Briefing and Consultation on the Middle East, including the Palestinian question

HAROLD ADLAI AGYEMAN

UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFING AND CONSULTATIONS ON THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST-THE QUESTION OF PALESTINE

 

Mr. President,
We are grateful to the Special Coordinator, Mr. Tor Wennesland for his briefing to the Council on the overall situation in the Middle East, with emphasis on Israeli settlements in “Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem”. We also thank the Special Coordinator for highlighting the detailed measures being undertaken to restore calm in the region.

Ghana has followed with keen interest the recent positive developments in the Middle East region. Specifically, the first in-person high-level talks in years between senior Israeli and Palestinian officials in Aqaba, Jordan on 26th February 2023, and subsequently in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, last Sunday (19th March 2023), aimed at encouraging dialogue, de-escalation of violence, and the diffusing of tensions in the region.

 

We welcome the commitment by the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority to work closely together and immediately, to prevent further violence and restore security cooperation in the occupied West Bank, which the Palestinian Authority had suspended last month in the aftermath of the deadliest attacks by the Israeli army. We also note the positive developments in the relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran and encourage the rapprochement between the two countries to lessen regional tensions and promote regional stability. We are grateful for the roles that the governments of Jordan, Egypt and the United States as well as the government of China have played recently in the region.

 

Mr. President,
The positive developments notwithstanding, there are situations of concern –
i. The repeal of certain clauses in a 2005 disengagement law that ordered the evacuation of Jewish settlements to allow Jewish residents to return to four West Bank settlements in the occupied West Bank by the Israeli Parliament yesterday;
ii. Inciteful statements by notable and high ranking Israeli politicians that undermines and threatens the prospect of the widely accepted two-state solution;
iii. Escalation of settler-related activities and violence persist and
iv. The destruction of infrastructure and properties in both the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and in East Jerusalem continue unabated. These drivers of instability have worsened the security situation and the already dire humanitarian situation in the OPT and beyond in the region. We deplore the high level of violence exerted against civilians and children on both sides. Ghana is particularly concerned about the high incidence of near daily raids in the Palestinian refugee camps, human right abuses, violations, detentions without charge or trial in Palestinian cities and villages, especially in northern West Bank, where fighting between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Palestinian militias has been raging for almost a year, Gaza, and East Jerusalem.

 

Mr. President,
As we approach the holy month of Ramadan, which, this year, coincides with the Passover, we appeal to both the Israeli and Palestinian parties to respect their commitment in Aqaba, and Sharm El-Sheikh, to establish a mechanism that will prevent violence, incitement, and any disruptive actions at Jerusalem’s holy sites. We urge Israel to respect its commitment to refrain from establishing new West Bank settlements for four (4) months as well as to halt the authorisation of outposts for a period of six (6) months. We call on both parties to show maximum restraint and refrain from further unilateral actions by establishing a joint civilian committee that will work to promote confidence-building economic measures.

 

Mr. President,
We wish to reaffirm our demand that all parties in the conflict comply fully with international humanitarian law, including the protection of the civilian population, the UN Charter, and the many relevant United Nations resolutions, including resolution 2334 (2016).

 

In concluding, we reiterate our position that the paths for lasting peace and stability in the Middle East can only be achieved through the internationally negotiated two-State solution with Israel and Palestine living side by side based on the 1967 borders. The realization of the goals for the Middle East Process, however, require the Council and the wider international community to sustain the engagement of the parties whose good-faith efforts are required to resolve this decades-long conflict.

 

I thank you for your kind attention