UNSC Meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question
Ambassador Harold Agyeman
Ghana’s Representative to the United Nations
New York, New York
April 25, 2023
DURING THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL OPEN DEBATE ON THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Mr. President,
Let me begin by thanking Special Coordinator Tor Wenneslad for his briefing to the Council. Like many others, the unresolved aspiration of the Palestinian people for a safe and secure homeland remains a source of anguish for us
and the manifestation of the dispute in its security implications, humanitarian consequences, and human rights abatement, is of deep concern. Ghana therefore hopes that this meeting would help to drive our collective ambition for urgent and pragmatic steps that can reassert the political horizon towards the two State solution.
Mr. President,
We have three main points to make.
First, we are concerned by the policies and actions of the Israeli government that risks complicating the efforts to seek, through dialogue, the realization of the two-State solution, which, regrettably, appears to recede with each passing day as a result of the facts on the ground. We believe that the intentions to annex territory in the West Bank,
legalization of illegal settler outposts, expansion of settler activities as well as demolition of Palestinian-owned properties, transfer or forced evictions and increased risk of settler harassment, detracts from efforts for
a political solution as it undermines the trust that is required for a genuine engagement between the two sides.
Secondly, while welcoming the recent efforts that were made by the governments of China, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America in helping to de-escalate violence, encourage dialogue, and diffuse tensions between the Palestinians and the Israelis, we remain concerned by the continuing confrontations which has
worsened the already volatile security situation in the region, particularly following the violent clashes that occurred at the Al-Aqsa Mosque during the just ended religious holidays. Ghana encourages the strong commitment of the senior officials of Israel and Palestine to work together to avoid violence and de-escalate tensions on the ground, in line with the outcome of the Aqaba and Sharm El-Sheikh meetings. We also encourage the parties to remain committed to the cessation of hostilities which have held, albeit fragilely, and to take further steps to prioritse the prevention of violence and the pursuit of confidence building measures to restore mutual trust and create a political
horizon, to address outstanding issues through direct dialogue.
Thirdly, we condemn, unequivocally, attempts by extremists on both sides to carry out acts of provocation, which has lately resulted in open confrontations and are concerned by the interminable cycle of violence which negatively affects the economies, health and socio-political lives of millions of people in the Middle East region. We also condemn the recent spate of terrorist attacks against Israel.
Lastly, we are concerned by the dire humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people. We are dismayed by the high levels of deprivation in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank as a result of the imposed siege as well as the use of excessive force by Israeli security forces with documented incidents of near-daily raids, arbitrary arrests of mostly Palestinian youths, and the violations of their basic human rights, international law and international humanitarian law. In responding to the dire humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian Territories, particularly in Gaza, we call for continued support to ensure the easing of humanitarian access and free movement to and from Gaza. We thank donors that have contributed to UNWRA and encourage further financial and relevant support for the organization.
We urge action to resolve the the deepening economic and fiscal crisis faced by the Palestinian Authority, which is also at the root of the threat of civil unrest in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, especially in area C of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. We urge both Israel and Palestine to jointly establish a mechanism that will help improve the economic conditions of the Palestinian people, and to significantly enhance the financial and fiscal situation of the Palestinian Authority in accordance with previous agreements, and in line with the outcome of the Aqaba and Sharm El-Sheikh meetings.
Mr. President,
The unending suffering of the Palestinian people as well as the persistence security concerns of Israel must compel us to be steadfast in the pursuit of this decades-long objective to resolve the Palestinian question. Ghana is of the firm belief that advancing the peace process would require regional and international actors to reinvigorate the tools of diplomacy, including international mechanisms and processes, to shepered a comprehensive settlement of the situation in the Middle East.
I thank you.