(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM))
NEW YORK, 19th October, 2017 (WAM) -- The United Arab Emirates, UAE, has reiterated its support for regional and international efforts to revive the Middle East peace process and welcomed the Intra-Palestinian National Agreement that unified the Palestinian national ranks.
In a statement before the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question on Wednesday
Ahmed Al Mahmoud, member of the Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates to the UN, said that, despite serious international efforts to achieve peace in the region, Israel continued to violate international laws and resolutions and expand its illegal settlement activities, hindering a two-State solution.
''It was of utmost importance to provide support to meet the needs of the Palestinian people, as well as to empower them to build their State and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals like all other countries. It was also important to reach a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue,'' he stated, adding that the UAE country was actively working to restore stability in the region, which suffered from multiple dangerous conflicts and crises.
'' There was no doubt that the continued provocative behaviour and regional intervention of rouge states, as well as their support of extremism and terrorism, had led to the destabilisation of the region and had threatened international peace and security, the UAE representative warned.
Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine, said the international community's endorsement of the recent developments, and its offers of cooperation, were vital for ensuring success.
''Such cooperation must include efforts to lift the illegal and inhumane Israeli blockade and to expedite Gaza's reconstruction. Palestine was doing its part, upholding its obligations and implementing its responsibilities, in spite of the enormous constraints, obstacles, hardships and setbacks imposed by the Israeli occupation. Palestine was committed to the two-State solution and to peaceful, political and legal means to end the occupation, he underscored, calling for an end to all Israeli settlement activities and appealing to all States to adopt practical measures that would lead to a two-State solution.
''It was high time for the Council to demand full respect and implementation of its resolutions, with Israel either compelled to comply or subjected to the same pressure and accountability that would be triggered by non-compliance in other situations,'' he concluded.
Miroslav Jenca, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, said the end to the more than 10-year-long Palestinian divide and return of Gaza to the full control of the legitimate Palestinian Authority was an important development.
Current Palestinian efforts to return the Government to Gaza must be encouraged and supported, and they must be successful, he said, stressing that Palestinians must decide which path to take. The international community must ensure that they were given every support and opportunity to reach a positive outcome and to ensure that efforts to end the occupation and establish a viable, sovereign Palestinian State, living in peace and security beside Israel, could move forward.
WAM/Tariq alfaham
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