YouSaid · the spoken record

Mladenov

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1,041

first

2013-11-25

most recent

2020-09-29

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54

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un-security-council

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1. “According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in Area C of the West Bank 35 structures were demolished, including a school in the Hebron community of Khirbet Zanuta. The only school of the Al-Muntar Bedouin community is also at risk of being demolished. Meanwhile, attacks against Palestinians and the vandalism of property are also increasing. On 13 April a mosque in the West Bank was badly damaged in another apparent hate crime and arson attack. Turning to Lebanon, allow me to note that preparations for the first parliamentary elections in nearly a decade continue on track. In Lebanon, the United Nations engages with stakeholders in order to ensure that credible and inclusive elections will be followed by the swift formation of a Government.”

   2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source

2. “Just in Gaza, UNRWA serves as a lifeline for more than 1 million people - half the population - who are at risk of losing access to health services, education and food. Without those services, we should anticipate a dramatic increase in social unrest, poverty, hunger and psychosocial problems, not only in Gaza but across the region. I again appeal to Member States to ensure funding for UNRWA. Turning briefly to the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, there have been no settlement plans approved or tenders issued in the reporting period. However, settlement construction and the demolition of Palestinian-owned structures in Area C have continued. The United Nations considers all settlement activities illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace.”

   2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source

3. “Palestine refugee camps in the occupied Palestinian territory, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria are highly vulnerable. In this context, the situation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is particularly worrying. Even with the welcome pledges of some $100 million last month in Rome, the recent $50-million pledged by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, respectively, and the $10-million contribution just announced by Japan, UNRWA operations are funded only into the summer. Shutting down or reducing services at this critical time would further destabilize the region. The ability of half a million Palestinian refugee students across the Middle East to start the new school year, must be protected.”

   2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source

4. “I urge all Palestinian factions to engage with Egypt and redouble their efforts to enable the legitimate Palestinian Government to be fully empowered in Gaza. The combination of the security, development and humanitarian deterioration that we are seeing Gaza, coupled with the political impasse, makes the Strip a powder-keg. Notwithstanding the tragic developments in the rest of the region, we must do everything possible to prevent another war in Gaza. It is imperative that the international community and the Security Council support the efforts of the United Nations and key stakeholders to address the security, humanitarian and political challenges that I have outlined. The tragic events in Gaza have reinforced the growing risks of implosion and explosion, with potentially grave consequences elsewhere in the region.”

   2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source

5. “I want to assure the Council that the United Nations is working intensely with partners to prioritize energy and water initiatives discussed in the format of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of International Assistance to Palestinians, as well as in our donor meetings in Cairo and Washington, DC. The long-term goal of increasing energy supply must be pursued, alongside immediate and short-term projects in the Gaza Strip. Compounding the deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in Gaza are the stalled efforts to restore Palestinian Authority control over the Strip. Despite the best efforts of Egypt, the implementation of the Cairo agreement has come to a halt.”

   2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source

6. “That is why I call on the Palestinian Government to resume the payment of public-sector salaries in Gaza without delay. We must immediately deal with the humanitarian crisis that is unfolding. Israel must relax movement and access restrictions on Gaza to enable the economy to recover, with due consideration for its legitimate security concerns. In this context, I take note of the decision to increase the fishing zone from six to nine nautical miles, and urge that the zone be extended further and on a permanent basis. I also note our continuing engagement with Israel and the Palestinian Authority on the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism.”

   2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source

7. “Starting in March 2017 and without prior notice, the Palestinian Authority reduced the salary benefits of thousands of public sector employees in the Strip by over 30 per cent. One year later, in March 2018 it suspended the payment of salaries to some 20,000 civil servants in Gaza. The impact of this decision has been devastating. Gaza's already faltering public service will move further towards a total collapse. Hospitals and clinics, schools, water and wastewater treatment facilities, garbage collection, transportation and other critical services will be critically impacted. I have engaged with the Palestinian Authority on the destructive impact of such decisions, which pressure ordinary families that are already struggling to make ends meet.”

   2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source

8. “The Israeli security forces also foiled an attempt in the West Bank to smuggle 10 pipe bombs that were reportedly intended for an attack on Israel's Independence Day. As I have said repeatedly, all militant activity in Gaza, including the digging of tunnels and the firing of rockets, must cease. It threatens the lives of Israelis and Palestinians alike, increases the risk ofa new escalation of hostilities, undermines calls for lifting the closures, and ultimately damages the prospects for peace. I call on all Member States to join the United Nations in condemning such actions. On top of the security risks escalating in Gaza, the humanitarian situation continues to rapidly deteriorate.”

   2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source

9. “I welcome recent reports that the Israel Defense Forces have established a team to examine the use of force during the current protests, including all incidents of fatal shooting, and reiterate the importance of conducting an independent investigation for results to be credible. In other incidents, two Hamas militants were shot dead on 30 March in an exchange of fire near Gaza's fence, and five rockets and mortars were fired towards Israel in the past month. On 12 April, one person was killed by an Israeli air strike after a group ofPalestinian militants targeted an Israeli aircraft with machine gun fire. At least three additional militants were killed by the Israeli security forces in separate incidents. On 15 April, Israel announced that it had sealed the fifth Hamas tunnel in the past six months leading from Gaza into its territory.”

   2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source

10. “Hamas and the leaders of the demonstrations must keep protestors away from the Gaza fence and prevent all violent actions and provocations. The Secretary-General has been vocal in reiterating these messages and calling for restraint, and has repeatedly called for all incidents to be investigated. Children, who should be particularly protected, are at grave risk. Sadly, to date we have witnessed at least four who have been shot dead by Israeli live fire. I take this opportunity to reiterate in the strongest possible terms that civilians, particularly children, must not be intentionally put in danger or targeted in any way. Everyone must ensure that civilians are able to exercise their right to demonstrate peacefully.”

    2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source

11. “There has also been an increasing number of dangerous incidents at the fence, including the planting of improvised explosive devices - at least one of which detonated - the throwing of Molotov cocktails and attempts to breach the fence. Israel has accused Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other militants of using the protests, women, children and the elderly as a cover to infiltrate Israel and to commit terrorist attacks. As these protests continue, tension and the potential for serious incidents and further casualties will increase. I have engaged in an intense effort with all sides to reduce the risks of friction and welcome efforts, particularly those of Egypt and others, to the same effect. Israel must calibrate its use of force and minimize the use of live fire. Lethal force should be used only as a last resort.”

    2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source

12. “It could undermine the relative stability of the West Bank and have repercussions for Israel and the region. I say this with a heavy heart and in the hope that all ofus will do our utmost, in the spirit of preventive diplomacy. For the past four weeks, tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza have converged on the border with Israel in the context of the Great March of Return protests. Demonstrations are expected to continue and culminate around 15 May, and could spread to the West Bank and beyond. Since 30 March, during these demonstrations 35 Palestinians have been killed and a large number have been injured by Israeli security forces. No Israeli casualties have been reported.”

    2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source

13. “It is most certainly needed when dealing with the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Although the urgency of the grave situations in Syria, Yemen and elsewhere has understandably focused international attention, Palestine remains a central part of the regional quagmire. Until the occupation ends and a two-State solution is achieved through meaningful negotiations based on relevant United Nations resolutions, the conflict will remain one of the key drivers of extremism and a persistent threat to regional stability. Gaza is coming apart as we speak. It is coming apart under the pressure of an explosive combination of negative humanitarian, security and political factors. If another conflict between Hamas and Israel were to erupt, it would have devastating consequences for Palestinians in Gaza.”

    2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source

14. “Everyone in the Middle East needs to step back from the brink. There is no military solution to the conflicts of the region. Amid these complex conditions, my counterparts in the region and I regularly emphasize in our briefings to the Council the rapidly shifting regional dynamics. The United Nations is working tirelessly to prevent further deterioration, while supporting national political processes region-wide. We in the field need the international community to continue supporting multilateral mechanisms promoting security, stability and development in the region. We see the need for more multilateralism that blends humanitarian and development interventions with preventive diplomacy and crisis management. As stated by the Secretary-General, the changing nature of conflict means that prevention should be at the centre of our efforts.”

    2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source

15. “Humanitarian crises are escalating and spreading across borders. In Yemen, we are witnessing the worst humanitarian disaster of our time. Old wounds continue to bleed and deepen as we speak, risking the outbreak of another war. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict continues with no prospect of a political resolution, and Gaza is about to explode. Gross violations of international law, including human rights law and humanitarian law, have become the hallmark of the region. Today, the risk of miscalculation grows, increasing the danger of a wider conflagration as violence spills across borders. In that highly charged and dangerous environment, whether in Syria, Yemen or Gaza, one word becomes critical. It is de-escalation - de-escalation of the dangerous military buildup; de-escalation of the inflammatory and provocative political rhetoric.”

    2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source

16. “Mr. Mladenov: Two weeks ago, the Secretary- General addressed the Security Council on the crisis in the Middle East and the threats to international peace and security (see S/PV.8231). He spoke of a region that is plagued by sectarian divisions, by imploding States and exploding extremist groups; a region in which anger and frustration quickly turn to terror, violence and radicalism; a region where the battle between moderation and radicalism is the battle for the future of millions of people. What happens in the Middle East today has immediate implications for the rest of the world. Outside interference is transforming domestic conflicts into regional wars. In Syria, we see confrontations between several national armies, their proxies, various armed opposition groups, militias, foreign fighters and multiple terrorist organizations.”

    2018-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8244 (2018) · source

17. “It is time to begin building a different future, based on mutual respect, dignity and the belief that even the deepest and most painful divisions can be resolved if there is a genuine desire for change.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

18. “Resolution 2334 (2016) states in paragraph 3 that the Security Council "will not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations". All final-status issues should be resolved on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions, bilateral agreements and international law. As the Secretary-General has repeatedly reminded the Council, the United Nations strongly urges Israelis, Palestinians and the international community to take concrete measures that will reverse the current course of the conflict and advance the goal of a just and sustainable peace, based on the two-State solution. Generations of Palestinian and Israeli lives have been shaped by the conflict.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

19. “I note with concern, however, that reports have emerged today, indicating that Hamas has set up a checkpoint at the Erez, or Beit Hanoun, crossing, which controls the entrance of national and international personnel into Gaza and the exit of all Gaza identification holders. As per the intra-Palestinian agreement of 12 October, all checkpoints should be handed over to the Palestinian Authority. Fifthly, I remain greatly concerned by the state of our collective efforts to advance peace. Long-held international consensus positions on final status issues, including on Jerusalem and refugees, and United Nations principles must remain the guiding framework of a negotiated process towards the ultimate goal of a two-State solution. Any deviation from those principles would be dangerous.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

20. “That includes the paying of salaries for civil servants and the full empowerment of the Government in Gaza. A fully empowered Palestinian Authority in Gaza remains key to lifting the closures, alleviating the humanitarian and development crisis in Gaza, and furthering national aspirations for statehood. I commend the Prime Minister's commitment to continuing his efforts towards reconciliation and commend Egypt for its tireless efforts in that regard. The United Nations remains committed to supporting Egyptian efforts to advance the process and welcomes the efforts of the international community for a more coordinated engagement in alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

21. “Thirdly, steps taken on the ground in Area C and Gaza are welcome, but far from transformative. The relaxation on the import of certain dual-use items and the increased number of permits issued to business people in Gaza are nevertheless important developments that need to be sustained and augmented. Economic development, critical as it is, is no substitute for sovereignty and statehood. Efforts aimed at achieving both must proceed in parallel. Fourthly, the terrorist attack against the convoy of Prime Minister Hamdallah in Gaza was a serious attempt to derail the Cairo process and its perpetrators must be brought to justice. In that respect, I call on Palestinian factions to engage earnestly with Egypt and move forward on the implementation of the Cairo agreement.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

22. “Lethal force should be used only as a last resort, with any resulting fatalities properly investigated by the authorities. I once again urge the security forces to exercise maximum restraint in order to avoid casualties. I note the developing Palestinian plans for a march on the Gaza fence on 30 March. I call on all sides to exercise restraint and to take the necessary steps to avoid a violent escalation. It is imperative that civilians, in particular children, not be targeted and that all actors refrain from putting children at risk at any time. I also take this opportunity to reiterate my call on Hamas to provide full information on the two Israeli soldiers and two civilians who are being held in Gaza, as required by international humanitarian law.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

23. “In Area C alone, there are nearly 13,000 outstanding demolition orders against Palestinian-owned structures, of which some 500 are ready for execution. Less than 1 per cent of Area C, comprising over 60 per cent of the West Bank and critical to the contiguity of a future Palestinian State, is available for Palestinian construction under approved plans. Secondly, violence and incitement continue to fuel hatred, division, distrust and fear. Continuing terror attacks on Israelis and the attempt on the life of the Palestinian Prime Minister illustrate the growing risk of destabilization and the empowerment of radicals and extremists. The use of force by Israel must also be calibrated. Israel must uphold its responsibilities under international human rights and humanitarian law.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

24. “On 23 February, the United States announced that it would move its embassy to Jerusalem on 14 May, which will coincide with the seventieth anniversary of Israel's declaration of independence. In closing, I would like to share some broad observations concerning the provisions of the resolution on the reporting period. First, Israel's illegal settlement expansion and related activities continue to further threaten the viability of the two-State solution and erode the prospects for peace. The latest decision to establish a new settlement - for the second time since the adoption of resolution 2334 (2016), following Amihai in May 2017 - is particularly troubling. Meanwhile, Palestinian development remains extremely restricted.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

25. “The participants stated their support for ongoing efforts to restore unity between the West Bank and Gaza under the control of the legitimate Palestinian Authority, by focusing, inter alia, on urgent projects that address pressing electricity, water and humanitarian needs. Speaking before the Security Council on 20 February (see S/PV.8183), Palestinian President Abbas called for an international peace conference to be held by the middle of the year to form a multilateral mechanism in support of the parties to negotiate all permanent-status issues within a specific time frame and secure full United Nations membership for the State of Palestine and mutual recognition of Palestinian and Israeli statehood on the 1967 lines.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

26. “In continuation of an existing EU practice, the agreement includes a territorial clause stating that "[i]n accordance with EU policy, the agreement shall not apply to the geographic areas that came under the administration of the State of Israel after 5 June 1967". Regrettably, the reporting period saw no progress towards advancing the goal of a lasting peace, as also called for in the resolution. On 31 January, Norway and the European Union convened an extraordinary meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, in which support for the two- State solution, in line with relevant United Nations resolutions, was reiterated.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

27. “On 23 January, the Danish Parliament passed a resolution with reference to resolution 2334 (2016), and in line with European Union policy, urging that future agreements between Denmark and Israel clearly state their inapplicability to occupied territory and encouraging the Government to strengthen its guidance to private and public investors. Also in January, the European Commission signed a financing agreement with Israel, allowing the latter's participation in the Joint Operational Programme of the Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme under the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument for 2014-2020.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

28. “In a welcome development, over the past two months, Israel has approved thousands of pending residential cases, more than 130 private-sector projects and over 1,200 requests for the import of items that Israel considers to be of dual civilian and military use. On 14 February, at a trilateral meeting convened by the United Nations, Israel and the Palestinian Authority agreed to continue with the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism and conduct a joint review in order to improve the functionality, transparency and predictability of the Mechanism. Resolution 2334 (2016) calls upon all States to distinguish in their relevant dealings between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967. There are two developments to report in that regard.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

29. “Two preparatory meetings 4 one in Cairo and the other in Washington, DC, respectively - helped develop a series of priority engagements aimed at improving the electricity, water and health situations in Gaza. A European Union (EU)-hosted pledging conference for the Gaza Central Desalination Plant, which also took place on 20 March, saw Member States commit some $565 million - nearly 80 per cent of the project's costs - thereby enabling the tendering process to begin. That is a positive development for the people and infrastructure of Gaza. Nevertheless, it is only one, albeit important project required to ensure that Gaza remains livable beyond the foreseeable future.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

30. “Over 40 per cent of essential medicines remain at zero stock due to the lack of funding. After a lO-year delay, the Northern Gaza Emergency Sewage Treatment project finally began operating on 1 March, albeit at minimum capacity. More sustainable energy supply and other infrastructure projects need to be urgently pursued in order to allow it to function at full capacity. In addition to a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation, Gaza's economy remains on the brink of collapse. Urgent interventions, alongside increased commitment to short-, medium- and long-term projects, provided the basis for discussions at the meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of International Assistance to Palestinians on 20 March in Brussels.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

31. “On 4 March, the Palestinian Government approved a $5.1 billion budget for 2018, while presenting the option that if it were empowered in Gaza, it could amend the budget and absorb up to 20,000 Gaza civil servants as well. In Gaza, the electricity supply remains far below people's needs, with power cuts of up to 20 hours per day. Without emergency fuel, 55 sewage pools are at a significant risk of overflowing and the functioning of 48 water desalination plants has been reduced to around 20 per cent of their working capacity. Water is piped to households for only a few hours a day, every four or five days. Basic services continue to function thanks to United Nations-distributed, donor-funded fuel for generators, which is expected to last, at best, only until September.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

32. “The amount withheld would be equivalent to the money used for payments to the families of Palestinian perpetrators of attacks on Israelis or for prisoners held in Israeli jails. On 5 March, the Knesset advanced a more restrictive version of the same bill. Meanwhile, implementation of the intra-Palestinian agreement of 12 October between Fatah and Hamas has stalled. In February and March, Egypt hosted delegations from the two parties in an effort to advance the process of returning Gaza to the control of the Palestinian Authority. I also held multiple meetings with senior Palestinian and Egyptian officials in support of that process.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

33. “In January, after years of negotiations, Israel approved the operation of local Palestinian 3G service in the West Bank, allowing Palestinian telecommunications companies to offer higher speed data services and somewhat improve their competitiveness. There were two high-level meetings, in Paris on 15 February between the Israeli and Palestinian Ministers of Economy, and on 19 February in Ramallah between the Israeli Minister of Finance and the Palestinian Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, aimed at discussing a range of economic and infrastructure issues concerning the West Bank and Gaza. On 18 February, Israel's Ministerial Committee for Legislation endorsed a bill that would allow Israel to withhold tax revenues that are collected by Israel on behalf of the Palestinian Authority.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

34. “Some claimed that Palestinians are an invented people; others referred to Palestinians as bloodthirsty barbarians; and one political leader called for more injuries and deaths in Gaza, complaining that Israeli military strikes responding to rocket fire were not producing enough casualties among militants. I urge political leaders to refrain from provocative statements and actions that fuel an already tense environment. Resolution 2334 (2016) reiterated the calls by the Middle East Quartet for affirmative steps to be taken to reverse negative trends on the ground that are imperilling a two-State solution. The period has witnessed both positive and negative actions by the parties in that regard.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

35. “Fatah's official social-media pages continued to feature posts glorifying the perpetrators of past violence against Israeli civilians, including terror attacks that killed civilians and children. In addition, Palestinian officials continued to make statements denying the historical and religious connection of Jews to Jerusalem and its holy sites. One senior religious leader made the false claim that Jews had lived in historical Jerusalem for only 70 or 80 years. Others continue to describe Israel as a colonial project. I urge the Palestinian leadership to continue to speak out against violence in general and to condemn specific attacks against civilians. Senior Israeli officials also made provocative statements encouraging annexation of all or parts of the occupied West Bank and categorically rejecting the notion of a two-State solution.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

36. “On 13 March, an improvised explosive device targeting the convoy of Palestinian Prime Minister Hamdallah and the Head of Palestinian General Intelligence exploded in Gaza, with minor injuries to six people. No one has claimed responsibility for that so far. On 22 March, Hamas security forces conducted an operation in the Nuseirat camp in Gaza, reportedly targeting the chief suspect in the bombing of the Prime Minister's convoy. During the operation, the suspect and an accomplice were critically wounded and later succumbed to their wounds. Two members of Hamas's security forces were also killed during the incident. Despite the call in Security Council resolution 2334 (2016) for the parties to refrain from acts of provocation, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric, such statements have continued.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

37. “Improvised explosive devices placed near the Gaza fence by Palestinian militants exploded on three occasions, wounding four Israeli soldiers in one incident on 17 February. On each occasion, Israeli forces responded with air strikes and shelling against Hamas targets. The Israeli military also announced that it had destroyed three tunnels either fully inside Gaza or leading from Gaza into Israeli territory. On 13 January, before the escalation, the IDF also destroyed a tunnel extending from Gaza into Israel and Egypt under the Kerem Shalom crossing. In addition, 33 rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel, of which 11 landed in Israel itself. The IDF retaliated against Hamas military sites in Gaza. No injuries were reported on either side.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

38. “On 9 January, a rabbi from the Havat Gilad outpost was killed in a drive-by shooting. Two of the three alleged perpetrators were killed by Israeli security forces during subsequent search-and-arrest operations. On 18 March, an Israeli civilian was stabbed to death in Jerusalem's Old City. The alleged assailant, a Palestinian man from the West Bank town of Aqraba, was shot dead by Israeli security forces. On 10 March, a Palestinian teenager was shot dead during clashes with Israeli security forces and settlers in the village of Urif, after confrontations turned violent between Palestinian villagers and residents of the nearby Yitzhar settlement. During the reporting period, there was a worrying escalation of violence in and around the Gaza Strip.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

39. “Turning to the persistent problem of Violence, the reporting period was characterized by continuing demonstrations and clashes following the announcement on 6 December in which the United States recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital, and the growing tensions in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem and along the Gaza fence. Israeli security forces killed 23 Palestinians, including six children, in various incidents, including reported attacks against Israelis, demonstrations, clashes and military operations in the occupied Palestinian territory. Five Israelis - three civilians and two soldiers - were killed by Palestinians in separate attacks in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem. On 5 February, a resident of the Har Bracha settlement was stabbed to death at the entrance to the Ariel settlement.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

40. “Similarly, on 21 March the Bedouin village ofUmm Al-Hiran also came under renewed threat as Israeli authorities posted eviction notices on homes indicating that evictions could take place at any time between 14 and 29 April. In late December, in the Masafer Yatta area of Hebron, where there are demolition orders on most structures, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) blocked several access routes and issued a military order requiring Palestinians to obtain permits to cross, limiting access to services and livelihoods for some 1,400 residents in 12 communities.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

41. “As a result, 104 Palestinians, including 42 children, were displaced, affecting the livelihoods of more than 360 people. The demolition of two donor-funded classrooms serving 26 children in the Palestinian Bedouin community of Abu Nuwar was particularly worrying. For at least three years now, the United Nations has been warning that Israel has been putting steady pressure on Abu Nuwar residents to move. The community is in the strategic E-l area planned for the expansion of Ma'ale Adumim, which would result in the creation of a continuous built- up area between the settlement and East Jerusalem, further dividing East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

42. “On 25 February, the Government endorsed a bill transferring jurisdiction over certain categories of petitions related to decisions by Israeli authorities in the West Bank from the High Court of Justice to the Court for Administrative Affairs in Jerusalem. The bill's sponsors have described it as a step towards equating legal procedures and norms in the West Bank and Israel. The Israeli authorities have continued to demolish Palestinian-owned structures across the occupied West Bank, including in East Jerusalem, albeit at last year's relatively low rate. Ninety-two structures, including 15 that were donor-funded, were demolished, for reasons that included a lack of building permits, which are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

43. “In related potentially significant legislative developments, in January the Knesset passed an amendment to the Basic Law on Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. By requiring a super-majority of 80 votes in the Knesset, the change will make it more difficult for Israel to transfer territories that are currently within the Israeli-defined Jerusalem municipality boundaries to a future Palestinian State. Conversely, it also makes it somewhat easier to change those municipal boundaries, by lowering the previously required Knesset threshold to a simple majority. On 7 March, the Knesset also approved an amendment to Israel's law on entry to Israel, allowing the revocation of the permanent residency status of Palestinians in East Jerusalem who are involved in terrorist activities, treason or espionage, as defined in Israeli law.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

44. “Official figures released last week show that construction starts in Area C settlements declined in 2017 to nearly half the number of 2016, which was the highest in over a decade. The plans include 15 temporary housing units near Gush Etzion, south of Bethlehem, in an area outside the jurisdiction of nearby settlements. These units are planned for residents of the Netiv Ha'avot outpost whose homes are slated for demolition on 15 June. In response to the January shooting attack that killed a rabbi from the Havat Gilad outpost, on 4 February the Israeli Government approved the establishment of a new settlement to absorb its residents. Havat Gilad is built almost entirely on privately owned Palestinian land.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

45. “In its paragraph 2, resolution 2334 (2016) calls on Israel to "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem" and to fully respect all its legal obligations in this regard. No such steps were taken during the reporting period. I reiterate that the United Nations considers all settlement activities to be a violation of international law and a major obstacle to peace. Israel advanced 22 plans for some 1,500 housing units in Area C settlements. Around a dozen units were approved for construction - significantly lower than the 1,200 units approved during the previous three-month period. Ten tenders for some 900 housing units in seven Area C settlements were also announced.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

46. “Allow me to also express my continued concern over the $446-milli0n funding gap for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). It must be bridged urgently to ensure that UNRWA can provide basic services to Palestine refugees, including to school half a million children across the Middle East, until a just and lasting peace is achieved. I welcome the approximately $100 million pledged at the recent Extraordinary Ministerial Conference in Rome. I encourage Member States to consider urgently providing additional new funding for UNRWA's critical work.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

47. “Mr. Mladenov: On behalfofthe Secretary-General, I devote my regular briefing on the situation in the Middle East today to introducing the fifth report on the implementation of resolution 2334 (2016), covering the period from 18 December 2017 to 25 March 2018. I will focus on the developments on the ground in accordance with the provisions of the resolution, including on the regional and international efforts to advance the peace process. Let me reiterate from the outset that developments on the ground cannot be divorced from the broader context of continued military occupation of Palestinian territory, uncertainties about the future of the peace process and the two-State solution, unilateral actions that undermine peace efforts, and continued turmoil in the wider region.”

    2018-03-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8214 (2018) · source

48. “In this Chamber we have often spoken of the need for leadership on both sides if we are to reach a deal - a compromise, through negotiations - that will enable the Israelis and Palestinians to separate and be masters of their own fates. But they would not be negotiations between equals, for one side is under military occupation. Its leadership has committed to working for a peaceful solution to the conflict through negotiations. I urge the international community not to give up on support for the moderate Palestinian leadership or for building up the institutions that will increase the chances of success. Our window of opportunity is closing, and if we do not seize it quickly, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be engulfed in the whirlwind of religious radicalization that continues to roil the region.”

    2018-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8183 (2018) · source

49. “On Gaza, we must work collectively to alleviate the humanitarian disaster and provide full support to Egypt's reconciliation efforts. Our support to UNRWA also remains vital. I also hope that we will be able to look beyond the closed, dark negotiation rooms, currently empty of diplomats and politicians, to see that there are Israeli and Palestinian advocates for peace working tirelessly to promote change - civil-society organizations, youth and women's groups and religious and community leaders, which all have a critical role to play and must be supported and allowed to express their views freely. We rarely discuss their role and we do not speak often enough of the challenges they face, but their efforts must be recognized and supported.”

    2018-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8183 (2018) · source

50. “While the situation was generally quiet in the area of operations of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, and despite heightened rhetoric concerning proposed construction by the Israeli Defense Forces in so-called reservation areas in Lebanon south of the Blue Line, construction began in non-reservation areas on 7 February with no incidents reported. In conclusion, and to return to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, I would like to reiterate that we in the international community must continue advocating for substantial changes to Israeli policy on the situation in the West Bank, including a halt to settlement construction, the demolition of structures and the prevention of Palestinian development in Area C.”

    2018-02-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8183 (2018) · source