Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is “key to sustainable
peace in the Middle East”, the UN chief said on Tuesday,
maintaining that the lack of any progress only “furthers
radicalization across the region”.
António Guterres told the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, meeting in New
York, that the Organization supports an end to the decades-long
conflict on the basis of numerous “resolutions, international law
and bilateral agreements” that have been made, with “recognized
borders on the basis of the pre-1967 lines”.
He cited the expansion and acceleration of illegal settlement
activities in the occupied West Bank, ongoing demolitions,
seizures of Palestinian-owned property and evictions, as
continuing cause for concern.
Moreover, the UN has “repeatedly stated that Jerusalem remains a
final status issue”, he continued, “the city’s future can only be
resolved on the basis of international law and through
negotiations between the parties”.
Unilateral proposal
Last week United States President Donald Trump proposed his
‘Vision for Peace, Prosperity and a Brighter Future’ that would
legalize Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem
and also allow Israel to annex around 30 per cent of the West
Bank.
Michael Link, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human
rights in Palestine, referred to it as “a
one and a half State solution".
For his part, the Secretary-General responded by recalling the
UN’s longstanding commitment to realize a two-State solution,
with Israelis and Palestinians “living side by side in peace and
security within recognized borders, on the basis of the pre-1967
lines.”
“The position of the United Nations on the two-State solution has
been defined, throughout the years, by relevant Security Council
and General Assembly resolutions by which the Secretariat is
bound”, he upheld.
Human suffering continues
Meanwhile, human suffering prevails throughout the occupied
Palestinian territory, said the UN chief, including the “dire
socio-economic conditions” facing the two million Palestinians
living in the Gaza Strip.
“Projects implemented by UN agencies and other donors are
bringing a measure of relief, but far more needs to be done”,
explained the UN chief.
Ultimately, Gaza also requires political solutions: “On its own,
no amount of humanitarian or economic support will resolve either
the situation in Gaza or the broader conflict”, he said.
Restrictions must be eased on the movement of goods and people to
and from Gaza, with the goal of ultimately lifting them.
“I call on Palestinian leaders to engage constructively with
Egypt and others to advance intra-Palestinian reconciliation”,
Mr. Guterres stated, repeating his pleas to Member States to
“ensure reliable funding for UNRWA [UN Relief and
Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East] to fully
continue its vital work on behalf of Palestinian refugees”.
Elections ‘long overdue’
Holding “long overdue general elections” in Palestine, including
East Jerusalem, will be “a crucial step” towards renewed
legitimacy for national institutions and “reuniting the
Palestinian people under a single, legitimate and democratic
Palestinian national government”, according to the UN chief.
“As my Special Coordinator of the Middle East Process recently
said to the Security Council, we are hopeful that the Palestinian
President will very soon issue the decree scheduling legislative
and presidential elections and that Israel will allow voting in
East Jerusalem as well”, he said.
UN’s diamond anniversary
In marking the Organization’s 75th anniversary, Mr. Guterres
flagged, “we need a renewed commitment to uphold the values of
the Charter as our shared framework of cooperation for
realization of the rights of future generations of Israeli and
Palestinians”.
“Rest assured of my full commitment and that of the United
Nations” for a “just and comprehensive peace” between
Palestinians and Israelis “living side by side” as two States,
concluded the Secretary-General.
