By Yasmine Darwish / GICJ
On February 23rd, 2022, the Security Council was briefed by the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”.
Mr Wennesland opened the meeting with an overview of the events that have occurred throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories since January 2022. Six Palestinians, including two children, were killed by Israeli security forces. These deaths occurred during demonstrations, search-and-arrest operations and attacks against Israelis. Overall, 205 Palestinians were injured, among them 25 children.
On settlement activity, Wennesland reported that Israeli authorities demolished 79 Palestinian-owned structures in recent months. The UN official reiterated that “all settlements are illegal under international law and remain a significant obstacle to peace”. He was particularly concerned about families who face eviction in Sheikh Jarrah, located in occupied East Jerusalem.
Regarding the financial crisis, Mr Wennesland called for urgent action to prevent the economic collapse of the Palestinian Authority. While he praised the recent dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian leaders that resulted in some economic measures, the envoy reminded that “economic steps alone […] will not put us on the path toward a just and lasting peace”.
Mr Wennesland urged Israelis, Palestinians and the international community to take firm action to ensure that the parties engage in negotiations. “Only an end to the occupation and the achievement of two States, living side by side in peace and security, based on the 1967 lines, in line with UN resolutions, international law and previous agreements, will resolve this conflict” he concluded.
During his speech, the Palestinian ambassador Riyad Mansour, wearing a black mask with the words “End apartheid”, called for an end to the discrimination that he said Israel imposes on the Palestinians. “This Council may not be ready to use this word, but apartheid is, and has been […] our reality” the ambassador explained. “Israel may be scandalized by the word apartheid. All others should be outraged by this policy” he added. According to the diplomat, “condemnations alone will never be enough to dissuade Israel”. “It is time to translate your words into action […] to ensure the protection of our long-suffering people”, to put an end to an “illegal occupation” and “end apartheid”, insisted Riyad Mansour.
For his part, the Israeli ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, did not respond to accusations of discrimination and denounced Hamas as a “radical terrorist organization” that “deliberately fires rockets, specifically targeting civilian populations in the name of advancing the destruction of the State of Israel”. “What is shocking is that despite the clear intentions of Hamas to murder Israeli civilians while using its own population as a human shield, the UN has continued […] to proceed with the demonization of the only vibrant democracy in the Middle East - the State of Israel” said Gilad Erdan.
Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ) condemns the Israeli authorities' systematic segregation and oppression against the Palestinian people. GICJ urges the international community to act and condemn all forms of discrimination, racial segregation and displacement practised by Israel against the Palestinian people. GICJ calls for Israel to be held accountable for its actions.
Palestine, FreePalestine, Apartheid, SecurityCouncil, Gaza, WestBank, Nakba, geneva4justice, GICJ, Geneva International Centre For Justice, Justice
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