Addressing the UN Security Council on Monday, the UN envoy
for the Middle East Peace Process urged Israelis,
Palestinians, regional States and the broader international
community to “take practical steps to enable the parties to
re-engage” in the peace process.
“The Middle East Quartet – alongside Arab partners – and
Israeli and Palestinian leaders, must work together to return
to the path of meaningful negotiations”, Nickolay Mladenov
told the ambassadors in his final briefing as Special
Coordinator.
A historic struggle
“Israelis and Palestinians, Jews and Arabs have lived with
conflict for too long”, said the UN envoy. “Loss and
displacement are part of the personal history of every single
household” for generations.
He painted a picture of Palestinians being “upended from
their homes” and forced to seek refuge across the region
while “Jews have been upended from across the region” and
forced to seek refuge in Israel.
Mr. Mladenov reminded that the conflict is not only over land
or history, “it is a conflict over the very right of two
nations to co-exist”.
Financial shortfall
A disruption of vital services in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory (OPT) is hanging in the balance as the UN Relief
and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) faces a
funding gap of $88 million, which includes some $22 million
to pay salaries of nearly 30,000 frontline education, health,
social and other workers directly assisting Palestine
refugees.
“The Agency is not only a lifeline for millions of Palestine
refugees, and fully engaged in the fight against COVID-19,
but is also critical for regional stability”, said Mr.
Mladenov. “Sufficient funding is essential for the Agency’s
continuity, and I renew my appeal for support”.
Meanwhile, last week the Palestinian Prime Minister and the
Acting OPT Humanitarian Coordinator launched a 2021
Humanitarian Response Plan, which includes a $417 million
appeal to help 1.8 million vulnerable people over the coming
year.
“The latest humanitarian needs assessment found that 2.45
million Palestinians — some 47 per cent of the population
currently need aid”, he said.
Settlements must cease
Israeli settlement-related developments continue, with
expansions in the occupied West Bank, including East
Jerusalem, Mr. Mladenov added, saying they entrench Israel’s
occupation and undermine the prospect of a two-State
solution.
“The advancement of all settlement activity must cease
immediately”, he spelled out, underscoring that they
constitute “a flagrant violation” of UN resolutions and
international law.
The Special Coordinator also called “deeply concerning”, the
continued demolition and seizure of Palestinian humanitarian
projects and schools.
“I call on Israeli authorities to end the demolition of
Palestinian property and the displacement and eviction of
Palestinians”, he said.
Peace achievable
In closing, he recounted that every Palestinian he met
believed that negotiations were “only a façade” for more land
grabs while every Israeli believed they would lead to more
“violence and terror”.
“The world cannot leave the situation unattended”, said the
Special Coordinator, pointing to UN resolutions, bilateral
agreements and the Middle East Quartet’s efforts, all aimed
at resolving the conflict.
“No one in the international community questions the
foundation that any resolution…must be based on two States”
and that requires “engagement between the parties and not
through violence”, he stressed.
Both sides must “look inward” both in coordination and
independently “to protect the goal of sustainable peace”.
“I firmly believe that the goal of a just and lasting peace
between the Israeli and Palestinian people remains achievable
through negotiations and can be mediated between the Middle
East Quartet and the Arab partners”, the Special Coordinator
said.
Mr. Mladenov informed that in January, Tor Wennesland would
take over the mission and called his successor “one of the
most capable diplomats I have ever worked with”.
“I wish him every success in the years ahead and hope that
you will extend to him your full support, as you have done to
me”, concluded the outgoing UN envoy.
