Statement by Stephen Hickey, Director for Middle East and
North Africa in the FCDO, at the Preparatory meeting of the
High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement
of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the
Two-State Solution.
In addition to co-chairing Working Group Five on Humanitarian
Action and Reconstruction in Gaza with our Egyptian colleagues,
the UK is also looking forward to engaging across all the working
groups.
I would like to set out three priority areas where the UK thinks
this Conference can have real impact in moving us closer to
achieving a Two-State Solution.
First, the Palestinian Authority. To achieve a sovereign and
unified Palestinian State living in peace and security with
Israel, we need to provide support to the Palestinian Authority
so that it can effectively govern the entirety of the Occupied
Palestinian Territories. This includes financial and technical
assistance, as it delivers vital reforms.
We should also explore how to strengthen support for Palestinian
Authority fiscal and trade reforms, especially under the PA-EU
reform framework, with the aim of restoring the Palestinian
Authority's economic viability.
Second, security. Through Working Group Two, we have an important
opportunity to consider how we can ensure long-term security for
Israelis and Palestinians alike.
We should use this to build international consensus on the
transitional security and governance arrangements for the future
of Gaza, without Hamas, that can lay the ground for sustainable
peace in the region.
Third, we should use the conference to consider concrete measures
for safeguarding the Two-State Solution and upholding
international law. This should include concrete measures to
oppose illegal settlement activities and any attempts at
annexation.
For its part, the UK has announced a series of sanctions
targeting those responsible for supporting, inciting and
promoting violence against Palestinian communities in the West
Bank.
In addition to these three important themes, we must continue to
press for an immediate and rapid increase in humanitarian aid
delivery and distribution in Gaza. And we must also support the
efforts led by the United States, Qatar and Egypt to secure an
immediate ceasefire, the release of all remaining hostages, and
achieve a long-term political solution.
This is the best and only way to ensure lasting prosperity and
stability in the region.
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