YouSaid · the spoken record

Mladenov

lines on the record: 1,041
first: 2013-11-25
most recent: 2020-09-29
sittings or episodes: 54
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

“By advancing the effective annexation of the West Bank, it undermines the chances for establishing a Palestinian State based on relevant United Nations resolutions as part of a negotiated two-State solution. Despite the relative calm over the past two months, the situation in Gaza remains very fragile as violent incidents continue. During the reporting period, some 11 rockets and mortars were launched from Gaza towards Israel. Most were intercepted. Two landed in the Israeli town of Sderot on 17 and 25 August, causing material damage. In response, just yesterday, Israel decided to temporarily reduce the fuel transfer to Gaza by a half. That unfortunate decision has already resulted in a reduction of energy supply to the Gaza Strip.”
2019-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8604 (2019) · source
“I reiterate the statement made by the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory that Israel's policy of destroying Palestinian property is not compatible with its obligations under international humanitarian law. On 5 and 6 August, Israel's High Planning Committee advanced plans for some 2,400 housing units in Area C settlements, with 800 units reaching the final stage of approval. Some 200 units in East Jerusalem were also advanced during the reporting period. Further, the Security Cabinet of Israel discussed on 30 July the advancement of another 6,000 housing units and, in a rare step, unanimously approved granting construction permits for 715 housing units for Palestinians living in Area C. The expansion of settlements has no legal effect and constitutes a flagrant violation of international law.”
2019-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8604 (2019) · source
“In addition, settlement expansion, demolitions and seizures of Palestinian property continued during the reporting. period. Citing the lack of Israeli- issued building permits, which are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain, the Israeli authorities demolished or seized 22 structures in Area C, including 14 donor-funded aid structures and II structures in East Jerusalem. Among the demolished structures were four water cisterns, serving two herding communities in southern Hebron, which are already facing severe water shortages. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the demolitions have resulted in the displacement of 19 people, including six children, and affected the livelihoods of some 2,000 others.”
2019-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8604 (2019) · source
“In East Jerusalem, two months after the killing of a 21-year-old Palestinian in the Al-Issawiya district, tensions remain high as the Israeli security forces continue to carry out raids and arrests. Overall in the past month, two Palestinians and Israelis have been killed and at least 102 Palestinians and seven Israelis have been injured in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. In response to the terrorist attack on 23 August near the settlement of Dolev, the Israeli Government decided to submit to the High Planning Committee a plan for the establishment of the new neighbourhood in Dolev with approximately 300 new housing units. That decision is part of the practice to expand settlements in the wake of attacks in the West Bank.”
2019-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8604 (2019) · source
“The following day, two Israeli teenagers were injured in a car-ramming attack near the settlement of Elazar, south of Bethlehem. The 26-year-old driver was shot and killed by an off-duty Israeli policeman. On 23 August, an improvised explosive device was detonated near the settlement of Dolev, north-west of Ramallah, killing a 17-year-old Israeli girl and severely injuring her father and brother. I unequivocally condemn all attacks on Palestinian and Israeli civilians. Such dangerous attacks serve only those who want an escalation. Violence and terrorism must be condemned by all. Their glorification by Hamas, the Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian factions is indeed deplorable.”
2019-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8604 (2019) · source
“That can be achieved on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions and mutual agreements. If we stray from that framework, we will see the inevitable radicalization. We cannot give up on the goal of a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The alternative is too horrible to fathom. In the past month, we have seen an increase of violent incidents, including settler- related violence in the West Bank, and continuing tensions in and around Gaza. On 8 August, a 19-year-old Israeli was murdered in the West Bank, stabbed close to the settlement ofMigdal Oz. Two Palestinian suspects were later arrested by the Israeli security forces. On 15 August, two Palestinian teenagers stabbed and injured an Israeli police officer in Jerusalem's Old City. One of the assailants was shot and killed.”
2019-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8604 (2019) · source
“On numerous occasions, the Secretary-General and I have warned that the lack of a political horizon towards resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of the two-State solution, unilateral moves on the ground, including settlement construction and expansion, terror attacks and a multitude of other factors create an explosive mix that can be resolved only by a leadership that is willing to return and capable of returning to the table for meaningful negotiations towards a sustainable and just peace and that can stand up to extremists and radicals and uphold what we in the international community, the Security Council and the region have said so many times, namely, that lasting peace can be based only on the idea that Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in peace, security and mutual recognition, as both peoples have a legitimate and historic right to their own statehood.”
2019-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8604 (2019) · source
“Mr. Mladenov: I am afraid that I must begin this month's briefing to the Council by focusing on the rising spectre of violence in the West Bank and Gaza and the threat for a regional escalation. Both are happening against the backdrop of the complete political deadlock of the Middle East peace process and the lack of any prospective to revive it.”
2019-08-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8604 (2019) · source
“Yet we must be clear. On its own, no amount of humanitarian or economic support will resolve the conflict. It requires political solutions. In Gaza, our efforts consist in continuing to try and de-escalate the situation and provide a semblance of hope to the population, but Gaza's future will rest on the ability of leaders to summon the political will to devise concrete and sustainable solutions to the crisis. At the same time, the West Bank continues to simmer as it faces a range of challenges that threaten to upend decades of Palestinian and international efforts to support a Palestinian State.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“However, I must emphasize that the conflict cannot be resolved through economic measures alone. Such steps can only be complementary to a legitimate political process that ends the occupation and addresses all final-status issues in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions. In closing, let me reiterate that I remain deeply concerned by the state of our collective efforts and the weakening of the international consensus on achieving an end to the occupation and the realization of a negotiated two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the 1967 lines, international law, relevant United Nations resolutions and previous agreements. In the absence of any progress to resolve all final-status issues, creating conditions for the parties to return to meaningful bilateral negotiations remains critical.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“The United Nations remains steadfast in its support of Egypt's efforts in that regard, and I call on all factions to take concrete steps to ensure the reunification of Gaza and the West Bank under a single, democratic and legitimate national Palestinian Government. Gaza is and must remain an integral part of a future Palestinian State as part of the two-State solution. Finally, I take note of the upcoming workshop convened by the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain to discuss the potential for economic investments and initiatives that would be made possible by a future Palestinian-Israeli peace agreement and a solution to the final-status issues. Humanitarian and economic support for the population is crucial to creating an environment conducive to viable negotiations.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“Funding received to date has enabled the temporary increase in energy supply. However, sustainable solutions for the energy crisis must be advanced without delay. At the same time, while acknowledging its legitimate security concerns, Israel must continue to ease restrictions on the movement of goods and people to and from Gaza, with the goal of ultimately lifting them. It is crucial to ensure that calm is sustained in order to gradually introduce longer-term projects that will support Gaza's development. I reiterate my call on all Palestinian factions to actively engage with Egypt on reconciliation. Despite the challenges, it is critical that these efforts continue.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“The Palestinian Government is facing a very serious financial crisis that, unless resolved, risks triggering a series of dangerous developments that will be difficult to mitigate and contain, including the potential collapse of the Authority and the undermining of 25 years of international investment in supporting the two-State solution and the Oslo process. I echo the call of Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayeh on Israel to restore the revenue transfers in full and call on both sides to engage in a constructive manner to ensure compliance with the Protocol on Economic Relations between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization. I remain deeply concerned by the deteriorating humanitarian and economic situation in Gaza.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“All perpetrators must be held accountable for their crimes. The situation of the Palestinian population and human rights defenders in the H2 area of Hebron following the withdrawal of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron remains worrying. United Nations staff and the diplomatic community have been harassed and intimidated since the departure of the Temporary International Presence. Humanitarian actors and human rights defenders must be allowed to carry out their activities freely and safely and to ensure that any attacks are thoroughly, impartially and independently investigated and the perpetrators held accountable. I am deeply concerned about developments relating to the clearance of revenues of the Palestinian Authority.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“It is tragic and unacceptable that people continue to be killed and injured unnecessarily during demonstrations by indiscriminate rocket attacks or other hostile acts. The launching ofrockets and mortars towards Israeli civilian populations is prohibited by international humanitarian law, and Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad must cease this practice immediately. Consistent with international human rights standards, Israeli security forces have the responsibility to exercise restraint and should use lethal force against demonstrators only when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life. I unequivocally condemn all attacks on Palestinian and Israeli civilians and call on all to refrain from violence and on leaders to clearly condemn such acts when they occur, as called for by resolution 2334 (2016).”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“Israel has declared some 18 per cent of the West Bank as firing zones for military training, while civilian presence is prohibited by military order during training exercises. There are 38 Palestinian herding communities and a population of over 6,200 people located within these areas who are impacted by a range of measures, including evacuations. There are also 11 Israeli outposts located either partially or completely in the designated firing zones, which have not been subjected to similar evacuations. The practice of evacuating Palestinian communities located in these areas should also cease. The situation in Gaza continues to be perilous, with the persistent threat of another major escalation and the continued suffering of the population.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“Only 13 per cent of East Jerusalem is designated for new Palestinian residential construction, an estimated one-third of housing units in East Jerusalem are built without a permit, and an estimated 13,000 demolition orders issued against Palestinian-owned structures in Area C since 1988 are still outstanding. The demolitions and displacement in Area C and East Jerusalem affect women and girls in particular. Women have to shoulder additional daily responsibilities to ensure their own survival and that of their families in unfamiliar circumstances. A 2018 report by UN-Women on Palestine has shown that the burden of family responsibility, coupled with the anguish and trauma of sudden loss, takes a huge toll on the women's health and well-being.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“Settlement expansion in occupied East Jerusalem, which further undermines the viability of the two-State solution with Jerusalem as the future capital of both Israel and Palestine, is particularly concerning. During the Israeli election campaign, statements were made by some politicians expressing support for the unilateral annexation of all or parts of the West Bank. Such a prospect would be devastating to the potential of reviving negotiations, regional peace and the very essence of the two-State solution. The persistent threat of demolitions and the displacement of Palestinians in Area C, East Jerusalem and Hebron's H2 area are also of concern.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“Paragraph 5 of resolution 2334 (2016) calls on Member States "to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967". We are not aware of any such steps taken during the reporting period. Paragraph 8 of the resolution also calls upon "all parties to continue [inter alia] to exert collective efforts to launch credible negotiations". No credible efforts have been made in that direction either. In conclusion, I would like to share some broad observations concerning the implementation of the resolution 2334 (2016) during the reporting period. The expansion of Israeli settlements has no legal effect and constitutes a flagrant violation of international law, as stated in resolution 2334 (2016). It must cease immediately and completely.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“Some 250 personnel, including 149 United Nations staff and 103 NGO staff, are prohibited from obtaining Israeli-issued permits for travel from Gaza to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, for a period of 12 months. Those numbers reflect a significant increase from 2017, when only 40 United Nations staff faced similar prohibitions. The reporting period also saw no resolution of the Palestinian Authority's financial crisis, following Israel's decision to withhold part of the clearance revenues of the Palestinian Authority. That was followed by the Palestinian leadership's refusal to accept any transfers from Israel less than the full amounts owed to it. The fiscal crisis and related austerity measures are severely impacting the Palestinian economy, with the outlook for the private sector remaining very bleak.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“In Gaza, despite the intensified efforts, the humanitarian, security and political situation remains deeply worrisome, as the Egyptian brokered intra-Palestinian agreement in October 2017 on the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza remains unimplemented. The situation was also worsened by the temporary closures of the Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings and a series of reductions in the fishing zone introduced by Israel as tensions continued to fluctuate. Seized fishing vessels have yet to be returned to their owners by the IDF. The reporting period also saw serious movement and access constraints being placed on national staff from United Nations agencies and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Gaza.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“In parallel to that effort, we are actively working on more sustainable solutions in the energy sector. The United Nations is also advancing on the creation of dignified jobs for Gaza's men and women. The ongoing temporary employment programmes, which the United Nations Development Programme and UNRWA started with Swiss and Qatari funds, are already making a critical difference to people's lives. So far, more than 7,500 people have been employed in temporaryjobs, with at least 2,500 more likely to follow. The programme, we hope, can be expanded soon. Nevertheless, as I said, negative trends continue to overshadow positive developments.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“On 7 May, the State of Qatar announced its continued provision of financial assistance to the Palestinian people, including a pledge of $480 million, of which $180 million is intended for humanitarian assistance to Gaza, some of it to be implemented by the United Nations; $250 million as loans for the Palestinian Government; and $50 million as grants for projects in the West Bank. That commitment has made a very positive impact on the efforts to de-escalate the situation in Gaza. However, what remains is the necessity to find a sustainable and comprehensive solution that addresses the dire economic and humanitarian conditions and establishes the conditions for lasting peace. In that regard, the United Nations currently has funding to extend the fuel programme that will provide electricity to Gaza until the end of the year.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“Resolution 2334 (2016) reiterates calls by the Middle East Quartet for affirmative steps to be taken immediately to reverse negative trends on the ground that are imperilling the two-State solution. Some positive developments were witnessed during the reporting period, most notably with regard to addressing the critical humanitarian and socioeconomic needs in Gaza, but they were significantly overshadowed by the negative trends. The international community has continued its efforts to address the dire situation in Gaza. The Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of International Assistance to Palestinians met in Brussels on 30 April and reiterated its support for the implementation of a package of urgent humanitarian and economic interventions in Gaza by the United Nations.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“The official Hamas television channel also repeatedly continued to glorify perpetrators of terror attacks against Israelis, and broadcast songs with graphic lyrics encouraging viewers to blow up Jews. Fatah's official social media pages also continued to glorify perpetrators of terrorist attacks. Israeli officials continued to make highly provocative statements as well. An outgoing member of the Knesset confronted families of Palestinian prisoners and threatened to "eliminate them [and] bury them with pigs". Another politician called on the Prime Minister to allow hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners to die, while many boasted about the damage Israel was causing in strikes in Gaza in response to rocket attacks.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“It concluded that there was no evidence that the man was killed by direct Israeli army fire. Several Palestinians were prosecuted for involvement in attacks on Israelis, including one indicted for planning under Hamas' instructions a suicide car bombing on Israel's election day, and two other men for planning a shooting attack at Tel Aviv's beach. Paragraph 7 of resolution 2334 (2016) calls upon the parties "to refrain from provocative actions, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric". Unfortunately, such actions continued during the reporting period. On 15 May, a senior Hamas official addressed a rally in Gaza and warned Israelis that the "day of your slaughter, extermination and annihilation is near". He called for them to leave and search for a place "in Europe, or in hell, or in the sea".”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“On 14 May, the Israeli minor accused of killing Aisha Al-Rabi, the Palestinian mother of eight, in 2018, was released on bail to house arrest with electronic monitoring. Prosecutors also reached a plea bargain with the Israeli suspected of conspiring to carry out the 2015 arson attack that killed the Dawabsheh family. According to the deal, the suspect, who was a minor at the time of the attack, will plead guilty to conspiracy to commit arson out of racist motives, as well as for other hate crimes. His trial over the remaining charge of membership in a terrorist organization will proceed. Meanwhile, on 15 May, the Israeli Military Police Criminal Investigation Division closed its investigation into the killing of a double amputee at the Gaza fence demonstrations in December 2017.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“According to OCHA, one Palestinian was killed, 32 were injured and 41 incidents of damage to property by settlers were reported. On 17 May, on two separate occasions, Israelis were filmed torching Palestinian lands in Nablus, and the Israeli security forces later confirmed that one of the perpetrators was an off-duty soldier, who has since been suspended pending a police investigation. In the same period, OCHA reported that seven Israelis were injured and 22 incidents of damage to property by Palestinians were reported. During the reporting period, there were some developments regarding ongoing cases before Israeli authorities pertaining to the perpetrators of various acts of violence.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“Later the same day, a 16-year-old boy was killed and a 21-year-old man was injured by the Israeli security forces as they attempted to cross the separation barrier between West Bank and Jerusalem near Bethlehem. The situation at the holy sites also remained tense during the reporting period. For the first time in decades, Israel's Jerusalem Day commemoration coincided with the final days of Ramadan. Israeli authorities announced that Jews would not be allowed to visit the compound towards the end of Ramadan, in keeping with previous practice, but later declared that limited visits would be permitted based on the circumstances on the ground. Against that backdrop, on 2 June clashes erupted between Israeli police forces and Palestinians inside the compound. Settler-related violence also continued during the reporting period.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“Four Palestinians, including one child, were killed by the Israeli security forces during demonstrations, clashes and various security operations. Meanwhile, two Israelis were injured by a Palestinian in a stabbing attack. On 27 March, a 17-year-old Palestinian medic was shot by the Israeli security forces near the Dheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem, dying of his wounds later. On 24 April, following the arrest, tying and blindfolding of a 15-year-old Palestinian boy on allegations of stone-throwing, soldiers shot him twice in the lower body as he attempted to escape while still blindfolded. On 31 May, in a stabbing attack, a Palestinian severely injured an Israeli civilian and a child in the Old City of Jerusalem. The perpetrator was shot dead by the Israeli security forces.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“Twenty-seven Palestinians, including two children were killed and 150 injured. On 30 March, 50,000 Palestinians demonstrated, largely peacefully, marking the anniversary ofthe Great March of Return, and, although violence at the Gaza perimeter fence declined during the reporting period, nine people, including three children, were killed by Israeli fire during the demonstrations. Incendiary kites, balloons and other devices also continued to be launched from Gaza, starting fires in southern Israel. At least 70 fires were reported, resulting in the burning of over 30 hectares of land during the reporting period. The period also saw continued violence in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“However, the reporting period saw a very dangerous escalation of violence in Gaza and continued violence in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. I reported to the Council last month (see S/PV.8532) that over the course of 48 hours, on 4 and 5 May, Gaza saw the worst escalation since 2014, with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad launching more than 700 projectiles towards Israel: several houses, two kindergartens, a school and a hospital were directly hit by rockets fired from Gaza. Four Israelis were killed and 200 were injured during those incidents. Meanwhile, in Gaza, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) stated that, in retaliation, it had hit more than 300 militant targets. Twenty-one residential buildings were hit by air strikes, one of which was a residential building in northern Gaza.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“In addition, the Israeli army continues to conduct military training exercises in areas designated by the army as firing zones in the Jordan Valley and the West Bank. As a result, approximately 184 Palestinians, 80 per cent of whom are women and children, from the Tell Al-Khashaba, Lifjim and Humsa Al-Baqai'a communities were forced to temporarily evacuate their homes on 11 occasions, including during Ramadan. On 22 May, the Israeli High Court of Justice rejected a petition against the recurrent displacements of those communities. Paragraph 6 of resolution 2334 (2016) calls for "immediate steps to prevent all acts of violence against civilians, including all acts of terror, as well as all acts of provocation and destruction".”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“Demolitions in East Jerusalem also peaked in April, reaching 58 - more than any other single month since the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) started monitoring in 2009. The situation in the Wadi Yasul area, in the Silwan neighbourhood of East Jerusalem, is also of concern. Eleven people, including seven children and two women, were displaced on 30 April, after their homes were demolished. Some 50 legal cases concerning other homes and structures in that area are pending in Israeli courts. Punitive demolitions also continued during the reporting period, with the authorities demolishing four homes belonging to families of Palestinian perpetrators ofvarious attacks. As a result, three families comprising 13 people, including six children, were displaced.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“In addition, on 3 June, Israel's National Infrastructure Committee rejected a series of objections against a controversial plan to construct a cable car between West Jerusalem and the Old City and submitted the plan for Government approval. The plan has raised concerns among Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem and Israeli non-governmental organizations that it seeks to deepen Israel's control over the area. Demolitions and seizures of Palestinian-owned structures by Israeli authorities also continued during the reporting period. Citing the absence ofIsraeli-issued building permits, 92 Palestinian-owned structures were demolished or seized, resulting in the displacement of some 104 people. As the Middle East Quartet highlighted in its 2016 report (S/20l6/595, annex), those permits are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“Those plans include 700 units in Efrat and 600 units in Ma'ale Adumim - two large settlements in strategic locations that hamper the possibility for a contiguous Palestinian State and north-south, east-west connectivity. Another of the plans would retroactively regularize, under Israeli law, the illegal outpost of Haresha by incorporating it into the existing Talmon settlement. Tenders were also announced for some 950 housing units in Area C settlements, and for 550 units in East Jerusalem. Approximately 20 per cent of all the plans advanced or tendered are in settlements in outlying locations deep inside the West Bank.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“Paragraph 2 of resolution 2334 (2016) calls on Israel to "immediately and completely cease all settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, [and to] fully respect all of its legal obligations in this regard". No steps were taken to that effect during the reporting period. During the reporting period Israeli authorities advanced, approved or tendered nearly 6,000 housing units in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. That constitutes the largest settlement advancement in two years and includes plans for approximately 4,450 units in Area C settlements, of which at least 200 have reached the final stage of approval.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“From the outset, I would like to also highlight that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) continues to face significant financial challenges. It is now operating on the basis of a projected shortfall of $211 million of its $1.2 billion budget for the year and is facing serious cash-flow issues. That could impact operations, including UNRWA's ability to maintain food assistance to over 1 million Palestine refugees in Gaza. I note that UNRWA's annual pledging conference will take place on 25 June here in New York. I call upon Member States to continue their support.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“Mr. Mladenov: Today I will devote my regular briefing on the situation in the Middle East to presenting, on behalf of the Secretary-General, the tenth report on the implementation of resolution 2334 (2016), which covers the period from 25 March to 10 June 2019. Let me reiterate that developments during this reporting period cannot be divorced from the broader context of Israel's continued military occupation of Palestinian territory and settlement activity; Hamas' continuing hold over Gaza and its militant activity; the persistent threat of war; unilateral actions that undermine peace efforts; and severe challenges to the fiscal viability of the Palestinian Authority. All those developments collectively erode the prospects of a two- State solution.”
2019-06-20 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8557 (2019) · source
“I also take note of the invitation by the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain to convene Government, civil society and business leaders to discuss the potential for economic investments and initiatives that would be made possible by a future Palestinian-Israeli peace agreement and a solution to the final-status issues. Humanitarian and economic support is very important for people, but it is also critical for creating an environment conducive to viable negotiations. However, the solution to the conflict remains fundamentally political.”
2019-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8532 (2019) · source
“We must ask ourselves, how many more years will Palestinians in Gaza be forced to live on a pittance from the international community, under the control of Hamas, and suffer from Israeli closures? How many more years will Israelis be forced to run for shelters as rockets launched by Palestinian militants in Gaza rain down indiscriminately from above? The United Nations and its partners have, yet again, tried to mitigate the impact of the crisis in Gaza, but those efforts will ultimately fail unless there is progress on resolving the Palestinian divide, lifting the closures and charting a course towards the two-State solution, based on long-standing international parameters, including the relevant United Nations resolutions and previous agreements. There are no short-cuts to sustainable peace.”
2019-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8532 (2019) · source
“During that activity, Syrian Arab Armed Forces soldiers deployed close to that location to monitor their activity. UNDOF liaised with both sides and was able to de-escalate the situation. In Lebanon, the Cabinet started reviewing the draft 2019 State budget on 30 April, as protests over reported austerity measures continued. At stake in the ongoing budget discussions is meeting commitments from the 2018 CEDRE conference on economic development and reform, which include the need to reduce Lebanon's deficit. In conclusion, I would like to return to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. The recent escalation in Gaza has once again demonstrated the urgency of solidifying and expanding the existing understandings on the ground.”
2019-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8532 (2019) · source
“On a positive note, with the advent of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, hundreds of thousands of Muslims from the occupied West Bank were able to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy month. I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome the relative calm at the holy site and urge continued respect for the status quo and relevant agreements. Turning very briefly to the region, the situation on the Golan is calm. However, the potential for heightened tension between the parties to the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement persists. On 1 May, the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) saw that some Israel soldiers, who had been laying razor concertina wire in the area between the Israeli technical fence and an UNDOF position, had crossed the ceasefire line.”
2019-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8532 (2019) · source
“The first signs of that negative trend are already beginning to show. A long-term resolution of the financial crisis is urgently needed. Its continuation threatens to further destabilize an already volatile situation. Both parties should implement their bilateral agreements and avoid taking unilateral actions that undermine the stability of the Palestinian Authority. Against that backdrop, a team from the Office of the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process recently visited the Al-Fawwar Palestinian refugee camp, where the residents endure harsh living conditions and UNRWA's ability to deliver essential services is hampered by its own financial crisis. Commissioner-General Krahenbiihl, who will also be briefing the Council today, will speak more on the severity of the current challenges facing Palestine refugees.”
2019-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8532 (2019) · source
“Moreover, in a worrisome move, Israel's High Court of Justice upheld a new Israeli military order that accelerates the demolition process for new structures built without permits in Area C of the West Bank. Regrettably, the reporting period saw no resolution to the Palestinian Authority (PA) financial crisis. For the third consecutive month, the Palestinian Government has refused to receive Israel's transfer of any tax revenues less than the full amount owed to it. I am concerned that, despite the PA's announced austerity measures and the support package committed by Qatar, the latter's survival remains at risk. I briefed the Council in March (see S/PV.8489) and said that the crisis would have a substantial impact on the Palestinian economy, with reduced purchasing power and weakened growth.”
2019-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8532 (2019) · source
“On 3 May, a joint statement by the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) called for "an immediate halt to the Israeli authorities' destruction of Palestinian-owned property in East Jerusalem". On the following day four structures were demolished in Silwan, displacing 11 Palestinians. According to OCHA, five people were seriously injured when Israeli forces reportedly beat and used stun grenades and sponge-covered bullets to push residents away as they tried to retrieve belongings prior to the demolitions.”
2019-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8532 (2019) · source
“All perpetrators must be accountable for their crimes. Allow me to reiterate that settlements are illegal under international law and remain a substantial obstacle to peace. In that context, Israeli authorities demolished or seized 40 structures during the reporting period, displacing 31 people, overwhelmingly on the grounds of a lack of Israeli-issued building permits, which are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain. On 29 April, 31 structures were demolished in East Jerusalem, the highest single-day total monitored by OCHA since 2009.”
2019-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8532 (2019) · source
“That, coupled with violence, settlement expansion, demolitions of Palestinian property and the persistent threat of further economic decline, is creating an explosive mix that could have serious security implications. Two hundred and forty Palestinians were injured by Israeli forces during the reporting period, including nine children, during demonstrations, clashes, security operations and other incidents in the West Bank. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), four Palestinians were injured or had their property damaged by settlers, While one Palestinian attack against Israeli civilians in the West Bank was recorded, resulting in one injury and damage to a vehicle. I unequivocally condemn all attacks on Palestinian and Israeli civilians and call on all sides to refrain from violence.”
2019-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8532 (2019) · source
“On 6 May, His Highness the Emir of Qatar announced an assistance package for the Palestinian people of approximately $480 million - $180 million for Gaza, $250 million as loans for the Palestinian Government and $50 million as grants for projects in the West Bank. In relation to Gaza, some of that funding will allow the United Nations to provide fuel for electricity until the end of the year, expand temporary employment programmes and focus on permanent job creation. While Gaza continues to command significant attention, the situation in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is of growing concern to all of us. The prolonged absence of a political horizon to resolve the broader conflict has coincided with a steady deterioration of the living conditions of Palestinians.”
2019-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8532 (2019) · source
“As I speak, we are moving forward on other more sustainable efforts for the energy sector, with a focus on renewable energy. On 13 May, I visited the second-largest hospital in Gaza, where a landmark World Health Organization-developed solar power plant project will cover a substantial part of the energy needs of the hospital. I appreciate the financial support provided by Japan and many others for those critical projects. I urge other donors to further increase their support for our joint efforts to improve the situation on the ground. The most significant contribution to date remains that of the State of Qatar. On behalf of the Secretary-General, I would like to express our sincere appreciation for the assistance provided by Qatar, without which the situation in Gaza would have been untenable.”
2019-05-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8532 (2019) · source