But I wanted to start, as others have done, I wanted to
stress the UK position on settlements hasn’t changed.
They are illegal under international law. They present
an obstacle to peace. They threaten the physical
ability of a two-state solution. The British position
was reflected in our support for UNSCR 2334, but also
in previous resolutions, which confirmed the lack of
legal validity, such as SCR 465 of 1980. We’ve also
condemned the advancement of plans for over 2000
housing units across the West Bank on 10 October and
call on such counterproductive action to end.
Turning specifically to Gaza, I wanted to thank Ms Hary
for her briefing and her insights on access. We take
this very seriously. The most important thing, I think,
is the escalation of hostilities in Gaza that began on
12 November. We’re very concerned about that. We
welcome the ceasefire reached between Israel and
Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and we’re grateful, as are
others, to Egypt and the UN for their mediation
efforts. And I want to stress the complete
unacceptability of the indiscriminate attacks against
civilians by Palestinian Islamic Jihad. We regret the
loss of life and we urge all parties to adhere to the
ceasefire arrangement. Longer term, we encourage actors
to put forward sustainable proposals to resolve the
threat posed to Israel’s security by Hamas, by
Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other militants in Gaza.
Hamas’ misrule is leading to dreadful consequences for
the people of Gaza and also of Israel.
I wanted to pick up on Ms Hary’s briefing on movement
and access restrictions and show how this has
constrained exports and impacted on the Palestinian
economy in forms of low growth and rising levels of
unemployment. And we look to Israel to apply the same
conditions on Palestinian traders as they do on Israeli
ones.
I wanted to join what other speakers have said about
our concern about demolitions, about incidents of
violence in both directions. I wanted to take the
opportunity also to join others in saying absolutely
that Israel’s security is a top priority for us and to
condemn the missiles that are fired at Israel. But as
long as we have this destabilising situation, and the
violence is very difficult to find a way through.
We remain concerned by increase in settler violence. We
welcome work towards genuine and democratic national
elections for all Palestinians – and I agree with those
speakers who said that this was crucial in view of the
establishment of a viable and sovereign Palestinian
state. And to this end, we call on all Palestinian
factions to seek common ground and to work together to
pursue a positive path towards democracy for the full
benefit of the Palestinian people.
I also just wanted to put down a marker about a call
for greater media freedoms in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories, including revising relevant legislation.
We’re concerned by the 17 October decision by the
Ramallah Magistrate Court ordering the blocking of 50
Palestinian Arabic websites. We think that’s an
important part of what is happening on the ground.
But finally, to join others in noting the importance of
the two-State solution, but also the importance of
Palestine and Israel living in peace, living in mutual
respect side by side as equal and sovereign states. And
of course, security is an absolutely crucial component
of that.
