units in East Jerusalem imperils the geographic contiguity of a future Palestinian State and cements the ring of settlements separating East Jerusalem and Bethlehem. \u00a0Calling on Israel to halt the creation of these units immediately, he also condemned the recent evictions and demolitions.\u00a0 Stressing the importance of the protection of civilians under international law, he expressed concern about the shrinking of space for civil society and the designation of six Palestinian non-governmental organizations as terrorist organizations without any evidence to substantiate the allegation of misappropriation of funds. \u00a0Calling on the Palestinian Authority to renew its democratic legitimacy through the conducting of general elections, he underscored that the Council must relaunch the political process which has been at an impasse for years.<\/p>\n
JAMES KARIUKI (United Kingdom<\/u>) welcomed calls by EcoPeace Middle East for greater regional cooperation on joint environmental threats. \u00a0The solar-water agreement between Israel, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates in November shows us the value of such efforts.\u00a0 Further, he welcomed Norway\u2019s leadership on economic coordination between the parties, including chairing in November, the first in-person Ad Hoc Liaison Committee in two years. \u00a0Welcoming the recent direct meeting between the Israeli Defence Minister Gantz and Palestinian Authority President Abbas, he urged the acceleration of efforts by both parties to improve the financial situation and the economic and humanitarian conditions in the West Bank and Gaza. \u00a0Turning to the ongoing events in Sheikh Jarrah, including the attempted eviction on 17\u00a0January of the Salhia family who live and run a business there, witnessed by British diplomats, he noted that authorities returned overnight to demolish their home and arrested members of the family. \u00a0\u201cWe again urge the Government of Israel to cease such policies,\u201d he stressed, pointing out that evictions are against international humanitarian law in all but the most exceptional circumstances. \u00a0Also on 17\u00a0January, approval was given to the \u201clower aqueduct\u201d settlement plan representing nearly 1,500\u00a0housing units, some of which fall outside the Green Line, he said, urging Israel to permanently end its settlement expansion and settlement activity, which heightens tension and threatens the viability of a future Palestinian State.\u00a0 He went on to condemn the attempted stabbing of an Israel Defense Forces soldier in the West Bank, also on 17\u00a0January, and condemned the firing of missiles from Gaza towards Israel at the start of January, urging all sides to work to sustain calm.<\/p>\n
MICHAEL KAPKIAI KIBOINO (Kenya<\/u>) emphasized the role of \u201chuman agency\u201d as a driver and sustainer of the protracted conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, pointing out that this issue runs through the lack of progress of the conflicting parties in meeting the agreed commitments as outlined in the Council\u2019s resolutions and international law, as well as actions by extremist entities which hinder peace and the establishment of a conducive environment for a meaningful peace process.\u00a0 Underscoring the urgent need for dialogue to facilitate a negotiated peaceful settlement, he looked forward to the operationalization of practical outcomes from the meeting in December between Defence Minister Gantz and President Abbas, \u201cthe second one in the same year after a decade of no top-level meetings between both parties\u201d.\u00a0 He called for the cessation of Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, including those posing a risk to the territorial contiguity of a viable Palestinian State.\u00a0 Turning to UNRWA, he commended efforts by the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee chaired by Norway in institution-building and development of the Palestinian economy and stressed the importance of tackling questions related to financing, such as \u201cWho receives the money?\u201d and \u201cWhat is being funded?\u201d, which can enable policymakers to engage with the current and next generation of financers to deliver on a more sustainable future for conflict-affected communities.<\/p>\n
MICHEL XAVIER BIANG(Gabon<\/u>), noting that 2022 is beginning with violations of the ceasefire and rocket fire, said the humanitarian and economic situations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is alarming. \u00a0Also citing the unprecedented financial crisis facing the Palestinian Authority and UNRWA\u2019s budgetary challenges, he called on all parties to refrain from any belligerent or unilateral rhetorical action that could further escalate violence.\u00a0 He called further for a revitalization of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations towards real and lasting peace, based on the application of international law rules, voicing Gabon\u2019s support for a Palestinian State coexisting with Israel on 1967 borders and in accordance with relevant Â鶹APP resolutions.\u00a0 \u201cThe creation of a Palestinian State is in fact an indispensable step in the process of peace,\u201d he stressed, noting that it will have a reverberating effect across the entire region and allow for a more sustainable solution to the conflict.<\/p>\n
P\u00c9TER SZIJJ\u00c1RT\u00d3, Minister for Foreign Affairs of\u00a0Hungary<\/u>, said many attempts over the years have failed to bring peace and stability to the Middle East.\u00a0 However, the Abraham Accords signed recently between Israel and various States in the region could bring fresh impetus to the peace process and have proven to be a \u201cgame changer\u201d in Israel\u2019s diplomatic relations.\u00a0 Expressing support for the Accords and urging other States to sign onto them, he said Hungary stands committed to a fair and more balanced approach to the way the Â鶹APP treats Israel.\u00a0 Calling on Member States to end their \u201canti-Israel approach\u201d, he said that country has long been threatened by terrorism and has the right to defend its sovereignty and its citizens.\u00a0 Instability in the Middle East often results in massive ways of migration to Europe with security implications, he said, while also noting and condemning the re-emergence of anti-Semitism around the world.<\/p>\n
OMAR KADIRI (Morocco<\/u>) said negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians remain the only path to resolving the conflict.\u00a0 Calling for a renewal of diplomatic efforts to that end, he said Morocco will continue to play a critical role alongside the international community to relaunch direct talks.\u00a0 He also called on the parties to preserve the historic character of Jerusalem \u2014 a city of peace that is open to all three of the region\u2019s major religions \u2014 and pledged that Morocco will spare no effort to that end.\u00a0 He went on to outline his country\u2019s support to vital cultural and educational projects in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.\u00a0 Condemning the recent criminal attack by the Houthi group against the United Arab Emirates, he voiced support for the latter\u2019s steps to defend itself and pledged Morocco\u2019s support for the defence of Emirati citizens.\u00a0 The Council should condemn that attack and take steps to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice, he added.<\/p>\n
MAJID TAKHT RAVANCHI (Iran<\/u>) denounced the killing of innocent people, the requisitioning of Palestinian properties, and the seizure and demolition of their homes by Israel, noting that the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs documented 341\u00a0Palestinians killed and 17,893\u00a0injured in 2021.\u00a0 Citing the 11-day war in May 2021, in which Israel killed 256\u00a0Palestinians, he said \u201cthese measures constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity for which the perpetrators must be brought to justice\u201d.\u00a0 He condemned the recent meeting by Israel\u2019s Cabinet in the Occupied Syrian Golan and its statement on the building of new settlements there, as an unlawful action which constitutes a flagrant violation of international law, which Iran considers null and void.\u00a0 The Council\u2019s inaction has only emboldened Israel to continue its crimes.\u00a0 It must instead compel Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian and other Arab territories, he said, objecting to Israel\u2019s misuse of the forum to make unfounded allegations against Iran, which he rejected.<\/p>\n
OSAMA MAHMOUD ABDELKHALEK MAHMOUD (Egypt<\/u>), speaking on behalf of the Arab Group, recalled that December 2021 marked five years since the adoption of resolution 2334 (2016), which reaffirmed all past principles on the Palestinian question and the illegality of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.\u00a0 However, Israel\u2019s settlements are expanding.\u00a0 Palestinian homes and structures \u2014 including those funded by donors \u2014 are being demolished, notably in Sheikh Jarrah, while unarmed Palestinians are being killed by Israeli security forces and settlers alike.\u00a0 He denounced Israel\u2019s decision to designate six civil society organizations as terrorist groups, despite that they cooperate with international donors \u2014 notably the Â鶹APP \u2014 and urged the international community to help end all such illegal measures.\u00a0 Israel must reverse its decision to designate the civil society organizations as terrorist groups and he pressed donors not to engage with the designation.<\/p>\n
He went on to call for respecting the historic and legal status quo in East Jerusalem and Jordan\u2019s custodianship over its holy sites, including Haram al Sharif, noting that the Arab Group values continued efforts by the King of Morocco as Chair of the Al Quds Committee within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and his 2019 joint appeal with Pope Francis for peace, fraternity and coexistence among the three Abrahamic religions. \u00a0The Arab Group also values efforts by Egypt to consolidate the ceasefire and its announcement of $500\u00a0million to rebuild Gaza through projects led by Egyptian companies. \u00a0Egypt also hosted a six-party meeting involving Jordan and Palestine, among others.\u00a0 Stressing that the current status quo cannot continue and cautioning against efforts to build confidence without addressing a political process, he said a clear vision is needed for ending all illegal measures and resuming talks as soon as possible.\u00a0 He called for the convening of an international peace conference based on the Arab Peace Initiative and the two-State solution, among other initiatives, to ensure the creation of an independent Palestinian State along 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.\u00a0 He underscored the Group\u2019s commitment to achieving regional security by resolving all crises, based on the Charter of the Â鶹APP and international law.\u00a0 Furthermore, the bloc condemned the targeting of civilians and their infrastructure by terrorist Houthi militias in the United Arab Emirates and pressed the international community to stand united in confronting this threat. \u00a0With that, he said a just and comprehensive peace can only be achieved by liberating Arab territories, ending settlement activities and fully adhering to Â鶹APP resolutions, the Charter and such principles as self-determination and non-interference in internal State affairs.<\/p>\n
MAGED ABDELFATTAH ABDELAZIZ, Permanent Observer for the\u00a0League of Arab States<\/u>, associating himself with the Arab Group, condemned the terrorist attack by the Houthis against critical infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates, which led to civilian casualties. \u00a0Despite what has been adopted in Madrid, Oslo, Annapolis and in the Security Council itself, Israel\u2019s new Government is attempting to manipulate the principle of land for peace into one of \u201cpeace for peace\u201d.\u00a0 It is doing so by gradually consolidating relations with Arab States, while violating Palestinians\u2019 inalienable rights. \u00a0It is breaching resolution 2334 (2016), expanding settlements and providing military protection for settlers in their attacks against Palestinians, notably in Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan.\u00a0 It is also illegally designating as terrorist groups civil society organizations that defend Palestinian rights.\u00a0 These actions violate all international norms governing human rights.\u00a0 The new Government\u2019s claim that it cannot change the settlement policy of the previous Administration or provide compromises in peace negotiations cannot be justified.<\/p>\n
He said the League is committed to the two-State solution, which requires action by the Council to achieve maximum benefit from the Middle East Quartet.\u00a0 He envisioned the holding of Quartet ministerial meetings to prepare for direct negotiations leading to an international peace conference, which Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has required.\u00a0 He also called for maximum protection from aggression by the occupying Power and its settlers, through meetings focused on the Secretary-General\u2019s report to the tenth emergency Special Session of the General Assembly in 2018, which included alternatives to providing protection for Palestinians.\u00a0 Maximum support must be provided to Palestinian refugees everywhere, by filling UNRWA\u2019s financing gap.\u00a0 Other required actions include a guarantee of non-applicability of a double standard and holding Israel accountable for its violations against Palestinians, as well as guarantee of the status quo of East Jerusalem and support for Jordan\u2019s custodianship of its holy sites.\u00a0 Efforts to promote Palestinian national reconciliation and the holding of elections as soon as possible are also important. \u00a0He urged the Council to visit the occupied territories, stressing that the League is prepared to support action by the Council and the Quartet, among others, aimed at resuming direct negotiations between Palestine and Israel to create a Palestinian State along 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.<\/p>\n
OLOF SKOOG, Head of Delegation of the\u00a0European Union<\/u>, in its capacity as observer, welcomed high-level contacts between the parties to the conflict, including in the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee on 17\u00a0November.\u00a0 Calling for the immediate implementation of the commitments made to improve Palestinian livelihoods,\u00a0 he reiterated the importance of consolidating the ceasefire in Gaza,\u00a0 and recalled the Union\u2019s unequivocal position that rocket fire, launching of incendiary devices and other attacks by Hamas are unacceptable.\u00a0 Welcoming the easing of some restrictions on Gaza, he noted that measures taken so far have shown to be insufficient to allow rapid stabilization.\u00a0 Calling for a halt on all settlement activities and voicing support for upholding the status quo regarding the Temple Mount\/Haram al-Sharif, he welcomed the start of the cycle of local Palestinian elections and stressed the need for strong and accountable Palestinian institutions. \u00a0Also voicing support for UNRWA in all its fields of operations, including in East Jerusalem, he reaffirmed commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian State, and recalled that a sustainable solution to the conflict requires a genuine, inclusive political transition.<\/p>\n
ARRMANATHA C. NASIR, Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, called on Israel to respect its obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and cease the demolition and seizure of Palestinian property throughout the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. \u00a0On Gaza, he said the Strip remains an integral part of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 and must be part of an independent, sovereign Palestinian State.\u00a0 Turning to Israel\u2019s decision of 22\u00a0October designating six human rights and humanitarian Palestinian civil society organizations as \u201cterrorist entities\u201d, he said some of these organizations are long-standing, reliable partners of the Committee in advocating for the protection and promotion of the human rights of the Palestinian people. \u00a0On 7\u00a0December, the Committee organized an event, in which representatives from Palestinian and Israeli civil society called on Member States to hold Israel accountable for its actions. \u00a0To date, the Israeli authorities have not made public substantial evidence against these six Palestinian organizations.\u00a0 The Committee hopes that a ministerial meeting of the Middle East Quartet will soon relaunch the peace process. \u00a0The current course must be diverted and redressed without delay to end the Israeli occupation and implement a two-State solution, he said.<\/p>\n
\u00d6NC\u00dc KE\u00c7ELI (Turkey<\/u>) said 75\u00a0years after the Â鶹APP first took up the Palestine question, there is no solution, adding: \u00a0\u201cNothing has changed, except for one thing: \u00a0our attitude towards the Palestinian question. \u00a0We no longer debate a political solution to the conflict; we now speak only of peace in theory.\u201d\u00a0 The Council has lost its ambition, he stated, pointing out that following bouts of conflict such as those taking place last spring, messages of restraint replace calls for lasting peace. \u00a0\u201cNormalization of the occupation is simply unacceptable,\u201d he said.\u00a0 While taking note of \u201csteps in the right direction\u201d, including halted plans for illegal settlements in Atarot, he stated that taken together with acts such as Israel\u2019s decision to list six Palestinian civil society organizations, they represent a pattern of \u201cone step forward, three steps back\u201d.\u00a0 He called for support to be lent to an intra-Palestinian reconciliation process. \u00a0While commending the Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee meeting convened by Norway in November 2021, he said more must be done, as millions relied on live-saving assistance from UNRWA.\u00a0 Turkey will lend its financial and political support to UNRWA and calls on others to do so.<\/p>\n
MOHAMMED ABDULAZIZ ALATEEK (Saudi Arabia<\/u>) said \u201clasting peace in the Middle East is a strategic choice to end the protracted conflict\u201d, based on the Arab Peace Initiative reached in 2002, which included Palestinian statehood along 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital and the return of refugees and of Syrian Golan and Lebanese territories.\u00a0 Israel violates international laws and norms through its heinous acts of injustice and aggression, he said, citing as an example the visit of the Israeli Prime Minister to the Al-Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron.\u00a0 He called on the Council to assume responsibility for the Palestinian question by ensuring justice and the aspirations of Palestinians to form an independent State and to deal firmly with Israel for its violations of international law and Â鶹APP resolutions.\u00a0 Turning to Yemen, he called on the international community to confront Houthi militias, who, emboldened by the lack of a countervailing response, continue to disregard the aspirations of the Yemeni people, obstruct attempts to reach a political solution and threaten regional security, including through the use of Yemeni ports.<\/p>\n
MAHMOUD DAIFALLAH HMOUD\u00a0<\/strong>(Jordan<\/u>), condemning the Houthi attack on the United Arab Emirates, voiced solidarity with that \u201csisterly country\u201d as it takes steps to defend itself.\u00a0 Stressing the importance of establishing an independent and sovereign Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital, he said the region will not know peace unless the unsustainable status quo caused by the occupation comes to an end. Noting the forced displacement and eviction of a Palestinian family from its home in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood earlier today, he said Israel must implement international law regarding occupation in occupied Jerusalem. \u00a0Stressing the importance of removing all obstacles hindering the Palestinian economy, he said that an economic solution will not replace a political solution but can create an environment that enables it.\u00a0 His country will continue to protect the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Al Quds Al Sharif and preserve its Arab Islamic and Christian identity, as well as its legal and historical status, under the direct guidance of King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, the custodian of these holy sites.<\/p>\nPEDRO LUIS PEDROSO CUESTA (Cuba<\/u>), associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement and the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, said the Council still has not adopted measures to end Israel\u2019s occupation.\u00a0 After 74\u00a0years, Israel\u2019s annexation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory is being consolidated through the expansion of settlements, punitive demolitions, forced displacements, the blockade of Gaza and plans to annex parts of the Jordan Valley. \u00a0Further, the repeated blocking of Council action by the United States has prevented it from fulfilling its duty to maintain international peace and security.\u00a0 He expressed support for a fair and lasting solution that leaves Palestinians free to exercise their right to self-determination and establish an independent State along 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and able to exercise the right of return for refugees.\u00a0 He expressed further support for Palestinians\u2019 accession to the Â鶹APP and their call for an international peace conference.\u00a0 Denouncing the so-called \u201cagreement of the century\u201d as one that ignores the two-State solution, he likewise rejected United States recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and decision to recognize Israel\u2019s sovereignty over the Syrian Golan, in violation of international law.\u00a0 The current United States Administration has not reversed these decisions, distancing the possibility of a negotiated solution.\u00a0 He demanded that Israel withdraw from the Syrian Golan, and all occupied territories, and called for an end, without conditions, to unilateral measures imposed against sovereign nations.<\/p>\n
BASSAM SABBAGH (Syria<\/u>), voicing disappointment that the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process did not include in his briefing any information on Israeli settlement activities in the Occupied Syrian Golan, said that on 26\u00a0December 2021, the Israeli authorities announced that they will provide $317\u00a0million to construct thousands of housing units in two new settlements in that territory. \u00a0This is a flagrant violation of international law, the fourth Geneva Convention and the relevant Â鶹APP resolutions, he said, calling it yet another failed attempt to perpetuate the occupation and to obliterate the Syrian identity of the Golan. \u00a0Condemning Israel\u2019s violations, including confiscation of property, imposition of demographic changes and looting of natural resources, he added that such reckless behaviour would not have escalated to this level had it not been for the protection provided by successive United States Administrations.\u00a0 Calling on the Security Council to end its silence, he recalled the eviction earlier today in Sheikh Jarrah and voiced support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.\u00a0 Israel\u2019s representative today condemned a defenceless people that defies occupation with stones, he said, calling it an example of the highest order of hypocrisy.<\/p>\n
MOHAMMAD KURNIADI KOBA (Indonesia<\/u>), associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement and the OIC, condemned Israel\u2019s continued violations, including demolitions, evictions and violence. \u00a0Settlement activities constitute a flagrant violation of international law and undermine the prospect of just peace, he said, recalling Council resolution 2334 (2016). \u00a0Emphasizing the Council\u2019s responsibility to ensure protection to Palestinian civilian populations, he stressed the need for concrete steps to safeguard the status quo of the holy sites. \u00a0Also calling for the complete lifting of the Israeli blockade of Gaza, as well as sustainable and predictable funding for UNRWA, he said the Council must actively revive the stalled peace process.<\/p>\n
AZRIL BIN ABD AZIZ (Malaysia<\/u>) said Israel\u2019s systematic and continued oppression of Palestinians and discriminatory policies are tantamount to the crimes of apartheid. \u00a0Its continued attacks on civil society organizations reporting on human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is an affront to international law, international human rights law and peace. \u00a0The international community must protect and continue to support human rights defenders in carrying out their important work to protect the rights of the Palestinian people living under military occupation. \u00a0Israel must be made to fully comply with all its obligations as prescribed by the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2334 (2016).\u00a0 Only a negotiated political solution can lead to durable peace, he said, urging the Council, and particularly the Middle East Quartet, to restart and create the necessary condition for peace talks between the relevant parties.\u00a0 Malaysia\u2019s resolute support and full solidarity with the Palestinian people will never waiver.<\/p>\n
MARIA DEL CARMEN SQUEFF (Argentina<\/u>) called for negotiations between the two parties, with the broader aim of agreement on status issues identified in the Oslo Accords.\u00a0 Argentina supports a peaceful comprehensive and definitive solution, based on a two-State formula and 1967 borders, whereby both parties determine the process.\u00a0 Reaffirming support for Palestinians\u2019 right to self-determination and a viable independent State, as well as Israel\u2019s right to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders, she called for a halt to illegal settlement building in Palestinian territories and reaffirmed the terms of resolution 2234 (2016).\u00a0 Condemning indiscriminate rocket launches from Gaza into Israel and related actions by Hamas and armed groups, she recognized Israel\u2019s right to legitimate defence in respect of its international humanitarian law obligations, especially the principles of distinction and proportionality.\u00a0 Reaffirming the special status of Jerusalem, she rejected any attempt to modify it, citing resolution 748 (1992), in particular, as the city should guarantee free access to its holy sites for Jews, Muslims and Christians.\u00a0 Jerusalem\u2019s final status must be defined by the parties in bilateral negotiations.\u00a0 She went on to reiterate support for UNRWA and the need to ensure it has adequate funding, stressing that the principle of peaceful dispute settlement requires a negotiated solution to the conflict between Syria and Israel, she said, citing resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and the principle of land for peace.<\/p>\n
MILENKO ESTEBAN SKOKNIC TAPIA (Chile<\/u>) expressed his country\u2019s ongoing support for a fair and lasting solution to the Middle East conflict.\u00a0 Recalling the beginning of the twentieth century when what was at that time the largest Palestinian community outside of the Middle East began to arrive in his country and integrate across its society, he also noted Chile\u2019s historical ties of brotherhood and sisterhood with Israel, as well as the dynamic and active Jewish community that is an important part of his country. \u00a0In 2011, Chile recognized the State of Palestine, he noted, adding that capacity-building for Palestine can create \u201cthe conditions for greater institutionality\u201d. \u00a0The municipal election held in the West Bank last December is a step in the right direction, he said, expressing the hope that the second part of the elections will take place in March on schedule.\u00a0 The violence and instability cycles in the region affect the entire international community, he said, calling for an end to the illegal settlements as well as unilateral acts such as the indiscriminate launching of rockets and disproportionate military responses to such acts.<\/p>\n
JAMAL FARES ALROWAIEI (Bahrain<\/u>) reaffirmed the importance of peacefully resolving conflicts by ending the underlying reasons for them.\u00a0 In that context, he said the international community must develop coordinated and effective policies to tackle problems in the Middle East, arriving at a common vision that rises to the region\u2019s political, economic and humanitarian challenges.\u00a0 He called for creating conditions conducive to solutions, using all resources and cooperating on all areas of common interest.\u00a0 International efforts must be intensified, ensuring that negotiations are resumed so the Palestinian question is settled on the basis of a two-State solution.\u00a0 Condemning Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, which resulted in multiple deaths and injuries, he likewise condemned in the strongest terms Houthi attacks against civilian structures in the United Arab Emirates and the kidnapping of a ship from that country.\u00a0 All such assaults are tantamount to war crimes and all possible measures must be taken to assist Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.\u00a0 He insisted that firm decisions be taken against these militias, which are terrorist organizations.<\/p>\n
ISHIKANE KIMIHIRO (Japan<\/u>) reaffirmed support for a two-State Solution, for which building trust among parties is a necessary first step.\u00a0 To this end, he welcomed the meeting in the final week of 2021 between President Abbas and Defence Minister Gantz.\u00a0 However, he expressed concern about violent exchanges in recent months between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank, as well as settlement activities in the West Bank and those reported in the Golan Heights. \u00a0Japan calls upon all parties to halt any activities that would hinder progress towards the realization of a two-State solution, and encourages all Palestinian stakeholders to start, as soon as possible, constructive discussions to realize intra-Palestinian reconciliation.\u00a0 In response to the challenging humanitarian and socioeconomic situation in Palestine, he said Japan decided in December 2021 to extend fresh grant aid of $2.85\u00a0million to UNRWA for its activities in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, in addition to its 2021 contribution of $40.8\u00a0million. \u00a0It is also finalizing its supplementary budget procedures to extend $15.2\u00a0million to the Agency, he added.<\/p>\n
MANSOUR AYYAD SH. A. ALOTAIBI (Kuwait<\/u>), stressing that the attack on the United Arab Emirates is a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law, added that it is also an attack on security in the region. \u00a0Israel continues its aggressive policies against unarmed Palestinian people, while annexing more territories in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, he said, pointing out that Â鶹APP reports show high levels of violence against women and children.\u00a0 Condemning Israel\u2019s plans to make Jerusalem a Jewish city and undermine a two-State solution, he stressed the importance of preserving the demographic nature of the city.\u00a0 His country\u2019s foreign policy is based on respect for the principles of international law, he said, reaffirming the Palestinian people\u2019s right to self-determination<\/p>\n
TIYANI RAYMOND SITHOLE (South Africa<\/u>) said overwhelming evidence demonstrates that Israel enforces laws which treat Israelis and Palestinians differently in all aspects of life.\u00a0 Describing Israel\u2019s systemic subjugation of Palestinians as inhumane, in \u201cstark\u201d violation of human rights and internationally adopted norms and principles, he stated:\u00a0 \u201cWe cannot silently bear witness to this reality.\u201d\u00a0 International efforts must work to realize the two-State solution, the only path to ensuring that Palestinians and Israelis can live side by side in peaceful and secure States, based on the 1967 borders and with Jerusalem as the capital of both nations.\u00a0 This can only be achieved if both parties engage in bona fide negotiations, placing the interests of all those who live on the land above all other objectives. \u00a0Failing to act on Israel\u2019s violations perpetuates the claim that some in the Council are not even-handed on the issues, undermining the Council\u2019s credibility.\u00a0 Therefore, it is imperative that the Council hold all those who violate its resolutions accountable, without fear or favour, he said.<\/p>\n
For information media. Not an official record.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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