Statement by Ambassador Jonathan Allen at the (virtual)
Security Council briefing on the situation in the Middle
East
Thank you, Mr President. Thank you also to SRSG Mladenov for his
briefing. I would like to begin by welcoming the swearing in of
the new Israeli Government. The United Kingdom looks forward to
working with this government on a whole range of bilateral and
regional issues, not least peace in the Middle East.
We do, however, remain deeply concerned about the prospects of
annexation of parts of the West Bank. Annexation of any part of
the West Bank by Israel would be a clear violation of
international law and would profoundly damage efforts to restart
peace negotiations. We instead encourage the new Government of
Israel and the Palestinian Authority to work towards a lasting
agreement based on a two-state solution.
To this end, the United Kingdom appreciates the proposals which
the Palestinian Authority has made for renewed dialogue. As part
of this, we look to the Palestinian leadership to offer detailed
proposals for a settlement, and find a means of restarting
discussions with the United States, who retain a key role in the
Middle East Peace Process.
Mr President, we are disappointed by the announcement by
President Abbas yesterday. Now is the time for more cooperation
between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, not less. Security
cooperation is particularly important. Instability is in no one’s
interest, except extremists. It is critical that both Israel and
the Palestinian Authority work together to meet their obligations
under the Oslo Accords, and refrain from unilateral actions that
could set back the cause of peace.
The United Kingdom remains committed to achieving a negotiated
settlement leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a
viable and sovereign Palestinian state; based on 1967 borders
with agreed land swaps, Jerusalem as the shared capital of both
states, and a just, fair, agreed and realistic settlement for
refugees.
We reiterate our call on the Government of Israel to halt any
activity that makes peace more difficult to achieve. This
includes advancement of settlement plans including in Givat
Hamatos, Har Homa, and in E1. All settlements are illegal under
International Humanitarian Law. Settlement construction in these
highly sensitive areas threatens to further undermine the
viability of a future Palestinian state with its capital in East
Jerusalem. We also remain concerned by the continued demolition
of Palestinian property, and repeated incidents of settler
violence. Perpetrators must be held to account.
At the same time, we call on the Palestinian Authority to tackle
incitement and anti-Semitism which create a non-conducive
environment for cooperation and negotiations. The United Kindgom
strongly condemns the use of racist, hateful or anti-Semitic
language.
Mr President, we remain deeply concerned by the ongoing cycle of
violence. Recent weeks have seen the killing of an IDF soldier in
Jenin and the killing of a number of Palestinians across the West
Bank. Among those Palestinians killed was 15-year-old Zaid
Al-Qaysiya from Hebron who died as a result of IDF live fire.
Every Israeli and Palestinian has the right to live in peace and
security. The ongoing violence underlines that a just and lasting
resolution that ends the occupation and delivers peace for both
Israelis and Palestinians is long overdue. We urge continued calm
in Gaza. Indiscriminate attacks against civilians are
unacceptable.
Finally, Mr President, I would like to thank the Government of
Israel for pledging on behalf of Israel $60 million to the
international fund for vaccines at the Coalition for Epidemic
Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) Summit on 4 May. During this
global crisis, cooperation is vital, and we continue to welcome
the ongoing cooperation between the Government of Israel and the
Palestinian Authority towards tackling COVID-19, as well as the
important part played by the United Nations.
It is our hope that the positive cooperation we have seen in
response to COVID-19 will translate into cooperation to achieve a
negotiated settlement to the Middle East peace process.
