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Mr. President,
We thank the Foreign Minister of New Zealand for chairing today’s meeting.
We also thank the Special Coordinator of the Secretary General on the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, for his comprehensive though sobering briefing.
Mr. President,
Peace in the Middle East appears more distant than ever. The inflexible and indefensible posture taken by the hardline Israeli government has frozen any prospect for the resumption of the peace process and a political resolution based on a two state solution. Israeli extremism is evoking a matching turn towards further radicalization in Gaza and the West Bank.
Earlier this month we marked the first anniversary of the 51-day Israeli ground, air and naval assault on Gaza. The devastation that it caused has left Gaza in ruins.
The Report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry established by the Human Rights Council on the Gaza conflict is an eye opener. It establishes that "security concerns" cannot relieve Israel of its obligations under international law.
It expresses concern at the impunity that prevails across the board for violations of international humanitarian and human rights law by Israeli forces. These forces refused to change course despite knowledge of the massive death and destruction being caused by their actions in Gaza. This, the Commission concludes, may amount to war crimes.
The persistent lack of implementation of recommendations regarding violations made by similar previous Commissions all but guarantee their systematic recurrence.
This impunity must end.
Full implementation of the OIC-sponsored and Pakistan-steered Human Rights Council Resolution of July 1, 2015 would, we hope, be a step towards ending this cycle of impunity.
The devastation of Gaza, mind you, is but one aspect of the daily hardships that the Palestinians face as a result of Israeli oppression. The eight-year blockade of Gaza, the detention regime, excessive use of force on Palestinian civilians and illegal settlements all continue unabated and unchecked. It is heartbreaking that of the over 12,500 houses completely destroyed in Gaza, not a single one has so far been rebuilt.
The international community must act to alleviate the suffering of the people of Gaza, especially because it shares part of the blame.
We, collectively, have not lived up to our promises. Only 28% of the US$ 3.5 billion pledged at the Cairo Conference in October 2014 has so far been disbursed.
We believe that the path to sustainable peace in the Middle East only lies in the two-state solution and an end to Israeli occupation of all Arab lands.
This body, as the prime custodian of international peace and security, must take its responsibility seriously. We call on the Security Council to adopt a resolution setting timelines and parameters for establishment of an independent, viable and contiguous state of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. An international mechanism – a kind of Quartet Plus – to steer the process is also imperative.
Mr. President,
ISIS poses a spreading threat to security across the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. A military – only approach is neither sufficient nor permanent in its impact. A comprehensive strategy is needed – military, political, economic and social – to defeat this movement, motivated by an ideology of hate and gruesome violence.
In Iraq, ISIS must be confronted and rolled back. This should be achieved by the state, not sectarian militias. Success will come only if the minority population is fully assured of its safety and human rights. Durable peace can be achieved through political solutions, not just military engagements.
Syria continues to bleed profusely. Apart from defeating ISIS this requires a serious search for a political solution. We welcome consultations on Syria undertaken by Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura in Geneva. We look forward to him presenting a comprehensive peace plan and hope that it will garner support of parties to the conflict as well as the international community.
Dialogue, we believe, is the only way out of this quagmire.
In Yemen we are concerned that the humanitarian pause has not held. We urge parties to the conflict to return to the negotiating table. The legitimate Government of Yemen must be restored. This effort should be led by diplomacy and engagement.
Finally, Mr. President, we would like to welcome the landmark agreement reached with Iran, which if fully and sincerely implemented, can not only contribute to nuclear non-proliferation but also regional stability, cooperation and economic growth. This would, as well, open the way for closer consultations and even agreement on how to address pressing regional challenges.
I thank you.