YouSaid · the spoken record

Prendergast

lines on the record: 716
first: 1999-08-27
most recent: 2018-09-10
sittings or episodes: 36
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

“Undoubtedly, for the parties, staying on the path of the road map in the face of continuing violence is very difficult. Since the last briefing to the Security Council, 63 Palestinians and 26 Israelis have lost their lives. That raises the total death toll since September 2000 to 2,714 Palestinians and 778 Israelis. But let us be clear: stay the course they must. The alternative is no alternative. As regards the Palestinians, we should all work to assist Prime Minister Abbas and Minister of State for Internal Security Dahlan. Under the first phase of the road map, the Palestinian Authority is required to undertake visible efforts on the ground to arrest, disrupt and restrain individuals and groups conducting and planning violent attacks on Israelis.”
2003-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4773 (2003) · source
“Rantisi was injured in the attack; three persons were killed, including a mother and her three-year-old child; and approximately 27 persons were injured. On 11 June, a suicide bomber struck a crowded bus in downtown Jerusalem, killing at least 17 people and wounding dozens. A Hamas leader and his family, including his wife and two children, as well as three other persons, died in an apparent extrajudicial killing by Israeli forces on 12 June. And on 10, 11 and 12 June, Israel deployed helicopter gunships to launch attacks on targets in the Gaza Strip, leaving a total of 23 persons dead. In response to those attacks, Hamas has threatened that every Israeli has become a target and has urged foreigners to leave Israel immediately.”
2003-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4773 (2003) · source
“I now turn to events on the ground since the last briefing. Only four days after the Aqaba summit, on 8 June, four Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) soldiers were killed when three Palestinian groups - Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade - carried out a joint attack on IDF soldiers near the Erez crossing. Another solider was killed in a separate incident. Such attacks can be seen only as direct challenges to Palestinian Prime Minister Abbas, who has been working to achieve a cessation of all forms of violence by Palestinian groups. Two days later, amidst efforts by the Palestinian Authority to halt violence and terrorism, Israel fired rockets from helicopter gunships in an attempt to assassinate Abdul Aziz Rantisi, a Hamas leader. Mr.”
2003-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4773 (2003) · source
“Those on the extremes will continue to do everything they can to stifle the nascent peace process. Under these circumstances, the international community has a responsibility to do everything possible to help the parties remain on the path they set for themselves at Aqaba. They will need active support throughout the process of implementing the road map, leading to a permanent settlement of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict as part of the search for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace on all tracks of the Middle East peace process. The international community must play its part by supporting the parties. But there is no substitute for determination and commitment by the parties themselves to end this conflict. Each of the two sides will have to make difficult concessions if peace is to become a reality.”
2003-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4773 (2003) · source
“Today, we are at a point where either the promise of peace or a resumption of violence will define the course of the political process in the weeks and months ahead. Faced with that choice, it is essential that the parties choose the road to peace. Violence leads only down into the abyss. I believe that all of us sense that the combination in quick succession of endorsement of the road map by the parties and the successful outcome of the Aqaba summit created the conditions for a genuine transformation of the political dynamics away from violence and towards peace. But those conditions are still tenuous, and the achievement of Aqaba is fragile. Not unexpectedly, Prime Ministers Abbas and Sharon have each met resistance at home to the commitments they made at Aqaba.”
2003-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4773 (2003) · source
“Mr. Prendergast: The period since the last briefing on the situation in the Middle East, on 19 May, has been marked by signs of hope - and by some grave reverses, too. President Bush's initiative to hold the Aqaba summit gave an especially important impetus to the renewal of the peace process. The statements of Prime Minister Abbas and Prime Minister Sharon at the summit opened the way to begin implementation of the road map, which leads to the two-State solution envisaged in Security Council resolution 1397 (2002). But regrettably, as we have witnessed all too often in recent years, the Aqaba summit was followed by a sharp rise in violence, reigniting the familiar spiral of violence, counter-violence and revenge.”
2003-06-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4773 (2003) · source
“The longer implementation of this vision is delayed, the farther apart Israel and the Palestinians will move and the longer it will take for them to build the trust and confidence that is a prerequisite for their mutual security and, ultimately, for a just and comprehensive settlement. The realization of this vision is entirely dependent on the political will of the parties. But it is also incumbent on the international community and on the Quartet, individually and collectively, consistently to encourage the parties to embrace this vision and the road map wholeheartedly.”
2003-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4704 (2003) · source
“Despite this, the best path towards ensuring the security of Israelis and Palestinians, and achieving a comprehensive regional peace, remains moving forward with the Quartet's road map. The road map's approach of addressing the inextricably linked issues of security, political progress and economic development in parallel would enable progress in each area to buttress progress in the others. We remain convinced that the early implementation of the road map would break the current stalemate and allow Israelis and Palestinians actively to pursue their legitimate aspirations at the negotiating table. Through this process, the parties could realize the vision of two States - Israel and an independent, viable, sovereign and democratic Palestine - living side by side in peace and security.”
2003-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4704 (2003) · source
“I would like to commend both Israel and Syria on their handling of that incident, which they did not allow to escalate. However, the incident has served as a reminder of the great sensitivity of the Golan area. Both sides must act with the utmost caution and with full respect for the terms of the disengagement agreement. I am sure that they will do so. Both sides should also refrain from actions that could jeopardize the status quo and create further friction. At this particularly precarious time across the Middle East, I would like to urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint in their words and deeds. Every effort must be made to enhance stability and, correspondingly, to avoid actions that could contribute to a further destabilization of present conditions. The situation in the Middle East remains very serious.”
2003-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4704 (2003) · source
“I should also mention that the Wazzani/Hasbani water issue continues to be a source of tension and possible escalation between Lebanon and Israel. The Government of Lebanon has expressed its willingness to find a negotiated solution through the good offices of the Secretary-General. The Government of Israel, however, has not yet expressed its wish to use the good offices of the United Nations in order to reach an agreement between the two sides on the use of water in this area. Meanwhile, we call on the Government of Lebanon to continue to respect its commitments not to expand its water projects beyond what is already stated in its report until the matter comes to a resolution. Last month, I briefed the Council on the shooting incident on 8 January in the Golan Heights, which resulted in the death of a Syrian soldier.”
2003-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4704 (2003) · source
“We have noted the increased deployment of the Lebanese Joint Security Forces in the south, and we hope that this reflects a commitment by the Lebanese authorities to ensure calm. Israeli warplanes continue to violate the Blue Line and Lebanese airspace on a regular basis. Various sources, including the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, have indicated that the last week of January witnessed a marked increase in the number of these overflights. Israeli jets were reported to have flown at low altitudes over populated areas. The Government of Lebanon protested to the United Nations about these violations of its airspace. These Israeli overflights, and the anti-aircraft fire they draw, carry a potential for escalation, especially in the currently tense regional situation.”
2003-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4704 (2003) · source
“On 21 January, after almost five months of relative calm, Hezbollah targeted IDF positions in the Shab'a farms area with mortars and missiles, obviously in clear violation of the Blue Line. The IDF responded shortly afterwards, leading, regrettably, to one Lebanese civilian being killed and another wounded. I would like to note once again that the Secretary- General confirmed and the Security Council endorsed in June 2000 that Israel had withdrawn its forces from Lebanon, in accordance with Security Council resolution 425 (1978). Both Israel and Lebanon pledged to respect the line identified by the United Nations for this purpose, commonly referred to as the Blue Line. The Lebanese Government should therefore fulfil its responsibility to maintain calm along the entire length of the Line.”
2003-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4704 (2003) · source
“Terje Roed-Larsen, and two of his fellow Quartet envoys, Ambassador Moratinos of the European Union and Ambassador Vdovin of the Russian Federation, met on 11 February with Chairman Arafat and senior officials of the Palestinian Authority. They discussed the upcoming London meetings, and called on Chairman Arafat to take bold and immediate steps to support and facilitate institutional and security reform ahead of those meetings. Representatives of the Quartet will be having follow-up meetings with Mr. Arafat and other senior Palestinian officials later this week. Mr. Roed-Larsen has also remained in close contact on this issue with senior officials in Israel and neighbouring countries. Turning to other developments since the previous briefing to the Council, I ought to say there has been an increase in tension along the Blue Line.”
2003-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4704 (2003) · source
“These will include: first, meetings of Quartet envoys; secondly, a capitals-level donor Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meeting on international assistance to the Palestinian people; and, thirdly, meetings of the Task Force on Palestinian Reform. All of these meetings will take place in London between 18 and 20 February. The United Nations and other participants hope to build on the success of the January meeting in order to inject new impetus into the reform process, as well as into the efforts of the donor nations to address the humanitarian cr1s1s. The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestinian Authority, Mr.”
2003-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4704 (2003) · source
“We call on the international community to respond generously to UNRWA's appeal so as to prevent a diminution of its capacity to continue to answer growing calls for assistance. Although the primary solution to the humanitarian crisis in the West Bank and Gaza Strip lies in the lifting of curfews and closures so as to facilitate the resumption of economic life in the occupied Palestinian territory, donor support for UNRWA's appeal is essential for meeting immediate needs. I ought to say that there are a few tentative positive signs of hope amidst this very bleak picture. The Palestinian reform process continues to progress, with the active support of the international community. Prime Minister Blair's meeting in London last month on the issue of Palestinian reform will be followed by a further series of meetings.”
2003-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4704 (2003) · source
“While the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, the capacity of the international community to respond to growing needs among Palestinians is, unfortunately, eroding. The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Mr. Peter Hansen, has warned that by the end of next month his organization will be in danger of running out of resources for its emergency activities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Today, UNRWA is feeding 1.1 million people in the occupied Palestinian territory. This crisis has occurred because UNRWA's appeal for $94 million to replenish its dwindling emergency fund has gone largely unheeded.”
2003-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4704 (2003) · source
“We call on all concerned parties to do whatever they can to facilitate the continuation and fruitful conclusion of this dialogue. On 16 January, I told the Council that "there has been no appreciable improvement in the humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territory since the previous briefing, and Israel still has not fulfilled the commitments it made to the Secretary-General's Personal Humanitarian Envoy last August". (S/PV.4685, 113) Unfortunately, stringent closures and curfews continue to cause the deterioration of economic conditions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and to hamper the work of the international donor community. Again, I take this opportunity to remind Israel, as the occupying Power, of its obligations and responsibilities under the Fourth Geneva Convention for the well-being of the Palestinian population.”
2003-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4704 (2003) · source
“Earlier, on 21 January, the IDF had demolished 62 shops and market stalls in the Palestinian village of Nazlat Issa, in the Tulkarem area. Since my last briefing, attacks by Palestinian groups have claimed the lives of seven Israelis, including one civilian. Israel continues to report interceptions of suicide bombers attempting to enter Israeli territory. The Secretary-General has consistently and repeatedly condemned terrorist attacks as morally repugnant. They are also counter-productive, because terrorism undermines the pursuit of legitimate Palestinian national aspirations and is an obstacle to the resumption of a sustainable peace process. We have welcomed the efforts of the Government of Egypt, through meetings it has hosted in Cairo, to encourage talks among Palestinian groups on adopting a ceasefire.”
2003-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4704 (2003) · source
“Regrettably, Israel's actions are all too often at odds with those responsibilities. We are concerned, for example, by the continuing Israeli policy of demolition of Palestinian homes. In the Hebron area, the IDF incursion of 30 January resulted in the demolition of 22 Palestinian houses in and around the city. The IDF announced that on 3, 4 and 8 February, four houses were demolished in, respectively, Beit Furik in the Nablus area, the Muassi refugee camp in central Gaza and Nablus city. These demolitions are, in our view, measures of collective punishment that are violations of international humanitarian law and breaches of Israel's obligations as the occupying Power. During the same incursion in Hebron on 30 January, Israeli bulldozers also levelled 100 stalls in the Hebron market.”
2003-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4704 (2003) · source
“Developments in the past month give little cause for optimism and no room at all for complacency. On 25 January, after a number of Qassam rockets were fired by Palestinians on Israeli communities inside and outside the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) entered Gaza City in their biggest operation in the Gaza Strip since September 2000. That Israeli incursion left 13 Palestinians dead and scores injured. As has been stated in previous briefings, Palestinian civilians often bear the brunt of Israel's military operations. Israel has the right to defend itself, but it must do so within the parameters of international law. As the occupying Power, Israel has particular responsibilities, which are clearly defined and set out in the Fourth Geneva Convention.”
2003-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4704 (2003) · source
“Without the prospect of some forward movement on the political front, it is difficult to envisage how the current cycle of violence and counter-violence can be stopped. As I have already indicated, the violence in the region has intensified, with deaths mounting day by day. Since my last briefing, 65 Palestinians and 7 Israelis have been killed, bringing the death toll since the outbreak of the second intifada in September 2000 to more than 2,300 Palestinians and nearly 700 Israelis. The Secretary-General is deeply disturbed at this mounting death toll, and he is gravely concerned for the future of both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples, as well as for the wider Middle East region, if death and destruction are not replaced by peace and reconciliation.”
2003-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4704 (2003) · source
“The new Israeli Government can be assured of the cooperation and full support of the international community if it takes steps that would move the Israeli-Palestinian conflict towards the two- State solution envisaged in Security Council resolution 1397 (2002), through which peace and security can be achieved for both peoples. We welcome reports about a private meeting last week between Prime Minister Sharon and the Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Mr. Ahmed Qurei, known as Abu Ala. This will hopefully mark the beginning of a renewed dialogue between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority towards reaching a ceasefire understanding, which would greatly assist progress towards restoring trust and dialogue between the parties.”
2003-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4704 (2003) · source
“Mr. Prendergast: Since my last briefing to the Council on 16 January, violence between Israelis and Palestinians has continued unabated, resulting in further loss of life, in injury and in destruction. Moreover, the humanitarian crisis in the occupied Palestinian territories is worsening. On the political side, parliamentary elections were held in Israel on 28 January, resulting in a substantial increase in seats for the Likud party, which is led by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Mr. Sharon has been requested by President Katzav to form a new Government.”
2003-02-13 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4704 (2003) · source
“We therefore remain convinced that the implementation of the road map of the Quartet will constitute a new beginning for the peoples of both societies.”
2003-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4685 (2003) · source
“Poverty now affects the majority of Palestinians, while the Israeli economy is in deep recession. Perhaps most distressing on both sides is the fact that there is little hope that the political stalemate that prompted and continues to fuel this crisis will soon be resolved. There is a legitimate concern that the negative trends so evident on the ground erode the prospects for achieving the two-State solution, but there is nevertheless a clear consensus in the international community to support the Quartet's efforts to reach a permanent settlement based on two sovereign States living side by side in peace and security. Whatever the current difficulties, ultimately a lasting peace can be achieved only through a political process that takes fully into account the legitimate aspirations of both the Israeli and the Palestinian peoples.”
2003-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4685 (2003) · source
“Discussions continue within the Israeli Government on whether to ask the United Nations to use its good offices in order to reach an agreement between the two sides on the use of water in that area. We hope that these deliberations will come to a quick and positive conclusion. We call on the Government of Lebanon to continue to respect its commitments not to expand its water projects beyond what is already stated in its report until the matter comes to a resolution. Much attention is now focused on the outcome of the Israeli general elections on 28 January. Whatever Israeli Government emerges as a result of the balloting will confront the reality of surging violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. The growing economic hardship on both sides poses another serious challenge.”
2003-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4685 (2003) · source
“Fortunately, neither Israel nor Syria has allowed the incident to escalate. It would be unwise to allow that front, which has been quiet since the disengagement agreement, to become a focus of tension in an already too tense regional situation. Since the last briefing, the situation along the Blue Line has remained generally calm. However, both Israeli air violations of the Blue Line and related anti- aircraft fire from the Lebanese side have continued. The frequency of overflights has varied, with some days witnessing sudden increases, both in terms of numbers of violations and territory overflown. On occasion, shrapnel from anti-aircraft fire has fallen near Israeli villages. The Wazani/Hasbani water issue continues to be a source of tension and possible escalation between Israel and Lebanon.”
2003-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4685 (2003) · source
“We must work to restore their Government's capacity to provide them with institutions they can trust and the services they need. Turning to other issues, last week Assistant Secretary-General Annabi briefed the Council on the shooting incident on 8 January in the Golan Heights. A Syrian soldier in civilian clothing was killed by an IDF patrol and a second was captured west of the Alpha Line separating Israeli- and Syrian-controlled areas of the Syrian Golan and east of the Israeli technical fence. The IDF handed the captured soldier to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), which turned him and the body of the dead soldier over to the Syrian authorities. UNDOF's investigation is still ongoing and it would be premature to come to definite conclusions.”
2003-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4685 (2003) · source
“We were extremely disappointed by the Government of Israel's decision not to allow Palestinian officials to attend the meeting. Thanks to modern technology, the meeting was held anyway, using a live video link. The London meeting facilitated a useful stock-taking of progress on Palestinian reform, and focused attention on the importance of restarting the peace process. Quartet envoys agreed to meet again in London in the context of a follow-up meeting of the Task Force on Palestinian Reform in early February. I imagine that Ambassador Thomson will wish to brief the Council more extensively on the outcome of the London meeting. It is our collective challenge - and our collective responsibility - to ensure that reform has a tangible, positive effect on the lives of Palestinian citizens.”
2003-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4685 (2003) · source
“On the other hand, we are concerned about the continuing lack of progress in advancing the issue of the rule of law. The Palestinian legal community continues to challenge the legality of the Palestinian state security courts, and President Arafat's recent appointment of a state security court prosecutor to the role of "General Prosecutor for Palestine" has not clarified the status of the courts. The development of a robust and transparent judiciary is an important foundation for reform in other areas. Given the importance of advancing the Palestinian reform process, the Secretary-General welcomed Prime Minister Blair's initiative to bring Palestinians, the Quartet and representatives of the Governments of Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia together to discuss these issues.”
2003-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4685 (2003) · source
“Although Israel's need to defend itself against infiltration is acknowledged and must be respected - and we fully recognize the terrible price Israelis have paid as a result of suicide bombings - Israel needs to ensure that its security measures are not taken at the expense of the Palestinian civilian population. Palestinian reform efforts continue with the active support of the international community. We are particularly encouraged by the rapid pace of financial reforms and note that the Palestinian Authority has submitted an austerity budget for the fiscal year 2003 to the Palestinian Legislative Council and is in the process of developing a robust internal auditing capacity, with the assistance of prominent international accounting firms.”
2003-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4685 (2003) · source
“Also troubling is Israel's construction of the security wall in the West Bank, which will adversely affect thousands of Palestinians living near the wall, especially those who reside between the Palestinian side of the Green Line and the wall. Communities are already being cut off from their agricultural lands and from health and education services in the West Bank. In addition, according to current plans, the town of Qalqilya will be almost completely enveloped by the wall, with access through a narrow passage to the east controlled by Israeli forces.”
2003-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4685 (2003) · source
“There are limits, however, to what the aid community can accomplish. Our goal has been, and remains, the restoration of the Palestinians' own capacity to provide for themselves, not to create a situation of permanent dependency. In these dire circumstances, it is crucial that the Government of Israel do its part by honouring its commitment to transfer monthly tax revenues owed to the Palestinian Authority and to develop a schedule for remitting the hundreds of millions of dollars of arrears. The continuation of revenue transfers could have a profoundly positive impact on the situation. It would permit the Palestinian Authority once again to pay civil servants on time and to repay debts to the private sector. The Government of Israel's recent announcement that it may reconsider its commitment on this issue is consequently very troubling.”
2003-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4685 (2003) · source
“Palestinian men under the age of 35, and all unmarried men, may no longer travel outside the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing. These restrictions exacerbate the humanitarian crisis and amount to collective punishment of the entire population. The international donor community is continuing its efforts to respond to the humanitarian aid emergency. Recently, for instance, the World Food Programme extended its project of emergency food assistance to victims of conflict, which has already delivered more than 40,000 metric tons of food to more than half a million Palestinians. The World Bank has also announced a programme expanding support for emergency social services to the Palestinians, and UNRWA is continuing to provide food assistance to more than 1 million refugees.”
2003-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4685 (2003) · source
“At one point during the past month, approximately 520,000 Palestinians in 30 cities and towns were under curfew. In the city of Hebron, 20 schools have been closed for much of the past two months due to curfews, thereby denying children the basic right to education. Today, we heard that the Israeli authorities have closed two universities in Hebron. In addition, Israel has imposed new travel restrictions on Palestinians in response to the recent suicide bombings. Palestinians in the West Bank holding identity cards issued by the Palestinian Authority are prohibited from leaving their towns and villages. In many places, bus services between towns have been discontinued, and shipments of goods through the so-called back-to-back system are limited to foodstuffs and medication.”
2003-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4685 (2003) · source
“Such measures are serious violations of humanitarian and human rights law, and they are a source of profound grievance and anger among Palestinians. Israel must also ensure that Palestinians held in administrative detention - those held without charge or trial, who now number more than 1,000 - receive the protection of due process of law. I am afraid that there has been no appreciable improvement in the humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territory since the previous briefing, and Israel still has not fulfilled the commitments it made to the Secretary-General's Personal Humanitarian Envoy last August. As winter continues, conditions appear likely to deteriorate further. Curfews continue to place particularly onerous burdens on the Palestinian civilian population.”
2003-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4685 (2003) · source
“The Quartet affirmed last month that Israel must make a steadfast effort to prevent harm to Palestinian civilians. Israel should review its rules of engagement and ensure that Palestinian civilian deaths are rigorously investigated and that those guilty of misconduct are prosecuted. Following his letter to Prime Minister Sharon of 27 November last year, the Secretary-General still awaits a written account from the Government of Israel of the outcome of its investigation into the circumstances of the death of Mr. Iain Hook, a staff member of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The Government of Israel must also stop carrying out extrajudicial killings and home demolitions, which it has announced will, on the contrary, be intensified following the recent suicide attacks in Tel Aviv.”
2003-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4685 (2003) · source
“A couple of the most egregious examples from recent weeks illustrate the reasons for alarm: an 11-year-old girl was shot dead by the IDF as she leaned out of her bedroom window to watch the funeral of a teenage boy killed the day before, and a 9-year-old girl was killed while playing outside her home in the Gaza Strip. Despite the repeated appeals, there have been no demonstrable steps by the Government of Israel to prevent such deaths or to hold accountable those responsible for wrongful deaths. The protection of civilians is the most important aim of humanitarian law, and it is an obligation on all parties to a conflict. As the occupying Power, Israel has particular responsibilities which are simply and clearly defined in the Fourth Geneva Convention.”
2003-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4685 (2003) · source
“The United Nations expects the Palestinian Authority to do everything in its power to fulfil this promise, and calls on all Palestinian groups to end such attacks. In this context, we support the efforts of the Government of Egypt and others to broker an end to attacks carried out by Palestinian factions. As members of the Council are aware, the Secretary-General has also repeatedly emphasized that Israel must act in compliance with international humanitarian law. Almost every day, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and border police kill and injure Palestinian civilians, including many children.”
2003-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4685 (2003) · source
“In one of the worst incidents in the last month, on 5 January, at least 22 Israelis and foreign workers were killed, and more than 100 others were wounded, when two Palestinians detonated explosive belts at the old central bus station in Tel Aviv. The attack was the first inside Israel in more than a month. It was also the deadliest since the Passover seder bombing in Netanya last March. The Secretary-General has consistently and strongly condemned all terrorist acts. As well as being morally repellent, attacks that target civilians are heinous, regardless of whether their perpetrators see them as reprisals for acts by the other side. The Palestinian Authority has condemned the recent Tel Aviv attack and has pledged to bring to justice those involved in planning it.”
2003-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4685 (2003) · source
“The ultimate goal of the road map is to realize, in 2005, the vision of two States - Israel and an independent, viable, sovereign and democratic Palestine - living side by side in peace and security. Intensive diplomatic efforts are being made to agree on the road map and to restart a political process. The dismal situation on the ground makes it imperative that the Quartet finalize and then begin implementing the road map as soon as possible. Since the Secretariat's last briefing, 68 Palestinians and 24 Israelis have been killed, bringing the death toll since 28 September 2000 to 2,297 Palestinians and 691 Israelis.”
2003-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4685 (2003) · source
“The road map sets out a three-phase plan for achieving a negotiated settlement of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, as part of an effort to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East. It is premised on the Quartet's recognition that progress is contingent on parallel steps by both parties in the security, humanitarian, institution-building and political fields. Accordingly, the first phase of the plan requires the parties, in parallel, to implement a complete ceasefire, improve humanitarian conditions, promote Palestinian institution-building - including much-needed reform of the Executive of the Palestinian Authority - and halt all settlement construction.”
2003-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4685 (2003) · source
“Mr. Prendergast: The Council was last briefed on the situation in the Middle East just before the meeting of the Quartet, at the level of principals, on 20 December in Washington. Council members will be familiar with the communique issued by the Quartet. On the same day, the Quartet principals met with the President of the United States. President Bush expressed strong support for the efforts of the Quartet and his firm commitment to the Quartet's road map, which would realize his vision of two States - Israel and Palestine - living side by side in peace and security. The meeting of principals was part of the Quartet's continuing endeavour to finalize the road map. The Quartet made substantial progress and intends formally to present the road map to the parties following the general elections that will be held in Israel on 28 January.”
2003-01-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4685 (2003) · source
“I am thinking, for example, of the Central African Republic, where there is a very wide perception that peacekeepers were put in reluctantly and withdrawn prematurely - meaning therefore that we more or less guaranteed the failure of the post-conflict period. I think it would be a great pity to do that in Bougainville, when we are talking about an operation that costs about $2 million for a whole year.”
2002-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4647 (2002) · source
“If we take all of that as a whole, we would conclude that, with good luck and some determination and effort, the peace process ought to become irreversible by the end of next year, which would trigger the withdrawal of UNPOB. I do not want to give the Council too many British maxims, but there is another one about not spoiling the ship for a ha'p'orth of tar. We have come a long way, and I think it is worthwhile seeing this process through to the end. In the time that I have been working in the Secretariat, one has seen instances where the Council has not stayed the course; and we are having to live with the consequences of that.”
2002-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4647 (2002) · source
“On that timetable, by say May or June 2003, the certification should be submitted to the Papua New Guinea Government and then preparations could begin for holding the elections for an autonomous Bougainville government. I think we would argue - and I have done so already - that the withdrawal of UNPOB should be tied to the election of a Bougainville autonomous government. As we see it today, that seems likely to take place only in the second half of 2003. Past United Nations experience in other areas shows that the mission should stay for a little while after the election, as a confidence-building measure, prior to its disengagement.”
2002-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4647 (2002) · source
“Certification of stage II of the weapons disposal plan would require UNPOB to consult all Bougainville communities regarding their views and perceptions of the Peace Process in general and of implementation of the weapons disposal plan in particular. The objective of those consultations will be to establish whether, at the grassroots level, people feel safe and secure and conditions are conducive to holding the elections for the Bougainville autonomous government. We estimate it could take up to three months to finish this exercise, assuming the weather would allow the use of helicopters. We are in an environment where there is very little infrastructure, particularly transport infrastructure and therefore we are heavily dependent on use of the helicopter to get around Bougainville.”
2002-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4647 (2002) · source
“The Mission has concrete plans for carrying out certification and verification of stage II once it has been completed, and we would be happy to provide details of that. If I may talk you through the arguments as to why, in our opinion, it will be necessary to have a 12- month extension to complete the process, rather than six months, I think the first point is that if the parties to the Bougainville Peace Agreement complete stage II by 24 December 2002, certification of the completion of that part of the weapons disposal plan could not begin until the Alfa Company of Francis Ona reconciles with its neighbours and contains its weapons as well. That means all of Bougainville could only be covered by stage II of the weapons disposal plan by March 2003.”
2002-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4647 (2002) · source
“We agree very much that there needs to be an exit strategy, there need to be benchmarks and the parties need to be kept to their obligations, but I think we need to recognize at the same time that progress in these matters is not linear. I think our preoccupation should be with the benchmarks and with pressing the parties to keep to those benchmarks, rather than trying to set more or less arbitrary timetables. We would argue that the exit strategy should be linked to the election of an autonomous government, as indicated in the Bougainville Peace Agreement. There are concrete plans which have been made by Bougainvilleans themselves to complete weapons disposal by 24 December 2002. I described the two meetings that were held to that effect in my statement.”
2002-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4647 (2002) · source
“I think it would be particularly unfortunate if the Council were not understanding in the case of a small operation in a country which is far from the centre of world affairs, whereas it is understanding in the case of countries which are more centrally situated, particularly since, as the Ambassador of Singapore mentioned, the cost of the operation for a whole year is very little more than the cost of the operation of larger missions for one day. If my memory serves me right, for example, United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) costs about $1.63 million per day. We have certainly had delays in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and not only there.”
2002-11-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4647 (2002) · source