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. “The path of unilateral action will lead only to more conflict and suffering. However, there is a different path — one of working together to modernize and expand existing agreements, of solidifying the current relative calm in Gaza, of implementing the recommendations of the 2016 report of the Middle East Quartet (S/2016/595, annex) and of actively taking steps towards a negotiated two-State solution based on relevant United Nations resolutions, bilateral agreements and international law. Nevertheless, I would like to end my briefing today by conveying my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the entire United Nations family, particularly to the World Health Organization team and Deputy Special Coordinator McGoldrick, who have been working tirelessly on the ground since the onset of COVID-19.”

    2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source

  2. “In parallel, the deteriorating socioeconomic situation has led to renewed demonstrations in parts of the country. The Palestine refugee camps are increasingly volatile as the population has been severely impacted by the economic crisis and is now facing the mounting threat of COVID-19, with the first case in a refugee camp confirmed this week. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Hassan Diab’s promised economic rescue plan remains under discussion by Cabinet. As we continue our collective efforts to contain COVID-19, we must not lose sight of the critical decisions that lie ahead for Israeli political leaders and which may impact the trajectory of the conflict for years to come. Moves to annex land and accelerate settlement expansion, combined with the devastating impact of COVID-19, could ignite the situation and destroy any hope of peace.”

    2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source

  3. “On 17 April, UNDOF observed an aircraft from the Alpha side flying across the ceasefire line and over the area of separation. Around the same time, UNDOF saw the Syrian armed forces at a position in the area of separation fire shots across the ceasefire line towards an aircraft flying on the Alpha side. These developments have the potential to escalate the situation between the two sides. The parties have an obligation to respect the terms of the Agreement on Disengagement between Israeli and Syrian Forces. In Lebanon, since the Government declared a state of general mobilization owing to the public health emergency on 15 March, state security forces have enforced lockdown measures and distributed aid to vulnerable Lebanese households.”

    2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source

  4. “While the temporary halt in home demolitions is a positive measure, the continued targeting of other structures, in particular water and hygiene-related structures, remains of concern. Turning briefly to the region, on the Golan, where the ceasefire between Israel and Syria has been generally maintained, the overall security situation remains stable despite some continued violations by both parties, including the presence of unauthorized personnel and equipment in the areas of separation and limitation. On 13 April, the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) observed 15 drones flying from the Alpha side to the Bravo side over the area of separation, with five of the drones heading towards the area of limitation on the Bravo side.”

    2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source

  5. “During the reporting period, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) recorded an increase in settler-related violence as compared to January and February, with some 38 incidents of Israeli settlers injuring Palestinians or damaging their property. OCHA also recorded 11 Palestinian attacks against Israeli civilians in the West Bank, resulting in one injured person and damage to 11 vehicles. Meanwhile, the Israeli authorities demolished 34 Palestinian-owned structures in Area C for lack of Israeli-issued building permits, which remain very difficult for Palestinians to obtain. No structures were demolished in East Jerusalem during the reporting period or in Area C of the West Bank since 26 March.”

    2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source

  6. “In East Jerusalem, the situation in the Al-Issawiya neighbourhood remained tense, with clashes and arrests taking place during the reporting period. On 3 April, Israeli police detained the Palestinian Minister of Jerusalem Affairs for several hours and interrogated him over allegations of violating an Israeli law prohibiting Palestinian Authority activities in Jerusalem without coordination. The Minister was released on the condition that he abstain from such activities and was banned from movement within East Jerusalem for 14 days. Later, on 5 April, the Palestinian Authority’s Governor of Jerusalem was arrested over similar allegations and released on the following day.”

    2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source

  7. “Despite a notable decline in clashes owing to COVID-19-related movement restrictions, sporadic violent incidents continued in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Overall, three Palestinians were killed and 25 injured, including four children, in various incidents. Two Israelis were injured, including one civilian and one member of the security forces. On 22 March, Israeli security forces shot and killed a 32-year-old Palestinian man and injured his relative, while they were travelling on a main road in the central West Bank. The Israeli military reported that the two were throwing stones at vehicles, an account that has been disputed by family members. On 22 April, a Palestinian man carried out a car ramming and stabbing attack against an Israeli border police officer and was subsequently shot and killed.”

    2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source

  8. “Meanwhile, the Erez crossing has been largely shut down since 12 March, except for the exit of emergency medical cases and cancer patients. Severe movement restrictions have been put in place inside Gaza as well. Exit via the Rafah crossing was also halted on 15 March. Since 13 April, however, the crossing has reopened in one direction. Egypt has allowed some 1,600 Palestinians to return to Gaza. Local health authorities there have organized isolation facilities, placing all who return in a mandatory three-week quarantine. The United Nations is working with all stakeholders to ensure that those facilities are properly maintained and appropriate screening mechanisms are put in place.”

    2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source

  9. “Gaza’s specific needs must also be addressed in the budget. Turning briefly to Gaza, a relative calm has prevailed in and around the Strip. Two rockets were launched towards Israel on 27 March, and in response the Israel Defense Forces fired three missiles at targets it identified as militant facilities. Earlier this month, however, Hamas security forces detained eight civil society activists on the grounds of “establishing a normalization activity with the Israeli occupation”. Three have been released. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has raised serious concerns over the legality of the detentions, fair trial standards and the risk of ill-treatment in and outside detention. I reiterate its call for the civil society activists to be released.”

    2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source

  10. “Following a series of consultations recently held with the Israeli and Palestinian Ministers of Finance, I can report today that measures are being discussed that will ensure that, for the coming four months, clearance revenue transferred by Israel to the Palestinian Authority does not fall below $137 million per month. That is the minimum amount necessary to ensure the Palestinian Authority’s fiscal viability and critical service delivery to the Palestinian people. In that context, I also welcome the Palestinian Prime Minister’s announcement of an emergency budget aimed at keeping public spending to a minimum. This budget should re-orient all spending towards health-related expenditures, income support to vulnerable people, support for affected firms and continuity of Government, including salaries and security- related expenditures.”

    2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source

  11. “If current trends continue, the damage to the economy jeopardizes the very existence of the Palestinian Authority. Revenues from trade, tourism and transfers have declined to their lowest levels in the last two decades. The Authority’s fiscal gap for 2020 will likely exceed $1 billion. Israel has a critical responsibility to ensure the well-being and safety of people under its control. As a result of the occupation, the Palestinian Authority has limited sway over its economy and does not have access to the conventional monetary and fiscal tools necessary to remedy the crisis.”

    2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source

  12. “Evidence is emerging that gender-based violence, including domestic violence, has increased since the onset of the pandemic. The crisis is also impacting women’s engagement in economic activities and exacerbating pre-existing gender inequalities. According to a recent survey by UN-Women, 27 per cent of women’s businesses have been shut down, and 73 per cent of women surveyed indicated that they can sustain their businesses under the current conditions for only a maximum of four months. I encourage the Palestinian Government to work with the United Nations and take all the necessary measures to protect women and girls. Aside from the immediate health concerns, COVID-19 will also take a severe toll on the broader socioeconomic situation.”

    2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source

  13. “In East Jerusalem, where the health network is chronically underfunded, only two of six hospitals are prepared to deal with cases of COVID-19 that require clinical care. The Israeli closure of a COVID-19 testing clinic in the Silwan area of East Jerusalem on 14 April has also raised concerns. Although no COVID-19 cases have been reported among prisoners thus far, the Palestinian leadership has expressed concern regarding the potential impact of the crisis on detainees in Israeli prisons. I encourage all authorities to consider the release of detainees or alternatives for those in various forms of detention who are particularly vulnerable, such as the elderly or those with pre-existing medical conditions, children and women. The impact of the virus on women and girls is particularly concerning.”

    2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source

  14. “Palestinian health services continue to report an acute shortage of medical equipment and personnel owing to insufficient funding. In Gaza, the Ministry of Health reported that it ran out of 44 per cent of essential medical supplies in March. In addition, there is an urgent need for laboratory materials for conducting testing, as well as intensive care unit equipment. Tens of thousands of Palestinian workers have remained in Israel, providing for their families during a difficult time. If they return home, they must be properly quarantined and screened. The United Nations country team is working with the Palestinian authorities to ensure that the necessary facilities are in place for such an eventuality.”

    2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source

  15. “Israel also continues its efforts to provide and facilitate COVID-19-related assistance to the Palestinians. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is also engaged in response efforts, having opened its health services to non-refugees in Gaza. In that context, I welcome the efforts of Jordan and Sweden in hosting the second Ministerial Strategic Dialogue on UNRWA on 22 April, as well as the important focus placed on the need to continue supporting the Agency. I take this opportunity to commend, once again, the Palestinian and Israeli authorities for their continued efforts and sustained coordination to contain the virus and mitigate its economic fallout. However, despite the positive steps, significant challenges remain.”

    2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source

  16. “Since the start of the crisis, the United Nations has delivered more than 1 million items such as essential drugs and equipment for the management of COVID-19, including personal protective equipment, laboratory materials, thousands of tests, oxygen therapy devices and advanced analysis machines. Those items have reached hospitals and clinics directly and also through the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The United Nations and its partners have provided training for Gaza health workers to build capacity on the ground, while the World Health Organization and UNICEF continue efforts to procure essential intensive care unit and ventilator equipment. On 15 April, the Palestinian Ministry of Health sent a shipment of drugs and supplies to Gaza that included laboratory and testing materials, dialysis materials and some critical medication.”

    2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source

  17. “Developments on the ground continue to be dominated by the COVID-19 crisis and efforts to respond to its medical, social and economic consequences. The United Nations has put together a response plan, requesting $34 million to respond to the public health needs and immediate humanitarian consequences of the pandemic in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. The response plan, led by Deputy Special Coordinator McGoldrick, was developed in coordination with the Palestinian Ministry of Health. It will provide an important bridge to the Palestinian Government’s broader socioeconomic recovery plan. I thank all Member States that have contributed and encourage others to urgently support those critical efforts.”

    2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source

  18. “Despite those worrisome developments, I am encouraged that the COVID-19 crisis has also created some opportunities for cooperation. I hope that those opportunities will not be undermined or destroyed if the political context between Israel and the Palestinian Authority deteriorates. With support from the United Nations, both sides are coordinating their efforts to tackle the common threat posed by the pandemic. Much more can — and must — be done. The recognition of that interdependence could, if there is political will, translate into tangible progress towards resolving the conflict. I strongly urge Israeli and Palestinian leaders to seize this moment to take steps towards peace and to reject unilateral moves that will only deepen the wedge between the two peoples and undermine the chances for peace.”

    2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source

  19. “The dangerous prospect of annexation by Israel of parts of the occupied West Bank is a growing threat. If such a move were implemented, it would constitute a serious violation of international law, deal a devastating blow to the two-State solution, close the door to a renewal of negotiations and threaten efforts to advance regional peace. On 20 April, the two leading political parties in Israel signed a coalition agreement to form a Government. While the two sides reiterated a commitment to advance peace agreements and cooperate with Israel’s neighbours, they also agreed on advancing annexation of parts of the West Bank, starting on 1 July. The Palestinian Authority has threatened that, if this move takes place, the Authority will cancel the implementation of all bilateral agreements.”

    2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source

  20. “I am briefing the Council today as the Middle East continues to confront the monumental challenge of containing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. On 23 March, the Secretary-General launched an appeal for an immediate global ceasefire. On 11 April, my fellow Special Envoys to the Middle East and I echoed the Secretary-General’s call and restated our firm commitment to preventive diplomacy, to assisting all efforts to respond to the health and socioeconomic consequences of the crisis, to supporting cooperation in the interest of peace and to facilitating humanitarian access for the most vulnerable. The past month has seen inspiring examples of cooperation across conflict lines in the common battle against the virus. But it has also witnessed continued confrontation and fighting as the human toll of war continues to rise.”

    2020-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/341 (2020) · source