YouSaid · the spoken record

Cheikh Niang

lines on the record: 80
first: 2020-04-23
most recent: 2021-10-19
sittings or episodes: 7
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

“On behalf of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, I would like, at the outset, to congratulate Tunisia for its able presidency of the Security Council this month and to thank Foreign Minister Othman Jerandi for his presence at today’s meeting as a testimony of Tunisia’s long-standing support for the Palestinian cause, including through its membership of the Committee. I wish to acknowledge the presence at this debate of Ms. Ine Eriksen Søreide, Norway’s Foreign Minister, and of Mr. Riyad Al-Malki, Foreign Minister of the State of Palestine. The Committee would like to congratulate India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico and Norway upon taking their seats on the Council and wishes them every success in exercising their responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations. Allow me to thank Mr.”
2021-01-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/91 (2021) · source
“Let me conclude by reaffirming the need for our collective show of solidarity with the Palestinian people and their resilience and our commitment to continuing to exert our best efforts towards the achievement of a just, comprehensive and durable solution to their cause. In that regard, the Committee invites all Member States to attend this year’s commemoration of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on 1 December and for all to use that special event to recommit to, and revitalize our collective efforts towards, resolving the Palestinian- Israeli conflict, which remains the key to lasting peace, stability and prosperity in the region.”
2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source
“The 2020 report of the Committee, contained in document A/75/35 and enclosed in a letter of transmittal dated 1 September 2020, provides a list of recommendations to advance efforts aimed at achieving a just solution to the question of Palestine, including actions by the Committee, other intergovernmental bodies, including the Human Rights Council, Member States, regional organizations and United Nations entities, enhanced advocacy and outreach activities with the international community and civil society, and specific support action in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee welcomes the Secretary-General’s clear position on the question of Palestine, based on international law, countless United Nations resolutions and the pursuit of a just solution, which echoes our own long- held stance on the matter.”
2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source
“The Committee notes with concern the rising COVID-19 infection rates in the occupied Palestinian territory, as well as in Israel, and urges increased support by the donor community to address the increased needs and vulnerabilities of the population in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza. The Committee is heartened by the recent steps taken towards Palestinian unity and welcomes plans to hold legislative and presidential elections in the occupied Palestinian territory in the near future.”
2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source
“At the same time, rockets continued to be fired from Gaza into Israel, highlighting a persistent risk of military escalation, which must be prevented at all costs. The arrest and imprisonment of Palestinian civilians, including children, by Israel, as well as the use of administrative detention, also continue and the abuse and neglect of Palestinian prisoners persist. We call on Israel to halt such illegal actions. The Committee remains concerned by the $200-million financial shortfall faced by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) at a time when the needs of the 5.6 million Palestine refugees supported by the Agency are increasing due to the global pandemic. We urge donors to provide UNRWA with sufficient and predictable funding for its vital core activities and emergency appeals.”
2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source
“Israel’s continued military occupation of Palestinian territory is facilitating illegal settlement activity, which is a situation confirmed by the Special Coordinator’s follow-up warning statement of 15 October issued in response to Israel’s advancing plans to illegally build nearly 5,000 settlement units in locations deep inside the occupied West Bank. Settlement S/2020/1055 S/2020/1055 construction is illegal under international law, remains one of the major obstacles to peace and must stop. A spike in expropriations, seizures and demolitions of Palestinian-owned structures was also reported, together with daily violence, including Israeli settler violence, against Palestinian civilians.”
2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source
“The goal of seeing Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security along the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian State remains unchanged; we must redouble our efforts in that direction and prevent that the current health emergency and socioeconomic crisis push this issue to the backburner. Special Coordinator Nickolay Mladenov, in his 29 September briefing to the Security Council (see S/PV.8762), stated that the implementation of resolution 2334 (2016) had not seen any significant progress.”
2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source
“Later, at the general debate of the seventy-fifth session of the General Assembly in September, we heard numerous statements reaffirming support for the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and freedom, in favour of the two-State solution based on the pre-1967 borders and firmly opposing Israeli annexation. The Committee calls for the total halt of any annexation plans by Israel, the occupying Power, and supports any initiatives, including a possible international peace conference, as repeatedly called for by Palestinian President Abbas, under the auspices of an expanded Quartet, which would allow for the re-engagement of the parties and the launch of a credible political horizon.”
2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source
“The threat of annexation and occupation of their territory remains intact, as do the colonization measures that entrench the occupation and facilitate annexation — all in grave breach of international law. As some States Members of the United Nations and their partners expressed concern about the unilateral character of these agreements, others welcomed the decision by Israel to suspend its planned annexation and called for the permanent halting of annexation plans and measures. The Secretary-General expressed the hope that the agreements could create an opportunity for Israeli and Palestinian leaders to re-engage in meaningful negotiations to realize a two-State solution in line with relevant United Nations resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements.”
2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source
“Compounded by social distress, economic downturn and concerns about recent developments, including Israel’s ongoing annexation threats, the situation put a just and durable solution of the question of Palestine into deep peril. Since my last statement to the Council in July (S/2020/736, annex 24), the signing of agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates on 15 September and between Israel and Bahrain on 18 October, has brought a change in relations in the Middle East. The State of Palestine subsequently rejected these agreements because, while they ostensibly purported to halt Israeli de jure annexation plans of more Palestinian territory, the Palestinian people had been excluded from the process.”
2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source
“First, I would like to congratulate the Russian Federation on its professional handling of this month’s presidency of the Security Council in the face of current challenges owing to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. As the United Nations recently marked the seventy-fifth anniversary of the signing of the Charter, the question of Palestine, whose fate is inherently bound to the history and existence of the Organization, tragically remains unresolved. Today, while their territory remains under continuing occupation and millions of Palestinian refugees remain exiled from their homes, the Palestinian people faces ever-increasing new challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the loss of Palestinian lives.”
2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source
“Being satisfied to remain on the brink while staring at the abyss cannot be enough. Let us be mindful of the eyes of the lost generations of Palestinians and Israelis and let us take decisive action for their sake, end the occupation and achieve the two-State solution as the cornerstone for just and lasting peace and security in the region.”
2020-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/736 (2020) · source
“The ongoing occupation and threat of further annexation are now compounded by the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, which has reached thousands of cases not only in the State of Palestine, posing serious challenges for the delivery of basic health and social services to the population, including women and girls, but is also threatening the health and well-being of Israelis. The negative shock will have profound implications for the Palestinian economy, public welfare, employment, social cohesion and financial and institutional stability. We stress that strong international donor support and targeted technical assistance will be crucial on the path to recovery. Halting annexation, however, cannot be the goal, only to go back to what is rapidly transforming into a one-State reality of occupation.”
2020-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/736 (2020) · source
“We urge the Palestinians to continue with their efforts for intra-Palestinian reconciliation, and we take note of the encouraging signs exemplified by the recent call for unity between Fatah and Hamas. We welcome the pledges of $130 million for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) expressed by donors at the conference on 23 June. This is critical support for the Palestinian people, but it still falls short of actual needs, thus compelling our renewed appeal for support to UNRWA. The international community must continue to make every effort to guarantee strong and predictable financing for the Agency at a time of instability, volatility and great vulnerability for Palestine refugees and for the Middle East.”
2020-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/736 (2020) · source
“The halting of all bilateral contacts will increasingly have a dramatic adverse impact on all aspects of Palestinian life, with destabilizing results. We call on the Quartet to assume its responsibilities, as mandated by the Security Council, to engage with the parties to revive the much-needed peace process in the context of an international framework within the well-known internationally endorsed parameters, including the Arab Peace Initiative. We reiterate our call for the implementation of all relevant United Nations resolutions, including resolution 2334 (2016), particularly paragraph 5, which calls on Member States to distinguish, in their dealings, between Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and with regard to Israeli settlement activities, which are illegal under international law.”
2020-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/736 (2020) · source
“The Committee joins all those who have affirmed that the annexation of occupied Palestinian territory will not be recognized as legitimate by the international community and will also result in consequences and irreparable damage to Israel’s diplomatic standing. While no open expression of repudiation for such plans has been heard from Israel since the passing of the annexation deadline of 1 July, it is our hope and appeal that the Israeli Government immediately abandon this unlawful plan. The Palestinian leadership’s announcement that it is no longer bound by agreements and understandings with Israel and the United States, including the security cooperation, points to the fact that the situation might become untenable if annexation were to be implemented.”
2020-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/736 (2020) · source
“Respect for the Geneva Conventions and for United Nations resolutions and ensuring accountability for breaches of international law, such as annexation, must be the utmost concern for the community of nations. Opposition to annexation plans by Israel was clearly expressed by most Security Council members at the meeting of the Council on 24 June, as well as by our Committee’s partners among the African Union, the European Union, the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, United Nations Special Rapporteurs, renowned jurists, eminent persons, including The Elders, civil society and people from all walks of life. King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein of Jordan, among others, has warned that any unilateral Israeli measure to annex land in the West Bank would threaten regional stability.”
2020-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/736 (2020) · source
“As the Secretary-General stated at the Security Council meeting on 24 June (see S/2020/596, annex 1), we are at a “watershed moment”. The prohibition on the acquisition of territory by force is absolute in the Charter of the United Nations, and any annexation, regardless of its scope, would constitute a grave breach of international law. As the Committee stated on 5 May (see GA/PAL/1432), annexation represents a serious threat to the two-State solution and threatens global peace and security. If it were to go ahead, de jure annexation would not only inflict a deadly blow to the realization of the two-State solution and the possibility of reaching a negotiated solution but also jeopardize the essence of the principles of international law and the whole legal framework that the international community has built over decades.”
2020-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/736 (2020) · source
“The illegal Israeli settlement enterprise, with its network of separate roads as well as social and economic activities, the permit regime, demolitions of homes and structures, evictions of entire Palestinian families, settler violence and raids by the Israeli security forces have marked the lives of entire generations of Palestinians. The Gaza Strip has remained severed from the rest of the Palestinian territory for 13 years under an illegal Israeli blockade affecting the lives and livelihood of the 2 million Palestinians in the coastal enclave, which must be lifted. The goal of seeing Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security along the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian State, has never been at greater risk.”
2020-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/736 (2020) · source
“First, I would like to congratulate Germany on its professional handling of this month’s presidency of the Council in this new virtual setting. We thank Special Coordinator Mladenov and the other briefers, Mr. Khalil Shikaki and Mr. Daniel Levy, for their timely and important presentations. While the entire world is still fighting the relentless spread of the coronavirus disease pandemic, the Palestinian people under occupation face not only the challenge of the virus but also an even bigger crisis — the plans and measures of the Israeli Government to proceed with the de jure annexation of more parts of the West Bank. Let there be no mistake: the creeping annexation of the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, has been ongoing for more than five decades and has become increasingly entrenched over the years.”
2020-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/736 (2020) · source
“We are committed to leaving no one behind. Not unlike the fight against the pandemic, we are in this together. Each of us, individually and collectively, must do our part, for only by caring for our neighbours can we save ourselves.”
2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source
“The Secretary-General’s recent call for a global ceasefire was heeded by many warring parties. The United Nations Middle East Envoys joined him in calling on parties to de-escalate tensions and urged greater humanitarian action to prevent the spread of the pandemic in the region. We also call on Israel, the occupying Power, to heed the long-standing call for a halt to illegal actions and practices, including all measures aimed at the annexation of territory, and, in accordance with its obligations under international law, to ensure the protection of the Palestinian civilian population under its control by providing humanitarian access and assistance so as to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We in the United Nations have the tools to rein in violence and injustice and to seek peace, justice and security for all.”
2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source
“The expansion of Israel’s control over the Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, is eroding, literally, the possibility of achieving the two- State solution. The goal of seeing Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security along the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian State, remains unchanged, still unattained and at great risk. In the midst of this health scourge, we must not forget that, while everyone is affected by COVID-19, the pandemic’s most devastating consequences are for women and girls, from health and the economy to security and social protection. Palestinian women and girls are no exception. Yet women are not just victims in the crisis; they also play a major role in the response and must be supported in their efforts.”
2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source
“As UNRWA’s core funding for Gaza is expected to last until May or June, the Committee urges the international community to continue to provide the Agency with adequate and reliable funding for the continuity of its operations in all fields in order to ensure its vital assistance to the Palestine refugees. The Committee reiterates its call for the total lifting of the Gaza blockade and to refrain from imposing further restrictions, which would be devastating for the economy of the Gaza Strip. Statements reaffirming support for the two-State solution based on the pre-1967 borders and opposing the Israeli annexation have poured in from almost all countries, the Middle East Quartet as well as representatives of the United States Congress. As welcome as they are, statements are not enough, and the time for action is long overdue.”
2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source
“The international community must ensure that the occupying Power meets its obligations in all these matters under international law and international humanitarian law and that there is accountability for not doing so. During the virtual event organized by the Committee on 14 April, the Director of Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Mr. Matthias Schmale, mentioned that in the Gaza Strip the main concerns were a dilapidated economy and an inadequate health infrastructure, aggravated by high population density, especially in refugee camps.”
2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source
“That is in breach of Israel’s legal obligation to protect the right to health and life of Palestinians under the Fourth Geneva Convention. Children, especially the 194 currently in administrative detention in Israeli jails, are being affected by the virus. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People calls for the release of all Palestinian prisoners whose health is at increased risk of virus contagion in detention facilities. Similarly, as reported by Special Coordinator Mladenov on 30 March (see S/2020/263), the provisions of resolution 2334 (2016) continue to be violated. Declarations of regret and concern have made no difference.”
2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source
“In fact, as the international community focuses its attention on the fight against the pandemic, the occupying Power, Israel, has continued to entrench the occupation and to openly discuss its intention to annex the occupied Palestinian territory, with measures being taken while this debate is held and the illegal Israeli blockade on Gaza continues. Home demolitions, evictions, the confiscation of Palestinian property, the destruction of agricultural and livelihood structures, the expansion of settlement construction, human rights abuses and settler violence, as well as military incursions, have continued. The destruction of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities is putting thousands of Palestinians at an increased risk of contracting the virus and are jeopardizing their health and safety.”
2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source
“The negative shock to the Palestinian economy will have profound implications for public welfare, employment, social cohesion and financial and institutional stability. Strong international donor support and targeted technical assistance will be crucial on the path to recovery. While technical coordination between the Israeli and the Palestinian authorities is supporting the response to the virus on the ground, such measures cannot be mistaken for well-intentioned steps towards a peaceful solution.”
2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source
“As the world’s attention is turned to preventing loss of life and limiting the spread of the pandemic, the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, has continued to deteriorate and the occupation is still advancing, in grave breach of international law, including humanitarian law and human rights law, and in violation of United Nations resolutions, including resolution 2334 (2016), which call for an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and the fulfilment of the rights of the Palestinian people, including to self-determination and independence. With 437 confirmed cases, 15 of them in Gaza, and two deaths, as of 19 April, the State of Palestine has joined the rest of the world as a victim of the outbreak.”
2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source
“First, I would like to congratulate the Dominican Republic on its professional handling of this month’s presidency of the Security Council and on finding creative solutions to the procedural and technological challenges. In these unprecedented times, when the world and the United Nations are fighting the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, we must remind ourselves that the Palestinian people under occupation face an even bigger crisis. It is precisely in such challenging times that we must rally our support for, and solidarity with, them.”
2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source