YouSaid · the spoken record

Nickolay Mladenov

lines on the record
170
first
2020-04-23
most recent
2020-12-21
sittings or episodes
8
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

  1. “Any form of politicization that may increase the risk of an escalation within the sanctity of its grounds must be rejected. In Lebanon, Prime Minister-designate Mustapha Adib stepped down from his functions on 26 September, having been unable to form a Government. Subsequently, former Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri was designated by the President to form a Government. The one-year anniversary of the October 2019 popular protests was marked by peaceful demonstrations across the country.On 14 October, representatives from the Governments of Israel, Lebanon and the United States met at United Nations premises in Naqoura, south Lebanon, to launch discussions aimed at reaching consensus on the delineation of the Israel- Lebanon maritime boundary.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  2. “On 23 October, the leaders of the United States, Israel and the Republic of the Sudan announced that the Governments of Israel and the Sudan had agreed to end the state of belligerence between their countries and to normalize relations. I join the Secretary-General in expressing hope that this agreement will further cooperation, enhance economic and trade relations and bring about new opportunities to advance peace and economic prosperity in the wider Horn of Africa and Middle East regions. I am concerned about statements made by senior Palestinian officials saying that Muslims entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the basis of the recent normalization agreements are not welcome and warning of dangerous consequences for such visits. I note the delicate balance of the status quo at the holy compound.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  3. “This month, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs in Palestine completed the development of its second-generation national action plan for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). On 18 October, at a ceremony in Manama, Israel and Bahrain established formal diplomatic relations, signing eight bilateral agreements, including a joint communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic, peaceful and friendly relations. The document affirms that the two parties will continue their efforts to achieve a just, comprehensive and enduring resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On 20 October, the first official delegation from the United Arab Emirates visited Israel. The delegation signed four bilateral agreements with Israeli counterparts, including an agreement on mutual visa exemptions for Israeli and Emirati nationals.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  4. “On 12 October, Al-Akhras rejected an offer by the Israeli authorities, whereby he would be released on 26 November, the original end date of his detention order, only in return for immediately ending his hunger strike. To date, there has been no agreement to end the standoff. Let me reiterate that all persons held in administrative detention should be promptly charged and tried in a court of law or released without delay. On the twentieth anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000), I want to acknowledge the efforts made by civil society and the Palestinian Government, in partnership with the United Nations, on advancing the women and peace and security agenda despite the challenging political and humanitarian context.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  5. “The olive harvest is a key economic, social and cultural event, but each year the ability of Palestinians to harvest is compromised due to access restrictions, attacks and intimidation. Since the harvest season began, on 7 October, 23 farmers have been injured, over 1,000 olive trees have been burnt or otherwise damaged and several tons of produce have been stolen — in 19 separate incidents. Israeli authorities must ensure the easy access of farmers to their land and must protect all farmers and their property from attacks. I am also deeply concerned about the deteriorating health condition of Maher Al-Akhras, a Palestinian detainee who has been on a hunger strike for over 90 days in protest of his administrative detention.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  6. “On 5 October, Israeli security forces shot and killed a Palestinian man and injured two others at a checkpoint south-east of Tulkarm while they were reportedly throwing Molotov cocktails at passing vehicles. On 25 October, a 17-year-old Palestinian youth died during an encounter with the Israeli security forces near the West Bank village of Turmusaya, near Nablus. There are conflicting claims about the circumstances and cause of death. I urge a prompt and independent investigation into the events that led to the boy’s death.Settlers perpetrated 34 attacks against Palestinians, resulting in 30 injuries and damage to property. Palestinians carried out 29 attacks against Israeli settlers and other civilians in the West Bank, resulting in five injuries and damage to property.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  7. “While calm in Gaza has largely held, the arrangements and commitments from all parties must be reinforced if they are to be sustained. Turning to the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, two Palestinians, including one child, were killed and 65 were injured in clashes and other incidents. Seven Israelis, including two soldiers and one woman, were injured during the reporting period. On 4 October, Israeli forces shot and injured a 16-year-old Palestinian with a live bullet during clashes in Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. On the same day, a 15-year-old Palestinian boy was seriously injured in an incident in Hizma, near East Jerusalem. Also on that day, a Palestinian armed with a knife attempted to stab an Israeli security forces officer near Hebron. The attacker was arrested and no injuries were reported.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  8. “In response, Israeli Air Force aircraft fired two missiles targeting a military observation post in Gaza, also with no injuries reported. On 20 October, the IDF announced that it had located and exposed a Hamas tunnel entering Israeli territory from the southern Gaza Strip. A few hours after the discovery, Palestinian militants fired one rocket from Gaza towards Israel. The rocket was intercepted by the IDF’s Iron Dome air-defence system, and no injuries or damage were reported. The Israeli Air Force responded by striking an underground structure in an agricultural field in Gaza. No injuries were reported. In total, five rockets were fired by militants in Gaza towards Israel during the reporting period. The IDF fired a total of 13 missiles into Gaza in retaliation.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  9. “The Palestinian people have not been allowed to elect their leaders for too long. Democracy and elections are critical to enabling people to determine the direction of their national cause. The United Nations stands ready to support the Palestinian people in exercising their democratic rights. It is unfortunate that violent incidents continued throughout the reporting period. On 1 October, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) arrested two Palestinian men who had crossed into Israel through the Gaza security fence, carrying a homemade bomb. The next day, the IDF opened fire on a group of Palestinians who approached the security fence in Gaza, injuring one of them. On 5 October, militants fired one rocket from Gaza towards Israel. The rocket landed in an open area in Israel, with no injuries or damage reported.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  10. “After the release of the report to the Human Rights Council on business activities in Israeli settlements in February 2020, Israel froze its relations with OHCHR. I am deeply concerned that critical mandated work on human rights by the United Nations is obstructed in that S/2020/1055 manner. I urge Israel to facilitate the return of international staff members to the occupied Palestinian territory. On 24 September, Fatah announced that it had reached a series of understandings with Hamas, including an agreement to hold legislative and presidential elections under a proportional representation system. Those discussions are a welcome development and represent yet another effort to organize long-overdue and much- needed Palestinian leadership elections on the basis of the Palestinian Liberation Organization platform.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  11. “An Israeli court has issued an interim injunction halting the demolition pending further legal proceedings. There were no demolitions of residential structures in East Jerusalem in the reporting period. I urge Israel to cease demolitions and seizures of Palestinian property throughout the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in line with its obligations under international humanitarian law, and to allow Palestinians to develop their communities. Over the past months, Israel did not responded to visa-renewal requests for international staff members from the United Nations Human Rights Field Office in Gaza. While the Office continues to deliver on its mandate, most international staff members in the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) are now working from outside the mission area.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  12. “Settlement-related activities should cease, as they undermine the prospect for achieving a viable two-State solution in line with United Nations resolutions, international law and prior agreements. During the reporting period, Israeli authorities also demolished or seized 59 Palestinian-owned structures in Area C and three in East Jerusalem, thereby displacing 82 Palestinians, including 23 women and 40 children, and affecting 200 others. The demolitions were carried out due to the lack of Israeli-issued building permits, which are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain. A donor-funded school in the Bedouin community of Ras Al-Tin, in the Ramallah governorate, faces imminent threat of demolition due to the lack of a building permit. If demolished, it would affect nearly 50 children.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  13. “On 14 and 15 October, Israeli authorities moved forward with some 5,000 settlement housing units. That resumption of major settlement activity, which follows an eight-month break in Area C housing advancements, is of great concern. This move by the Civil Administration High Planning Committee is one of the largest collective housing advancements to date. Approximately 85 per cent of those units are in settlements in outlying locations, deep inside the West Bank — all in areas impeding the contiguity of a future Palestinian State. While the location of those units is particularly worrisome, I reiterate that all settlements are illegal under international law and remain a substantial obstacle to peace.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  14. “I reiterate the Secretary-General’s call for both sides to re-examine the nature of their economic relationship and to improve it for the benefit of both peoples. In that context, I appeal to the Palestinian leadership to resume its coordination with Israel and accept its clearance revenues — money that belongs to the Palestinian people and cannot be replaced by donor funding. When public health conditions permit, Israel should facilitate freer movement of Palestinian workers and goods into Israel and between the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip. For its part, the international community should accelerate humanitarian and development initiatives in the occupied Palestinian territory, including those outlined in the humanitarian response plan and the United Nations COVID-19 Response Plan.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  15. “I welcome the ongoing support from the donor community to the United Nations COVID-19 response efforts and urgently call for increased assistance as the crisis extends into the foreseeable future. As we remain focused on urgent health concerns, the viability of the Palestinian Authority is being severely undermined by an economic and fiscal crisis that has been exacerbated by the Palestinian decision to end civilian and security coordination with Israel. The fiscal crisis derives primarily from a collapse in S/2020/1055 domestic tax revenues during the COVID-19 emergency and from the Government’s refusal to receive its clearance revenues. The United Nations stands ready to mediate solutions to the fiscal crisis and to get the Palestinian economy on a better footing.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  16. “Those new supplies, along with millions of personal protective equipment items, are crucial to efforts to contain the spread of the virus. Arrangements brokered by the United Nations continue to enable the transfer of patients from Gaza for medical treatment outside the Strip and allow for importing humanitarian supplies into the occupied Palestinian territory, even as the Palestinian Authority’s decision to halt coordination with Israel remains in place. I wish to reiterate, however, that the United Nations cannot replace the roles and responsibilities of the Palestinian Authority or the Government of Israel. Any increase of responsibilities for the United Nations in that regard should be limited and time-bound.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  17. “During the reporting period, the resurgence of COVID-19 seriously compounded the humanitarian and economic challenges on the ground, with a significant tightening of restrictions in Israel and Gaza and the extension of the State of emergency throughout the occupied Palestinian territory for 30 days, beginning on 2 October. The humanitarian community continued its efforts to address the pandemic, including by addressing critical gaps in medical supplies and equipment. Responding to a severe shortage of equipment, including COVID-19 testing kits in the occupied Palestinian territory, United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations and international organizations delivered materials for more than 100,000 tests, dozens of ventilators and oxygen therapy machines.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  18. “In the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, that means focusing on preventive diplomacy to avoid escalation and war in Gaza and working with all to alleviate the health and socioeconomic consequences of the pandemic. It means modernizing the economic relationship between the two sides and working towards re-establishing credible negotiations with the goal of a two-State solution, in line with the relevant United Nations resolutions. The commitment of the international community to support both sides in this process remains unwavering. What is required, however, is leadership from both Israelis and Palestinians to work together and advance the cause of peace.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  19. “We meet this month as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic continues across the Middle East, threatening local health systems and fraying the social and economic fabric of society as we struggle to meet the challenges ahead. As the pandemic stretches on and its consequences accumulate, Palestinians and Israelis alike are feeling the effects. I remain particularly concerned about the spread of the virus in Gaza and the long-term damage to the Palestinian economy and social cohesion, including its effects on education for the next generation. Last month at the General Assembly, the Secretary-General renewed his appeal for a global ceasefire in response to COVID-19, calling for a major push to make this happen by the end of the year.”

    2020-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1055 (2020) · source

  20. “This is the stark reality of the current situation. Without resolving the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, regional peace will not be complete. The legitimate national aspiration of 5 million Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza cannot be ignored. It is well beyond time that we all work together with the parties for peace before it is too late. That is why every opening must be explored, every opportunity used and every idea discussed and debated if we are to get out of the cycle of statements, preventive diplomacy and conflict management and work towards a real solution that is sustainable and in line with the relevant United Nations resolutions.”

    2020-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/837 (2020) · source

  21. “On 3 August, the IDF fired missiles from a helicopter across the ceasefire line onto the Bravo side, informing UNDOF that the IDF had struck Syrian armed forces targets in response to the attempted improvised explosive device attack the night before. UNDOF continues to engage with both parties to prevent an escalation of the situation and to remind them of their obligation to respect the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement. In conclusion, let me urge that we not lose sight of the deteriorating dynamics on the ground. Gaza is teetering on the brink of another major escalation with Israel. The occupied West Bank is fracturing under a multitude of economic and political pressures. Settlement expansion and demolitions are ongoing, and the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a devastating impact on Palestinian and Israeli societies.”

    2020-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/837 (2020) · source

  22. “UNIFIL continues to maintain stability and defuse tensions, including through its liaison and coordination efforts with the parties. Turning to the Golan, tensions between Israel and Syria heightened on 2 and 3 August. On 2 August, the IDF carried out a strike, killing four individuals from the Bravo side in the vicinity of the ceasefire line. The IDF informed the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) that they had carried out an attack on targets east of the Israeli technical fence to thwart an attempt to place explosives in that area. The following day, at the request of the Syrian authorities, UNDOF facilitated the retrieval by the International Committee of the Red Cross in Syria of the remains of the four individuals who had been killed.”

    2020-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/837 (2020) · source

  23. “Popular protests continued, while informal consultations on the formation of a new Government are ongoing, following the resignation of Prime Minister Hassan Diab’s Government on 10 August. At the same time, the COVID-19 outbreak has worsened, prompting a nationwide lockdown in Lebanon. On 18 August, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon delivered its verdict in the Ayyash et al case, concerning the 2005 attack that killed former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and 21 others, convicting Ayyash, while acquitting the three other defendants for lack of evidence. While the situation in the area of operations of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has remained generally stable, tensions have been observed along the Blue Line, including a breach of the cessation of hostilities on 27 July.”

    2020-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/837 (2020) · source

  24. “The Court emphasized that the rights of the perpetrator’s wife and children would be disproportionately harmed if the demolition were to proceed. Briefly turning to the region, in Lebanon, over 180 people are dead following the explosion in Beirut port on 4 August, with 30 persons still missing and several thousands injured. Almost 300,000 people are in need of shelter. A Lebanese investigation into the explosion is ongoing, with the assistance of experts from France, Russia, Turkey and the United States. Following the 9 August international donors’ conference co-convened by France and the United Nations, at which nearly $300 million in aid was pledged, a United Nations flash appeal launched on 14 August raised another $565 million to help address humanitarian and recovery needs.”

    2020-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/837 (2020) · source

  25. “On 12 August, settlers attacked Israeli security forces during an operation to demolish structures at an outpost near the settlement of Yitzhar. Palestinians carried out 27 attacks against Israeli settlers and other civilians in the West Bank, resulting in five injuries and property damage. During the reporting period, Israeli authorities demolished 72 Palestinian- owned structures in Area C and East Jerusalem, displacing 89 people, including 32 women and 40 children, and affecting 20 others. In addition, 11 Palestinians self- demolished their structures to avoid additional fines. On 10 August, Israel’s High Court of Justice overturned an order to punitively demolish the home of a Palestinian accused of killing an Israeli soldier in May.”

    2020-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/837 (2020) · source

  26. “I call on the Israeli authorities to investigate these incidents. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, there has been a concerning increase in violent crime within Palestinian communities across the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem, as well as violent incidents involving Palestinian security forces and civilians, with several people shot dead in recent weeks. Meanwhile, Palestinian organizations focused on gender-based violence in the West Bank have also reported a sharp increase in femicides. I urge Palestinian authorities, in line with their obligations, to enhance the protection of women and girls from gender-based violence. In addition, settlers perpetrated 20 attacks against Palestinians, resulting in four injuries and damage to property.”

    2020-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/837 (2020) · source

  27. “In another unfortunate incident involving a disabled person, on 17 August Israeli security forces shot and injured a 60-year-old Palestinian man with hearing and speech impediments at the Qalandiya checkpoint when he did not respond to their calls to halt. On 20 August, a 16-year-old Palestinian boy died after reportedly being shot by Israeli security forces near the village of Deir Abu Mash’al, west of Ramallah. Two other Palestinians were reportedly injured. The Israeli security forces stated that the three were preparing to throw Molotov cocktails and set alight tyres to attack passing vehicles. I reiterate that lethal force should be used only as a last resort, against an imminent threat of death or serious injury, and in accordance with the principle of proportionality.”

    2020-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/837 (2020) · source

  28. “On 13 August, Israel’s prosecution authorities filed an indictment against five border police officers on 14 counts of serious abuse, including assault and robbery. A videotape that was subsequently released showed unacceptable, vicious beatings and the humiliation of Palestinian detainees. On 16 August, an 18-year-old Palestinian was shot and injured by Israeli security forces while reportedly attempting to throw a Molotov cocktail at Rachel’s Tomb near Bethlehem. The following day, another Palestinian man was shot and killed in Jerusalem’s Old City while carrying out a stabbing attack against an Israeli border police officer, who was moderately injured.”

    2020-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/837 (2020) · source

  29. “Turning to the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, three Palestinians, including one child and one woman, were killed and 47 injured, including two children and one woman, in clashes, attacks, search-and-arrest operations and other incidents. Seven Israelis, including two soldiers and one child, were injured during the reporting period. In one tragic incident, a 23-year-old Palestinian woman was killed by live fire in her home in Jenin during an operation by the Israeli security forces and ensuing clashes with local Palestinian residents. There are contradictory claims over responsibility for the shooting, with the Israeli security forces and local residents denying the use of live ammunition.”

    2020-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/837 (2020) · source

  30. “The Palestinian population in Gaza endure unbearable economic conditions, no freedom of movement and political isolation. Closures and rounds of escalation have defined their lives for more than a decade. There is a moral imperative to end all militant activity in Gaza, restore Palestinian national unity and lift Israeli closures. But the political solutions that must be provided by leaders are nowhere in sight. Instead, we have a day-to-day, month-to-month, year-to-year patchwork of crucial humanitarian efforts to prevent war and to try and sustain the lives of 2 million desperate Palestinians in Gaza.”

    2020-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/837 (2020) · source

  31. “It is also affecting health facilities, schools and conditions at some of the quarantine centres that are critical to efforts to prevent an outbreak of the coronavirus disease in the Gaza Strip, particularly given reports yesterday of the first identified cases of COVID-19 outside quarantine centres in Gaza. In addition, on 16 August Israel completely closed the Gaza fishing zone. Yesterday, after hearing the news of the new COVID-19 cases in Gaza, the United Nations asked Israel to reinstate the delivery of Qatari-funded fuel for the Gaza Strip in order to help prevent a major health crisis. This latest escalation has once again demonstrated the urgency of implementing long-term solutions for Gaza. The Israeli population in proximity to the Gaza Strip live in constant fear, watching their lands burn and their children run for shelter.”

    2020-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/837 (2020) · source

  32. “In response to the sharp rise in the number of incendiary balloons, on 11 August Israel limited the transfer of some goods and halted the transfer of construction materials through the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza. On 12 August, Israeli authorities stopped all fuel deliveries until further notice, including donor-funded fuel. As a result, the Gaza power plant has shut down, sharply reducing electricity provision to three hours per day. This is severely impacting critical infrastructure, including sewage treatment and the provision of clean drinking water.”

    2020-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/837 (2020) · source

  33. “Six civilians were slightly injured while running for shelter. Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) responded by striking Hamas targets and agricultural fields, firing some 80 missiles and shells, with five people reported injured, including four children and one woman. Following one of these strikes, an unexploded Israeli missile was found in a school run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in the Al-Shati refugee camp. The IDF classified this as an accident that is under review. I reiterate that the indiscriminate launching of rockets and incendiary devices towards Israeli population centres violates international law and must cease immediately. Likewise, children and schools should never be targeted by any party, nor should children be exposed to violence.”

    2020-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/837 (2020) · source

  34. “Let me reiterate that any increased responsibilities for the United Nations should be limited and time-bound and not designed to replace the roles and responsibilities of the Palestinian Authority or the Government of Israel. I remain very concerned that the suspension of coordination — and in particular revenue transfers — cannot be sustained for much longer without severe humanitarian and economic consequences. As I noted earlier, tensions in Gaza are rising again. Over the reporting period, militants fired some 20 rockets towards Israel and launched some 270 balloons carrying incendiary devices, causing hundreds of fires and forcing some civilians to be evacuated from their homes. Shrapnel from rockets intercepted by the Iron Dome system damaged a car and two houses in the Israeli town of Sderot.”

    2020-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/837 (2020) · source

  35. “As reported last month, the United Nations reached agreements with the Palestinian Government to facilitate vital deliveries of humanitarian aid and related equipment. Agreements were also reached with Israel to streamline its administrative procedures for those imports in the light of the COVID-19 crisis. I am pleased to report that coordination between the United Nations and all sides on the importation of humanitarian supplies is proceeding well. But coordination levels between Israel and the Palestinian Authority remain far below normal. This has impacted the delivery of assistance as well as the provision of services to the Palestinian population. Fortunately, after minor delays, a mechanism that supports the transfer of patients requiring medical treatment outside of Gaza has also been established.”

    2020-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/837 (2020) · source

  36. “The Office of the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process continues to work with the United Nations country team, donors and the parties to address the needs in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. On 28 July, the United Nations country team released its COVID-19 Development System Response Plan, outlining critical interventions that the United Nations will implement in the coming 12 to 18 months in support of the Palestinian Government. I encourage Member States also to support these efforts. The United Nations is deeply engaged in efforts to mitigate the economic and humanitarian consequences of the Palestinian Authority’s decision to halt all coordination with Israel in response to the threat of annexation.”

    2020-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/837 (2020) · source

  37. “Mediation efforts will continue; however, I am concerned that militant activity, incendiary balloons, rockets and a deteriorating humanitarian situation inside the Strip are rapidly eroding existing arrangements. During the past months, Gaza’s economy deteriorated dramatically. Compounding the impact of continued closures, intra-Palestinian division and more than a decade of Hamas rule, COVID-19-related restrictions have halted the crossing of workers and traders into Israel and inhibited revenue transfers to Gaza’s exporters. The current absence of cooperation between the Palestinian Authority and Israel has also slowed implementation of critical infrastructure projects, and jobs have been lost.”

    2020-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/837 (2020) · source

  38. “The United Nations and its partners have continued to support Palestinians in responding to the pandemic, including by addressing critical gaps in medical supplies and equipment. Meanwhile, the Palestinian economy is in freefall. Now that the imminent threat of annexation has been removed, I hope that the Palestinian leadership will resume accepting its clearance revenues and provide some breathing space for the battered economy. Recently, the security situation in Gaza has also deteriorated, which is a trend that soon may become irreversible. It is essential that the ceasefire agreement brokered by Egypt and the United Nations, which has proved effective since August 2018, be reaffirmed.”

    2020-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/837 (2020) · source

  39. “The terms of reference for resolving the conflict have not changed — they are based on the relevant United Nations resolutions, bilateral agreements and international law. Only a two- State solution in which Israel and Palestine live side-by-side in peace, security and mutual recognition can lead to sustainable peace. Today is not the time to despair about the Palestinian cause. Annexation plans have been stopped. In fact, today is the time to redouble efforts and reach out more actively than ever to leaders in the Middle East, and for the Palestinian and Israeli leadership to re-engage constructively. Regrettably, we continue to confront a series of multilayered challenges on the ground, as the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic in the occupied Palestinian territory and in Israel continues to be a major concern.”

    2020-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/837 (2020) · source

  40. “Annexation would constitute a most serious violation of international law, effectively close the door to a renewal of negotiations and destroy the prospect of a viable Palestinian State and the two-State solution itself. The Israel-United Arab Emirates deal also has the potential to change dynamics across the region. It creates new opportunities for cooperation at a time when the Middle East and the world face grave dangers from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and radicalization. It will create economic opportunities and opportunities for peace. I hope it will also inspire leaders on all sides to re-engage constructively in meaningful negotiations to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

    2020-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/837 (2020) · source

  41. “I address the Security Council today following the agreement that was reached between Israel and the United Arab Emirates that stops Israeli annexation plans over parts of the occupied West Bank and includes the normalization of relations between the two countries. The Secretary-General has welcomed this agreement, hoping it will create an opportunity for Israeli and Palestinian leaders to re-engage. Israel’s commitment to suspending annexation removes an immediate threat that had the potential to upend the peace process and regional stability. The Secretary- General has consistently called for Israel to abandon these plans.”

    2020-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/837 (2020) · source

  42. “We must use the opportunity presented by the current crises to move forward to regain the path towards a negotiated two-State solution, built on a just and sustainable resolution to the conflict in line with relevant United Nations resolutions, bilateral agreements and international law.”

    2020-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/736 (2020) · source

  43. “To this effect, I reiterate today the Secretary-General’s call to the members of the Middle East Quartet, the Arab countries and the Israeli and Palestinian leadership to urgently re-engage. We need to restart diplomacy. Over these past years, these types of discussions have been dormant for too long, allowing both parties to move further apart along diverging paths. Unilateral action and the threat of unilateral action have made the goal appear ever more distant. Only by engaging together on the basis of shared principles and aspirations can we identify realistic steps to avoid increasing polarization and advance the goal of two States, living side by side in peace, security, mutual recognition — and integrated into the region.”

    2020-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/736 (2020) · source

  44. “Last week, I spoke with representatives of Palestinian and Israeli civil society organizations engaged in peacebuilding efforts. Their resilience, creativity and commitment to a peaceful solution are deeply inspiring and we, in the international community, would do well to follow their lead. Today, however, it is not enough to restate our opposition to annexation. Today we should discuss what can and must be done to improve the situation on the ground, preserve the prospects for a two-State solution, increase the chances of meaningful negotiations for a peaceful resolution of the conflict and protect these efforts from spoilers, radicals and extremists.”

    2020-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/736 (2020) · source

  45. “I call on both sides to work with the United Nations in ensuring that the forms of civil and security coordination that are vital to preventing the continuing spread of the coronavirus are reinstated immediately. That should be done without prejudice to the political position of either party. It is necessary to do that in order to protect lives in the face of rapidly growing infection rates. We will continue to work with all sides to ensure that humanitarian and health needs are met. For the United Nations, protecting lives will always remain our highest priority. The complexities of the pandemic also require us to examine how we arrived at this pivotal and destructive point in the history of the conflict and what it will take to reverse the current course.”

    2020-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/736 (2020) · source

  46. “Immediate efforts to curb the virus and to mitigate its impact must be prioritized. Israeli and Palestinian leaders have a duty to protect the lives and livelihoods of their populations. With unemployment in Israel surging to over 20 per cent, and with thousands of Israelis taking to the streets to demand greater financial support from their Government, many have highlighted the staggering financial and, potentially, human cost of moving forward with potential annexation plans. I reiterate the Secretary-General’s call on the Israeli Government to abandon plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank. With an 80 per cent reduction in its income, the Palestinian Authority faces the risk of a total collapse at a time when Palestinians throughout the occupied territory need the services and support of their Government more than ever.”

    2020-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/736 (2020) · source

  47. “On the Golan, while generally calm, the situation remained volatile, with continued violations of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement. On 15 July, the Alpha side informed the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) that they had eliminated a position within the area of separation that they believed was a violation and a threat. UNDOF did not observe that activity but did observe an explosion in the area of separation consistent with the report from the Alpha side. In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that confronting the current crises requires unity of effort, strength of purpose and a clear understanding of the multifaceted risks we are facing. The ferocity of the COVID-19 virus and its devastating human and economic toll demand extraordinary measures — measures that must rise above politics as usual.”

    2020-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/736 (2020) · source

  48. “As the health and education sectors come under increased stress, and with growing concerns over food insecurity, the Government and the International Monetary Fund remain engaged in talks over a potential assistance package. In parallel, Lebanon has witnessed a spike in daily COVID-19 infections, with 2,542 confirmed cases as of 15 July. The situation in the area of operations of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) remained mostly stable, notwithstanding several instances of weapons being pointed between the IDF and the Lebanese Armed Forces along the Blue Line. On 2 July, under COVID-19 restrictions, the UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander chaired a tripartite meeting attended by senior delegations of the Lebanese Armed Forces and the IDF to prevent tensions along the Blue Line.”

    2020-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/736 (2020) · source

  49. “I note that the latest information available from Israeli authorities indicates that, as of 31 May, the number of Palestinian detainees, including minors, in Israeli prisons is at its lowest level in years. The number of Palestinian minors in Israeli prisons has declined by some 30 per cent — from 201 in February to 142 in May. While still too high, I welcome that development, particularly in the light of the recent calls to release detainees and reduce their numbers during the COVID-19 crisis. Turning briefly to the region, the economic situation in Lebanon continues to deteriorate, with inflation rising as the Lebanese lira falls against the United States dollar.”

    2020-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/736 (2020) · source

  50. “Over the month, militants also test-fired an unusually high 69 rockets and mortars towards the sea, with 44 projectiles launched on 1 and 3 July alone. Economic tensions brought out dozens of Palestinians on 5 July, who demonstrated in front of the Palestinian Legislative Council in Gaza City against the deteriorating situation, poverty and unemployment. In the past month, the Israeli authorities demolished 48 Palestinian-owned structures due to a lack of Israeli-issued building permits. Another five structures were self-demolished by their owners following the receipt of demolition orders. Of the buildings demolished, 39 were in Area C and 14 in East Jerusalem. Consequently, 34 people, including 17 children and 10 women, were displaced, and over 250 people were otherwise affected.”

    2020-07-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/736 (2020) · source