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Security Council: Middle East

Riad Malki, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine, said there are no words to describe the horrors his people are enduring, noting that only five months ago, Omar Al Hadidi came into life and will now grow old without his mother and brothers, ages 6, 8 and 14 — all killed by an Israeli air strike.  He recounted other casualties, entreating Council members that “when you embrace your children and grandchildren tonight, think of our children” and “what it feels to see your world crumbling down”.

Each time Israel hears a foreign leader speak of its right to defend itself, it is emboldened to continue murdering families in their sleep.  “Israel is killing Palestinians in Gaza, one family at a time,” he said, committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.  It is unapologetic and relentless in pursuing its colonial policies.  He asked what Palestinians are entitled to do to defend themselves, questioning whether they will receive support for investigations by the International Criminal Court — or deprived of a venue for justice.

He likewise questioned what tools the international community is prepared to deploy to ensure Israel’s compliance with its obligations and bring about an end to its occupation — tools it uses regularly in other conflicts:  military intervention, sanctions, the suspension of bilateral relations, prosecution of those who commit crimes, or imposition of an arms embargo, among them.  He wondered how Israel could believe that its troops, “storming the holiest of sites, Al-Aqsa Mosque, on the holiest of months, Ramadan, and on the holiest of nights, the night of destiny,” would bear no consequence.  “We are not two neighbours living side by side in peace,” he assured.  He described Israel as an armed thief who has “entered our house and is terrorizing our family”, claiming a right to security that it denies to Palestinians.  Israel is also a nuclear Power with a military arsenal, the Iron Dome and shelters, while Gazans are besieged.

Palestinian civilians need protection, he emphasized, and they deserve compassion, solidarity and action.  They are victims of dispossession, forced displacement, discrimination and denial of rights on both sides of the Green Line and in exile.  Palestinians enjoy support from many nations that are informed by their own historic struggles for freedom and “know oppression when they see it”.  He questioned the whereabouts of those who had proclaimed they had achieved peace in the Middle East by brokering agreements between countries that were not actually at war, or the real estate agents who claimed they could sell what they do not own.

“Jerusalem is not for sale,” he declared.  “Our roots are deep,” with Palestinian heritage etched into every stone, street and ally in the city.  “War and peace start from Jerusalem.”  Saving peace starts with saving Sheikh Jarrah, protecting Al-Haram Al-Sharif from attempts to divide it temporally and spatially.  The international consensus that the Council has helped to shape and defend is being destroyed.  “Act now to end the aggression and the assault on our people,” he said.  Palestinian freedom is the only path to peace.  It is the Council’s legal and moral duty to help achieve it.

The representative of Israel displayed a photo of a 16-year-old Arab girl from Israel, who was murdered on 12 May by the radical terrorist group Hamas.  Millions of Israelis have been huddling across Israel to avoid rocket fire.  Turning to Council members, he asked:  “What would you do if thousands of terrorist rockets were being fired at your country?”  It is far from the first time that Hamas has fired rockets at Israeli civilians, all while hiding behind Palestinian civilians.  This time is different because the campaign is part of a premediated, malicious plan to incite violence and take power in the West Bank, ultimately replacing the Palestinian Authority.  Explaining that Hamas was frustrated by President Mahmoud Abbas’ decision in April to postpone elections yet again, he said the group deliberately chose to escalate tensions in Jerusalem “as a pretext to start this war”.

Rejecting yet another pretext used by Hamas — accusations of meddling by the Israeli Government in a recent high-profile court case — he declared:  “Israel is a country of law, with a robust and independent judiciary.”  It is well known that the Government does not interfere with court proceedings.  Those accusations are false, and there can never be any excuse or justification for terrorism.  Hamas did not stop there, but instead went on to incite violence on the Temple Mount, as Palestinian extremists turned the Al-Aqsa Mosque into a site to stockpile weapons.  Showing a photo of stones piled up at that holy site, he said the Israeli police were able to use non-lethal means to disburse the riots without a single fatality.  “Israel deeply cherishes freedom of religion,” he said, noting that every year during Ramadan Palestinians are able to worship in peace.  Once again this year, Israel took all possible steps to de-escalate tensions in Jerusalem, even re-routing its Jerusalem Day parade, but Hamas responded only by firing more rockets.

For years, he continued, Hamas has built a vast web of underground terror tunnels that snake beneath playgrounds, hospital maternity wards and mosques, all in an effort to drive up civilian casualties when clashes do occur.  It attacks civilian infrastructure and buildings that house international media outlets.  Thanking the United States and all those countries that support Israel’s right to defend itself from such acts of terrorism, he described Hamas’ attacks — which involve attacking some civilians by hiding behind other civilians — as a “double war crime”.  While Israel abides strictly by international law and takes extreme measures to protect civilians, their use by Hamas as human shield can regrettably lead to civilian casualties.  Against that backdrop, he warned against efforts to compare Israel and Hamas, stressing that the latter sees every Israeli death as a victory in its antisemitic plan and every Palestinian death as a success in its campaign to evoke international sympathy.

Beyond the actions of Hamas, he went on to cite recent acts of violence committed by Arab citizens against Jews — including instances of lynchings — as well as by some Jewish citizens against Palestinians, all of which are totally unacceptable.  The current violence is a direct result of internal Palestinian political manoeuvring, he stressed, emphasizing that Israel has always sought peace and continues to do so.  He warned the Council against choosing to avoid condemning Hamas, which will only embolden a terrorist organization that seeks to wipe Israel off the map.  “Today, you can choose a different path,” he said, urging members to support Israel’s heroic efforts to defend itself and dismantle Hamas’ terror network, sending a message that it will not longer turn a blind eye to its human shield strategy.

Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan, said Israel is responsible for the difficult situation in the occupied Palestinian territories — and everything caused by the bloodshed.  “The hostilities must stop,” he insisted.  “The illegitimate practices of Israel must stop.”  The Council must act now to protect Palestinians, he said, underscoring the impossibility of maintaining the status quo.  Lasting peace is a national and regional necessity.  Peace cannot be created through settlement activities, which are a grave and flagrant violation of international law.  Nor can peace be achieved by confiscating territory, forcing Palestinians to leave or by changing the historic status of historical sites in Jerusalem.  Stressing that the city and its holy sites are sacred, he said “any attempt to undermine this area is provocative for 2 billion Muslims.”  It is Israel’s responsibility to protect the status quo in Jerusalem, as well as the Arab and Islamic identity of its holy sites.  The Council must force Israel to respect Sheikh Jarrah, he said, stressing that, according to international humanitarian law, the inhabitants of East Jerusalem are civilians and should be protected.  “We are talking about a war crime,” he said, citing resolution 478 (1980).  “Let us call things as they are.”  The occupation is the source of the conflict.  Peace and justice are diametrically opposed from this fact.  International law must be respected, and resolutions must be implemented, including Security Council resolution 2334 (2016).  He called for a two-State solution that establishes a Palestinian State along 4 June 1967 borders, pursuant to the Arab Peace Initiative and various Security Council resolutions.  The Council must launch serious negotiations aimed at ending the occupation and shoring up peace, based on the land for peace initiative that Israel is currently undermining.  “This inhuman occupation must disappear,” he insisted, stressing that Jordan seeks to work with the Council in establishing a just peace that meets the needs of all those living there.

Sameh Shoukry, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Egypt, said the Council is meeting today after 70 years of ongoing tragedy for Palestinians and 42 years after the launch of the peace process, which at the outset was a hopeful one.  “This hope has little by little dissipated,” he said, amid the repeated failure to end the conflict.  Today, unprecedented confrontations are taking place against worshippers in Jerusalem, including Al-Aqsa Mosque, alongside a systematic policy against Arab citizens in Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem.  He denounced prevarication around international legal promises, including for serious negotiations on the creation of a Palestinian State decided upon before 1967.  Stressing that Israel’s military operation has created victims in Gaza, jeopardizing peace and stability in the region, he said the Council must shoulder its responsibility to bring an end to the conflict and undertake efforts to deescalate the situation so that “everyone can take a deep breath and think about the causes”.  The two-State solution is the only means for satisfying all the parties, he said, pointing out that the threats to regional stability did not appear over night, but rather stem from a climate of tensions perpetuated over years of systematic regression and the undermining of efforts to achieve peace in the region.  Citing the confiscation of land and destruction of institutions and homes, he said Israel’s practices have even violated the holy month of Ramadan.  “Al-Aqsa Mosque has become a battlefield,” he said, stressing that Egypt, aware of its responsibility to its Arab brothers, has worked at all levels to achieve an immediate ceasefire and to protect the lives of innocent people, seeking to foster a return to the negotiation table.  There is no other means to achieve peace and security than by establishing a Palestinian State along 4 June 1969 lines.  He insisted on the renewal and implementation of activities by the Middle East Quartet.  Egypt is acting with Jordan, France and Germany in the Munich context to foster a resumption of negotiations, he said, insisting that holy sites be protected — with Hashemite guards involved in those efforts — and urging more broadly that concessions be made as a price for peace.

Wang Yi, State Councillor and Minister for Foreign Affairs of China, Council President for May, spoke in his national capacity, saying that the current situation first requires an immediate ceasefire.  The international community must do its part to ensure peace because without stability, the Middle East region will continue to face tensions.  The use of force only brings more hatred, and parties must cease hostilities, including air strikes and rocket launches that aggravate the situation.  Israel must exercise restraint, stop demolitions and end evictions.  Meanwhile, the State of Palestine must avoid steps that escalate the situation and must prevent civilian casualties and work towards a peaceful solution.  Turning to the grave humanitarian situation, he called on Israel to lift the Gaza blockade and facilitate the delivery of aid.  Efforts must support UNRWA in its critical work and avert a humanitarian disaster.  For its part, the Council must take strong actions on the conflict, reiterate its call for a two-State solution and do more to de-escalate the violence.  Regrettably, the obstruction of one country prevents the Council from speaking in one voice, he said, calling on the United States to support the 15-member organ in easing the situation, building trust and advancing a political settlement to the conflict.  The two-State solution is the way forward, he said, regretting to note stalled peace talks.  Recalling that this issue has been on the United Nations agenda for more than 70 years, he said the solution still remains elusive.  Expressing support for peace talks and the Middle East peace process, he invited the two sides to China to resume direct negotiations.  At the same time, the Council must do its part because the world is watching, he said, adding that “we must practice true multilateralism” in finding a just solution to the conflict.

The representative of the United States, noting that the human toll taken during violence over the week has been devastating, said the numbers that may grow by the end of the Council’s meeting.   Also expressing alarm over the violence impacting journalists and medical personnel, she called on all parties to ensure the protection of civilians and to respect international humanitarian law.  She expressed particular concern about protecting United Nations facilities, noting that civilians are seeking shelter in two dozen of them.  United States President Joe Biden has spoken with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Mahmoud Abbas, while the Secretary of State is working with senior Palestinian and Israeli and regional leaders.  The United States also remains intensely engaged with officials from Israel, Egypt and Qatar, as well as the Special Coordinator — to establish conditions for a sustainable calm.  In all engagements, the United States has made clear its readiness to lend its support and good offices, should parties seek a ceasefire.  Calling on Hamas and other Palestinian groups in Gaza to halt rocket attacks and other provocations, she expressed concern over intercommunal violence in mixed communities.  Parties must avoid actions including incitement, violent attacks, evictions — notably in East Jerusalem — and settlement construction east of the 1967 lines, as well as uphold the historic status quo of the holy sites.  Once the fighting subsides, familiar questions will arise over how to rebuild communities, alleviate the suffering of civilians in Gaza and focus on the needs of people in the region, especially for justice.  Prolonged violence will make these questions more difficult to solve and place the two-State solution further out of reach.  It is critical that all parties return to working in good faith towards the vision of Israel and a Palestinian State living in peace, within secure and recognized borders in which both peoples equally enjoy freedom and prosperity.

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