Recent heightened tensions in the Middle East underscore the
critical need for dialogue and diplomacy in the region, the UN’s
Political Affairs chief told the Security Council on Tuesday.
Rosemary DiCarlo was briefing ambassadors on developments related
to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as recent protests
in Lebanon, against the backdrop of the crisis sparked by the
killing of a top Iranian general by the United States earlier
this month.
“The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not immune to the tensions
in the region”, she said. “At the same time, the
effects of its persistence are felt far beyond Israel and
the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
Ms. DiCarlo reiterated the UN’s position that there can
be no sustainable peace in the Middle East without
resolving the decades-long dispute.
However, with the political process deadlocked, she said
“negative developments” continue to undermine prospects for a
two-State solution, including Israel’s expansion of
settlement activity and threats to annex parts of the West
Bank.
“In the absence of progress towards an agreement that will
resolve all final status issues based on the 1967 lines, the
United Nations continues to focus its efforts on establishing an
environment conducive to the return to the
negotiations”, she said.
“Recent regional events have once again brought
to the fore the crucial necessity of dialogue and
diplomacy in the region.”
Humanitarian needs
The UN deputy humanitarian coordinator informed the
Council that $348 million will be needed this
year to provide food, protection, health care and other
services to some 1.5 million vulnerable Palestinians,
particularly in Gaza.
Ursula Mueller was fresh from a six-day visit to the
region, where she witnessed Gazans trapped in a cycle
of deepening poverty and insecurity due to a decline in
external aid, high unemployment and economic recession.
“UNICEF reports rising
rates of school dropout, child labour, and child marriage,
and an estimated 270,000 children suffer from some form of mental
disorder. Similarly, I have seen how the lives and
wellbeing of residents in Israeli communities around Gaza are
disrupted by rocket fire from Palestinian armed groups, with
mental health impacts particularly among children”, she
said.
Ms. Mueller also pointed to signs of “cautious optimism”,
such as an increase in the number of people allowed to
leave Gaza, and the creation of 37,000 jobs by the UN agency
that assists Palestinians, UNRWA, the UN
Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank.
“Ultimately, the solution for the occupied Palestinian territory
is neither humanitarian nor development action, but lies in
political discourse and agreement”, she stated.
Election hopes
The UN remains hopeful that the Palestinian Authority will hold
legislative and presidential elections this year. The last
vote was held in 2006.
Ms. DiCarlo reported that political parties have confirmed
they would include more women candidates than the law
requires. There is also discussion over amending the
law to raise the quota of listed women
candidates from 20 to 30 per cent.
“Despite broad internal political agreement and a series of
compromises by all factions, to date President Abbas has not
issued the decree needed to schedule elections. In the past
month, he has stated that he would not set dates until Israel
agrees that elections can take place in East Jerusalem. Plans to
organize the vote are now grinding to a halt”, she
said, noting that UN
engagement continues in the interim.
Turning to Lebanon, Ms. DiCarlo expressed serious concern
over violent protests in the capital, Beirut, this past
weekend.
Since October, people have been taking to the streets in mostly
peaceful demonstrations over corruption and economic
collapse as stalemate over forming a
new Government continues.
She said senior UN officials in the country have
encouraged parties to protect against any potential spill-over
and to urge for calm.
