The COVID-19 pandemic is creating opportunities for cooperation
that Israelis and Palestinians must embrace to sustain Middle
East peace efforts and bring an end to decades of conflict, the
United Nations’ top envoy in the
region said on Thursday.
Nickolay Mlandenov,
Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, told
the Security Council that
the past month has seen yet again more fighting and confrontation
in the West Bank and Gaza, with ever-rising casualties.
But he added that it has also witnessed “inspiring examples” of
cooperation across conflict lines in a common battle to contain
the novel coronavirus outbreak –
and opening fresh prospects for progress in the quest for peace.
“The recognition of this interdependence could – if there is
political will – translate into tangible progress towards
resolving the conflict”, he said, noting how the two sides – with
UN support – are coordinating their COVID-19 efforts.
“I strongly urge Israeli and Palestinian leaders to seize this
moment to take steps towards peace (and) to reject unilateral
moves that will only deepen the wedge between the two peoples and
undermine the chances for peace.”
West Bank annexation
While they reiterated a commitment to advance peace agreements
and cooperate with Israel’s neighbours, Mr. Mladenov said that
the two Israeli politicians also agreed on advancing the
annexation of parts of the West Bank, from 1 July.
In response, the Palestinian Authority has threatened to cancel
the implementation of all bilateral agreements if annexation
takes place, he said, adding that critical decisions by Israeli
leaders today could impact the trajectory of the conflict for
years to come.
“Moves to annex land and to accelerate settlement expansion,
combined with the devastating impact of COVID-19, can ignite the
situation and destroy any hope of peace”, he said.
“The path of unilateral action will only lead to more conflict
and suffering.”
The better alternative, he said, would see Israelis and
Palestinians working hand-in-hand to modernize and expand
existing agreements, to solidify the current relative calm in
Gaza, to implement the recommendations of the Middle East Quartet
and actively take steps towards a negotiated two-State solution.
On efforts to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, Mr. Mladenov
explained that the United Nations has delivered more than 1
million items – including personal protective equipment and
thousands of test kits – for Palestinian-run hospitals and
clinics.
He also put a spotlight on Israeli efforts to help Palestinians
affected by the deadly virus.
