YouSaid · the spoken record

Al-Kidwa

lines on the record: 724
first: 1992-01-06
most recent: 2004-10-06
sittings or episodes: 59
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“The countries of the Non-Aligned Movement in the Council prepared a draft resolution in this context. They used all the ideas put forth by other members to reach acceptable formulas in this respect. They submitted the draft resolution for a vote on 18 December. Regrettably, that draft resolution was not adopted because it could not command the necessary nine votes, in spite of statements by some abstaining members that they had no substantive differences with the draft. This was very a regrettable failure by the Security Council, from our point of view. It may have sent the wrong message to Israel, the occupying force. Since that day, 18 December, the occupation forces have killed more than 80 Palestinian martyrs and have wounded several thousand.”
2001-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4295 (2001) · source
“The international community and all of us fervently hoped that it would stop Israel, the occupying force, from continuing its campaign against our people and its excessive use of force, that it would restore the situation to what it was before 28 September and that it bring a continuation of the peace process and negotiations between the two parties on the final settlement. Very regrettably, this has not happened. Israel has escalated its campaign against our people, in complete violation of the provisions of the resolution. In View of this, there was an urgent need for the international community to provide protection to Palestinian civilians who live under Israeli occupation. And the idea crystallized that the United Nations would send an observer force into the territories occupied by Israel since 1967.”
2001-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4295 (2001) · source
“It is the fourth time that the Council has held a public and official meeting to discuss the very dangerous situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem, since the visit by Mr. Ariel Sharon, who was elected Prime Minister of Israel, to Al-Haram Al-Sharif last September and the ensuing bloodletting campaign by the Israeli military against the Palestinian people. During that period, the Security Council adopted resolution 1322 (2000) on 7 October last.”
2001-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4295 (2001) · source
“Allow me to read out in English this article from Reuters. (spoke in English) "At least six Palestinian children were burned when Israeli border police threw a stun grenade into the courtyard of a school in the West Bank city of Hebron on Thursday. Witnesses said some of the children, aged about 10 to 13, screamed as they were carried out of the school into ambulances. At least one child's head was wrapped in a bandage. But doctors described the casualties' burns as moderate to light. The army, which was looking into the report, gave no immediate explanation of the incident." (spoke in Arabic) I will now go back to my official statement. The Council is meeting today at the request of Palestine and of the Arab Group.”
2001-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4295 (2001) · source
“Mr. Al-Kidwa (Palestine) (spoke in Arabic): I would like to start by congratulating you, Mr. President, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for this month. We express our pleasure at seeing you once again at the helm of the Permanent Mission of Ukraine, a very friendly country. I would also like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Tunisia and to the Tunisian delegation for the work they carried out last month. They represent a sisterly Arab country, which hosted the Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian military cadres for quite some time. Before I begin reading my official statement to the Council today, perhaps it would be appropriate that I inform the Council of the latest developments in the situation in our occupied territories.”
2001-03-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4295 (2001) · source
“I cannot determine the consequences of the Security Council's failure to fulfil its duties on the ground, nor can I foretell the price that will be paid by Palestinian civilians under the continued Israeli campaign or its repercussions throughout the region. We can only expect things to remain bad, but we still hope that justice and peace will ultimately prevail.”
2000-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4248 (2000) · source
“It would seem that the Security Council takes action only in issues involving the enemies of the United States, not, of course, in issues involving Israel, despite that country's violation of the United Nations Charter, international law, international humanitarian law and Security Council and other United Nations resolutions. There is not one noble objective declared by the international community that Israel has not contradicted, such as the protection of human rights, of civilians in times of war and of the vulnerable, particularly children, or the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, and so on. Nevertheless, all these rejections are ignored when the situation involves Israel. That is the pattern of automatic protection prevailing here.”
2000-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4248 (2000) · source
“Once again, we believe that the main cause - and there could be others - is the position of the great Power and its influence in this Security Council. For us, this phase of the Security Council's work is over. We feel no shame, and our friends should feel no shame, that we have not succeeded in adopting a resolution today. The results of today's action will not absolve the Security Council of its responsibility for events in the occupied Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem. Today's actions have persuaded the Palestinians and other Arabs that they cannot rely on the Security Council for justice.”
2000-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4248 (2000) · source
“In our View, the result which the Security Council achieved today has only one explanation and one cause- the position of the United States, which is openly and surprisingly linked to that of Israel, the occupying force, and the heavy pressure exerted by the United States on all the other members of the Security Council. Regardless of whether the United States used the veto or found another solution to prevent the adoption of the draft resolution, as we have just heard, the result is the same. We say with all due respect that some members, our friends, have taken positions that have occasionally varied. Others have taken positions that we could not understand, at times rejecting texts that they had previously proposed. The reason for this is no mystery.”
2000-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4248 (2000) · source
“On the contrary, the Council's successful adoption of the right decision could only help the projected talks, which can achieve no agreement that can be implemented without the essential measures addressing the situation on the ground. The representative of Israel informed us today that his country does not object in principle to a foreign presence. By this, he is in fact telling us that this Council should understand that it can do nothing without his approval. We have not accepted and will not accept Israel's approval as a precondition for the Security Council's assumption of its responsibilities.”
2000-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4248 (2000) · source
“We asked our friends in the Security Council to submit the draft resolution to a vote, regardless of the result of the voting, so as to confront the Security Council with its responsibilities and to show our people their options for action. Once again, S/PV.4248 we highly appreciate our friends' clear request to hold a vote on the draft resolution. The obvious result now is that the Security Council has shown itself unable or as yet unprepared to take even a minimal step to establish a United Nations observer force to protect Palestinian civilians, despite the horrific material and human losses and the ongoing siege. Some have tried to suggest that their positions are connected with tomorrow's resumption of the talks. In our View, that is incorrect. Events in Washington should not preclude action in the Security Council.”
2000-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4248 (2000) · source
“Why do some suggest the idea of getting the approval of the occupying force, although the issue involves occupied territories that are not under the sovereignty of the Israeli occupying force? Along with the sponsors of the draft resolution, we demonstrated great flexibility up to the last minute. The sponsors introduced further changes in the draft. Nevertheless, none of this was enough to change the final result. We were then obliged to take a necessary decision. We did so with extreme difficulty, with the highest sense of the responsibility required by realities in the Security Council and on the ground in our occupied territories, and in the absence of any other practical options.”
2000-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4248 (2000) · source
“The draft's sponsors showed a great deal of flexibility in dealing with the other members of the Security Council, with a view to reaching an agreement. Among other things, they accepted the idea of a two-phased approach, as proposed by other members of the Security Council. They were also willing to accept further changes so as to increase the level of support, if not achieve agreement and consensus. That willingness extended to postponing the adoption of a draft resolution based on specific demands by specific members of the Council. But our people have continued to ask important questions. Why is this taking so long? Why is the international community allowing Israel, the occupying force, to continue to oppress our people?”
2000-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4248 (2000) · source
“During that period, President Arafat personally came to New York and met with the Council, as did the members of the Ministerial Committee of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. Representatives of the Non- 12 Aligned Movement also came to New York more than once during that time. The Security Council held an open meeting on the situation, as well as a number of informal consultations. Despite all of this, however, the bloody Israeli campaign against our people and against Palestinian civilians continued, making the need even greater for adequate international protection for those innocent civilians, or, at the very least, for a contribution towards providing such protection through a United Nations observer force. The non-aligned caucus in the Security Council submitted its draft, after making certain important changes to it.”
2000-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4248 (2000) · source
“All of this is taking place despite the adoption by the Security Council of resolution 1322 (2000) on 7 October last and despite the resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 20 October last, during its resumed tenth emergency special session. The Palestinian people and the Arab countries, as well as the members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the members of the Non-Aligned Movement, have requested adequate protection for the Palestinian people through the establishment of a United Nations observer force. We have been moving, patiently and slowly, in that direction in the Security Council since 25 October last. We have attempted to deal with all the parties concerned in order to reach an agreement.”
2000-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4248 (2000) · source
“We deeply appreciate their position of principle and their strong sense of responsibility vis-a-vis the events that have taken place in our occupied territories, where Israel, since 28 September last, has been waging a bloody military campaign against our Palestinian people. More than 300 Palestinians have been killed at the hands of the Israeli occupation forces, and more than 10,000 have been injured, one third of them children under 18. The destruction and sabotage of our property continues, as does the siege. Yet today the representative of Israel comes to us with yet another statement that does not respect the intelligence of the international community and tries our patience and tolerance. We can only condemn that statement and all of its contents.”
2000-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4248 (2000) · source
“Mr. Al-Kidwa (Palestine) (spoke in Arabic): I should like to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council, and I extend my gratitude to your predecessor. Regrettably, the draft resolution was not adopted. In our View, this is a sad day for the Security Council. First of all, we would like to extend our sincere thanks, on behalf of the Palestinian people, to the non- aligned States members of the Security Council - Bangladesh, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mali, Namibia and Tunisia. We would like also sincerely to thank Ukraine and China for having voted in favour of the draft resolution, together with its sponsors.”
2000-12-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4248 (2000) · source
“I wish in particular to express our appreciation for the statement made on behalf of the European Union. We agree with that statement. We are ready to work with the members of the European Union and other members, as well as with all the parties concerned that are ready to make efforts to resolve the situation and to reach peace in the Middle East region.”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“This is what the approach should be, rather than addressing the other party in a condescending manner, as if to say I am the master, I am the occupier, while the other party must understand that the Security Council will be of no avail to it and international law will be useless and that crying and pain will also be useless. But he has to defer to the master because the master is the one who will grant him something that he should accept. But this is untenable. The beginning of change starts with a change in mentality, by recognizing that there is an occupation and by accepting the other as an equal as well as by accepting his dignity. In conclusion, we wish to thank all the members of the Security Council and all those others who spoke in the Council.”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“Finally, I hope that people will not only remember the Israelis who died or only the five injured Israeli children. We condemn that. But we do not want people to remember them only and for things to stop there. How about the scores of Palestinian children who were killed in cold blood by snipers, at the hands of the occupation soldiers? You must have read several reports. There were several films on that issue. Their plight is indeed sad. I did not intend to delve into all these matters, in order to remain at a level becoming of the Council, but the Israeli representative insists on dragging the matter on in this way. This is unfortunate and should end. But the end comes through a change in the mentality of the occupier. Peace requires mutual respect and recognition of the existence and equal rights of the other party.”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“They come to occupy a territory. They collect fewer than 5,000 settlers to occupy about 40 per cent of the Gaza Strip. Do you know how big the Gaza Strip is? 360 square kilometres of arid, fallow land devoid of any natural resources, including water. In addition to that, 40 per cent of the other land is under Israeli occupation, where fewer than 5,000 Israeli settlers reside illegally. Is this a natural occupation? No. Is this apartheid? No. This is a unique event, unprecedented in contemporary history, which will later be called the Israeli occupation with all its deep and painful implications resulting from the aforementioned Israeli practices. They are directly responsible for these events. The occupation is the source of these events. The violation of international law is also the cause of these events.”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“No one wishes to inflict harm on any child, but is it not our right to remind you that the children who were injured on the Israeli bus were fewer that the 80 Palestinian children who were killed at the hands of the Israeli occupation? Eighty Palestinian children have been killed by the Israeli occupation forces. Where is the equality here? Where is the fairness? There are two things we do not accept. The first thing we deem untenable is for anyone to think that the Israeli child is more precious than the Palestinian child. The second matter is that we refuse to absolve the Israeli Government of its direct responsibility for these acts because they bring settlers, including their children, in an illegal manner that contravenes the Security Council and the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prevents the transference of population.”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“Barak stopped the peace process with the Wye River process. He did not advance even one centimetre in implementing the agreements between the two parties. Finally, he is the man who leads us now to the brink of catastrophe. Ask Israeli commentators and Israeli political forces about what is being said of his great leadership. We do not object to what has been stated today about the events in Israel. We have always stated our rejection of all acts committed against Israeli civilians. We have condemned terrorist acts in all their aspects, including State terrorism and terrorism caused by the occupation itself. To a great extent we do not oppose what has been said about the bus incident in Gaza because children are children, regardless of their nationality.”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“Ehud Barak, the Israeli Prime Minister; that man, who allowed the ill-fated visit of Ariel Sharon on 28 September 2000; the man who conspired with Ariel Sharon to permit this visit although he knew its implications beforehand; the man who follows the doctrine "timeout from the peace process" and who has a declared position to end the peace process, even for a short time; the general who has "a pin-point strike doctrine", as if the Palestinian people were mere objects and targets against whom he can practise his advanced military theories; the Prime Minister who did not observe one promise with the other negotiating party; the person who did not implement any of the agreements concluded. Mr. Barak did not withdraw one centimetre from the Palestinian territories, except the ones that Mr. Netanyahu had agreed to withdraw from. Mr.”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“What is wrong with the intifada and independence? That may have been wrong for Israel, but fortunately not for the international community. The intifada that lasted seven years was a non-violent communal expression of the Palestinian people, and its rejection of the occupation and its insistence on the right to self-determination and to establish its own State. Defenceless civilian Palestinians have paid a high price for the intifada, of which we are proud. We are proud of our people. We are proud of our sacrifices. There is nothing wrong with that. This collective and principled position of our people is correct. The representative of Israel wishes to continue talking about persons. Perhaps it behooves us to recall the record of Mr.”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“Mr. Al-Kidwa (Palestine) (spoke in Arabic): The Permanent Observer of Palestine has asked for the floor once again because he wishes to express dismay with regard to the second statement made by the representative of Israel. During our debates at the United Nations - including those in the Security Council - we have always tried to avoid mentioning persons and personal matters while discussing issues. I would hope that we could be as objective as possible. The Israeli party chooses again to attack the Palestinian leader, who is the elected President of the Palestinian people. I do not exactly know what objective can be achieved by doing that, except to fire more deadly bullets into the peace process or the hope for peace. What is wrong with the leader of the Palestinian people calling for independence?”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“There is the main reason for our misfortune, and therein lies the remedy to it. One does not need to be a genius to come up with this remedy. This has been the fate of all peoples struggling for self-determination, freedom and independence. Any situation in which there is suffering can be remedied in this manner, and thus we can avoid additional problems and bloodshed. Let me once again thank you, Sir, for having convened this meeting and for having paid such close attention to what I have been saying.”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“For some time we and the whole world were awaiting the triumph of the peace process. We were awaiting the admission of Palestine as a United Nations Member State. Personally, I was expecting to be able to work in a different environment and situation than the one I now find myself in. But, unfortunately, the occupying Power does not even wish to accept anything as fundamental, elementary and self-evident as the fact that the problem resides in occupation itself. If the occupying force were prepared to put an end to this occupation then all the disasters would disappear, all the ills that our people are experiencing would come to an end and the region would be rid of these problems. Why the clashes? Why all the warfare? Why the accusations? The end of the occupation would lead to an immediate end to all these problems.”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“We commended this initiative; we responded favourably to the Secretary- General's efforts; and we have every intention of continuing to respond favourably to his efforts. Further, we would say that time is short; indeed it is running out. The toll of casualties is increasing. The destruction is becoming more serious. Things are growing more complicated. All this warrants urgent action in adopting the necessary resolution. In full frankness and candour we urge the Council to take the necessary measures at the beginning of next week, so that only one month will have elapsed since our first initiative, and so that this action will have legitimacy in the eyes of the people who are enduring the occupation. It seem legitimate and just for the Council to act in its official capacity by adopting or not adopting the draft resolution before it.”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“So we have said that Israel's approval is not a prerequisite for the Security Council measures to be enacted. We think that practical cooperation with Israel is a must for implementation of any resolution the Council may adopt. This conclusion stems from the legal obligation of Member States. This is one of the obligations incumbent on Israel, as a United Nations Member State, under the Charter of the United Nations. We have also said that we are all duty-bound - all of us, members or non-members of the Security Council - to ensure this practical and pragmatic cooperation. Last Friday this Council agreed to entrust the Secretary-General with conducting the necessary consultations on this issue.”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“We took the necessary time to deal with all the constructive proposals, particularly the ideas of France, that were presented on this subject. We tried to take these proposals and ideas into consideration when we finalized our specific proposals. As for the approval of Israel, we would stress once again that approval by Israel, as an occupying Power, cannot be a prerequisite for the Security Council's enacting the necessary measures. The Council is not dealing here with a domestic situation of one of its Member States; it is dealing with the only United Nations Member State - I repeat, the only United Nations Member State - that the Security Council, in the 25 resolutions it has adopted regarding the region, recognizes as an occupying Power. I repeat: 25 resolutions. This is the only case of its kind.”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“President Yasser Arafat personally participated in a meeting with the Council, and we would like to thank the Council for giving us the opportunity of that special meeting with our President. He explained to the Council all the details of the Palestinian point of View. He requested 2,000 military observers, who would be equipped with light weapons. Why 2,000? Because our estimates regarding the practical requirements on the ground indicate that such a number would be appropriate. This observer force would have to act under the United Nations emblem and auspices and under its supervision. The observers would not be deployed to fixed locations or constant lines, so it is clear that the only objective is to ensure the safety and security of Palestinian civilians.”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“First, specific, concrete measures need to be taken to put an end to this deadly, bloody Israeli campaign being waged against the Palestinian people and Palestinian civilians. Secondly, the Security Council must provide the necessary international protection for Palestinian civilians under Israeli occupation. Let us be frank with one another. The parties, after all that has happened, cannot themselves alone put an end to this situation. They need the assistance of a third party. We absolutely fail to understand why anyone is objecting to this, and why there is procrastination. Is it emanating from the permanent members or other members of the Security Council, or is it coming from outside the Council? Since 25 October, almost a month ago, we have been requesting that a United Nations observer force be established.”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“What has been the consequence of this Israeli campaign that was unleashed on 28 September, and the attack on the first Kiblah - the third-holiest site - in occupied East Jerusalem? The consequence was a vast number of victims and martyrs, and massive destruction. Another consequence was the considerable harm done to the Middle East peace process. The third consequence was the creation of great tensions in the region. The fourth consequence was that the region today, in its entirety, may experience further clashes and confrontations. Now the question that should be asked in the face of this very serious reality is "How can we put an end to this situation?" The responsibility of the Security Council is consistent and clear in this regard, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“At the same time, Israel has tried to back out of the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement and has engaged in obstructionist actions with regard to the fact-finding committee. That committee was set up with great expectations, but it has been unable to achieve anything. The reason, as the Council has learned and as the press reported this morning, are the obstructionist tactics of Israel. At least one press agency has reported that the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs had sent a letter to the United States Department of State indicating that the time was not yet right for this committee to undertake its work. Yet the committee was announced by President Clinton in accordance with the terms of the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement. However, in the View of the occupying Power, the committee is now undesirable. What, then, is the bottom line?”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“All of these events have been accompanied by a stalemate in the peace process - a stalemate imposed by Israel when its leaders proudly announced that they have called a time-out in the peace process, as though it were a basketball game. All of this action has been accompanied by reproaches directed against the Palestinian Authority. The reality is that Israeli policies and practices stem from the presence of Israeli occupiers and the policy of settlement - a policy that has continued even after the beginning of the peace process. The Israelis reproaches demonstrate that their position is clearly racist. How can they accuse the Palestinian people of putting their children in front of murderous Israeli forces? Such an accusation actually carries a clearly racist message.”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“We also communicated details of the massive destruction that occurred in the bloody attack by the occupying Israeli Power - the destruction of houses, factories and plants - intended to make the land arid and render it unproductive. The movement of people and goods has been prohibited, which has had a deleterious effect on the already weak Palestinian economy. All of these actions constitute a series of grave violations and breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949. Many actions, such as those that I have cited, constitute war crimes under the terms of that Convention. They also represent a grave breach of United Nations resolutions, including the resolutions of this Council.”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“We also detailed examples of Israeli conduct, how they have been using their enormous war machine in an excessive, disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force, often without justification. We communicated to the Council numerous instances of deliberate murder, either by sniper fire or as a result of the use of other weapons, including heavy weapons such as tanks and other military equipment. We indicated how seriously such deliberate actions have affected so many people. More than 10,000 people have been injured, including 2,000 injuries caused by live ammunitions. Many of those injured will be disabled for life, and one third of the casualties are children under the age of 18.”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“In the wake of these attacks and raids, at least one Palestinian was killed, over 70 were injured and considerable material damage was done. But after these attacks - and this is of paramount importance - a state of general panic swept through Gaza's entire population of over 1 million people. There is a threat that this serious escalation in the situation will spread to the entire Middle East region, leading to a situation of unprecedented gravity that might have unknown disastrous consequences. Since 29 September - one day after the unfortunate visit of Ariel Sharon to Al-Haram Al- Sharif on 28 September - we have sent 14 official letters to the Security Council. In that official correspondence we transmitted, inter alia, the names of the Palestinian martyrs; today their number exceeds 225.”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“I should also like to thank you, Mr. President, for responding so rapidly to the request of the Arab Group to convene this emergency meeting of the Security Council, despite the fact that we are on the eve of a holiday. We commend you for your initiative. That request by the Arab Group was made in the light of the serious escalation of the violence by Israel in the past few hours. In fact, at 6 pm. Palestine time, Israeli military helicopters, with the assistance of Israeli naval gunships, undertook intensive attacks against numerous targets in Gaza and other locations in the Gaza Strip. The occupying Israeli forces launched over 50 rocket attacks against Palestinian Authority facilities and buildings, including a police station, a preventive security installation and Fatah movement buildings.”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“Mr. Al-Kidwa (Palestine) (spoke in Arabic): Allow me first of all to congratulate you, Mr. President, on presiding over the Council this month and to express to you our gratitude for understanding the very difficult time the Palestinian people are experiencing. I should also like to take this opportunity to particularly thank the President of the Council of last month, Ambassador Andjaba, for the valuable efforts he made to ensure that the Council assume its responsibilities vis-a-vis the explosive situation affecting the Palestinian occupied territories, Jerusalem and the Middle East in general. These and other efforts of the Council led to the adoption of resolution 1322 (2000) - a resolution of great value and significance that has, like others, still not been implemented by the occupying Power, Israel.”
2000-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4231 (2000) · source
“There are some serious attempts to enable the Council to adopt a clear, constructive and useful position in consonance with the obligations of the Council and in defence of justice and the cause of peace in the region. In this respect, it is incumbent upon us to thank the members of the Non-Aligned Movement who are members in the Council and have tabled the draft resolution. We express our deep appreciation for the consultations that have taken place on this subject. We do hope that the Council will be able to take action and call for an urgent international inquiry into the incidents of the past few days. Finally, we express our deep gratitude to all members of the Council and to all other States Members of the United Nations and others that participated in the debate over the past three days.”
2000-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4204Resumption2 (2000) · source
“Those cameras have exposed the truth of what has been happening to the whole world. Other ugly scenes took place inside Israel itself. Did the Palestinian Authority plan or orchestrate what happened inside Israel itself? Did it incite the Israeli Arabs to do that? If not, why then are there 11 dead and more than 100 wounded among the Israeli Arab? Israel has immediately to stop making such shameless allegations. This could be a genuine step towards admitting the truth and recognizing the humanity of the other party. Similarly, it could be the beginning of Israel's assuming and admitting its responsibilities. Without doing this, Israel cannot claim that it wants to make peace with the Palestinian people. It would not be possible to claim that they are willing to make peace.”
2000-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4204Resumption2 (2000) · source
“This confirms that the international community must assume its responsibilities and put an end to this crime, impose the convening of an international commission of inquiry to find the truth and to punish those who are responsible and to make sure that such crimes are not repeated in the future. I would like to refer to the Israeli allegation with regard to what they call the "incitement", or Palestinian violence or what they call the organization etc. In our address to the Council, we said that only those who are incapable of seeing, or only a racist can make such an allegation. Now, we should add stupidity to those who have the courage to make such an allegation. Why? Because now there are many cameras, not only the one that captured the murder of Mohammed Jamal Al-Durra.”
2000-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4204Resumption2 (2000) · source
“The main difference here is that the camera of Antenne 2 (of Canal France) captured that brutal Israeli act in this specific case. The camera, and not the truth, is then what roused Israeli emotions. This is deeply regrettable and goes to show that Israel is bent on refusing to assume responsibility for the crime that took place. We were hoping that we would hear Israel accepting responsibility, not only for Mohammed Jamal Al-Durra, not only because of the camera that captured that scene, but for all the other killings. We hoped that we would hear an apology from Israel to the families of the victims. This did not happen.”
2000-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4204Resumption2 (2000) · source
“We accepted that out of respect for the religious beliefs of the other party, irrespective of what we feel or believe. But, Israel is now claiming rights over Al-Haram Al-Sharif, which can only be interpreted as a desire to change the status quo, perhaps desecrating existing holy places in the future. We do not think that this has any relation to any sincere religious sentiments. The representative of Israel, Ambassador Lancry, said how much he and other Israelis were deeply moved by the death of the child, Mohammed Jamal Al- Durra. I do not deny that such personal feelings and emotions do exist. This is welcome, but what is the difference between the murder of Mohammed Jamal Al-Durra and the killing of other children? What is the difference between Mohammed, Ahmed, or Ali or any other name?”
2000-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4204Resumption2 (2000) · source
“After 24 resolutions from the Security Council the representative of Israel comes to claim that Israel is dealing with this part of the territory in consonance with Israeli democracy, instead of acting in consonance with international humanitarian law, the Fourth Geneva Convention and the obligations of Israel as the occupying force. Al-Haram Al-Sharif, which is the third holy place, is part of East Jerusalem, which is part of the occupied Palestinian land. It belongs to the Muslims and must be under Palestinian-Arab-Muslim sovereignty, and we shall at no time, now or in the future, accept any claims of Israeli sovereignty over that part. At the same time, we have expressed our readiness to accept the control of Israel over the Wailing Wall, despite the fact that it is in the eastern, occupied section of Jerusalem.”
2000-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4204Resumption2 (2000) · source
“Barak did not go to Sharm el-Sheikh. He did not go there, although President Yasser Arafat and Mrs. Madeleine Albright were there. The four-party meeting was not held. It seems to me that this provides even more evidence of Israeli intentions. Regarding the visit by Ariel Sharon, whose record is well-known, and the reference to Israeli democracy in this context, it is not my intention to go into a discussion of the nature of this democracy and its modus operandi, at least when it relates to the Israeli Arabs. This is not an issue for the Council to discuss for today. But suffice it to say that we are talking about occupied territories. We are talking about occupied East Jerusalem, the subject of 24 resolutions by the Council affirming that the Fourth Geneva Convention applies to it.”
2000-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4204Resumption2 (2000) · source
“Witnesses said that another Palestinian man was shot dead as he tried to rip down an Israeli flag from the military post at the junction of Netzarim." (spoke in Arabic) Netzarim is a colony situated in the heart of Gaza, believe it or not. It is almost vacant, but its main purpose is to make the life of the Palestinians in Gaza almost impossible. Today's events occurred despite the efforts deployed yesterday in Paris and today in Sharm el- Sheikh - and many of those who addressed the Council expressed their hopes and prayers that those efforts would be successful. Those efforts, regrettably enough, have not yet led to any specific positive results. During the meeting in Paris no agreement was reached, and this was basically because Israel rejected the idea of an international commission of inquiry. What is more regrettable is that Mr.”
2000-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4204Resumption2 (2000) · source
“Mr. Al-Kidwa (Palestine) (spoke in Arabic): Of course we might have spared the members of the Council this additional intervention, but naturally I have to answer some of the points that were raised. Allow me to start by informing the Council about some incidents that took place today. I am quoting from a news agency in English. (spoke in English) "A 20-year-old Palestinian was shot dead by a bullet to his chest in the West Bank town of Beit Jala near Bethlehem. The director of the Beit Jala hospital said that at least one of the wounded admitted to the hospital had been struck by a dumdum bullet designed to explode inside the body.”
2000-10-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4204Resumption2 (2000) · source