ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT: THE VIEWS OF THE 5 UN PERMANENT MEMBERS

Source: UN Security Council, 16 May 2021 NO RESOLUTION

1. State Councillor and Minister for Foreign Affairs of China: The current situation first requires an immediate ceasefire.  The international community must do its part to ensure peace because without stability, the Middle East region will continue to face tensions.  The use of force only brings more hatred, and parties must cease hostilities, including air strikes and rocket launches that aggravate the situation.  Israel must exercise restraint, stop demolitions and end evictions.  Meanwhile, the State of Palestine must avoid steps that escalate the situation and must prevent civilian casualties and work towards a peaceful solution.  Turning to the grave humanitarian situation, he called on Israel to lift the Gaza blockade and facilitate the delivery of aid.  Efforts must support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in its critical work and avert a humanitarian disaster.  For its part, the Council must take strong actions on the conflict, reiterate its call for a two-State solution and do more to de-escalate the violence.  Regrettably, the obstruction of one country prevents the Council from speaking in one voice, he said, calling on the United States to support the 15-member organ in easing the situation, building trust and advancing a political settlement to the conflict.  The two-State solution is the way forward, he said, regretting to note stalled peace talks.  Recalling that this issue has been on the United Nations agenda for more than 70 years, he said the solution still remains elusive.  Expressing support for peace talks and the Middle East peace process, he invited the two sides to China to resume direct negotiations.  At the same time, the Council must do its part because the world is watching, he said, adding that “we must practice true multilateralism” in finding a just solution to the conflict.
2. The Representative of the United States, noting that the human toll taken during violence over the week has been devastating, said the numbers that may grow by the end of the Council’s meeting.   Also expressing alarm over the violence impacting journalists and medical personnel, she called on all parties to ensure the protection of civilians and to respect international humanitarian law.  She expressed particular concern about protecting United Nations facilities, noting that civilians are seeking shelter in two dozen of them.  United States President Joe Biden has spoken with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Mahmoud Abbas, while the Secretary of State is working with senior Palestinian and Israeli and regional leaders.  The United States also remains intensely engaged with officials from Israel, Egypt and Qatar, as well as the Special Coordinator — to establish conditions for a sustainable calm.  In all engagements, the United States has made clear its readiness to lend its support and good offices, should parties seek a ceasefire.  Calling on Hamas and other Palestinian groups in Gaza to halt rocket attacks and other provocations, she expressed concern over intercommunal violence in mixed communities.  Parties must avoid actions including incitement, violent attacks, evictions — notably in East Jerusalem — and settlement construction east of the 1967 lines, as well as uphold the historic status quo of the holy sites.  Once the fighting subsides, familiar questions will arise over how to rebuild communities, alleviate the suffering of civilians in Gaza and focus on the needs of people in the region, especially for justice.  Prolonged violence will make these questions more difficult to solve and place the two-State solution further out of reach.  It is critical that all parties return to working in good faith towards the vision of Israel and a Palestinian State living in peace, within secure and recognized borders in which both peoples equally enjoy freedom and prosperity.
3. The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, decisively condemned the use of force and violence against civilians in Israel and Palestine.  The armed confrontation must end.  He pointed to efforts by his country’s leaders aimed at achieving that goal, citing discussions with the Secretary-General and high-level contacts with regional and international partners in that context.  The escalation stems from the absence of a direct negotiation process through which Israelis and Palestinians are meant to work out all final status issues.  He called on all parties to respect the status quo of holy sites, notably in East Jerusalem, and to consider their highly sensitive nature.  He condemned attempts to change the demographic character of East Jerusalem as null and void, stressing that the priority must be to a ceasefire and to stop the bloodshed.  Parties must comply with international humanitarian law.  They must protect civilians as well as infrastructure used by journalists and the media.  The issue of protecting medical personnel deserves particular attention.  Conditions must be created to launch peaceful Palestinian-Israeli dialogue, based on resolutions and the principle of two States living side by side in peace and security.  This requires the rejection of settlement activities, home destructions, evictions of Arab people from their ancestral homes and provocations of violence.  He strongly reaffirmed the international legal framework for meeting Palestinians’ legitimate aspirations for their own independent State and Israel’s interests in ensuring its security.  The Middle East Quartet meanwhile must convene a ministerial meeting, he said, drawing attention to a proposal by Moscow to also hold a ministerial meeting with leading regional States.  Its proposal to convene Palestinians, Israelis and Russian Federation officials also remains in force.  Further, the Russian Federation, along with Egypt and others, will continue to aid Palestinian political forces in efforts to restore national unity, according to the Palestinian Liberation Organization platform.  For its part, the Security Council must respond to the crisis, he said, stressing that its members are united on the need to end the conflict, strictly observe international humanitarian law, end the harm to civilians and to relaunch a political process and achieve the two-State solution.  Direct dialogue should be carried out with the Middle East Quartet as the only recognized international mechanism for supporting the peace process.
4. The representative of the United Kingdom, stressing that this week has seen the worst violence Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory have experienced for several years, reiterated Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s call that both sides must step back from the brink and show restraint.  “This cycle of violence must end,” she said, raising concerns that the current trajectory in Gaza will only lead to further violence and more civilian casualties.  Commending the continued efforts by the United Nations, Egypt and Qatar to broker a ceasefire and improve the humanitarian situation, she urged parties to work with mediators, cease hostilities and prevent further humanitarian impact.  Condemning acts of terrorism by Hamas and other terrorist groups, she also said that while Israel has a right to self-defence, it must avoid civilian casualties, expressing grave concern about United Nations reports of the destruction or damage of medical installations, 23 schools and over 500 houses in Gaza.  Israel’s actions must be proportionate and in line with international humanitarian law.  Noting that this special session of the Council is convening during the holy days of Eid and approaching the Jewish festival of Shavuot, she said violence against peaceful worshippers is unacceptable and must stop.  The United Kingdom opposes evictions, demolitions and the settlement enterprise.  Settlements are illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace, she said, urging Israel to cease its policies related to settlement expansion immediately and to instead work towards the establishment of a Palestinian State along 1967 lines.  The situation on the ground demonstrates the urgent need to make progress towards peace, she said, urging all sides to show maximum restraint and refrain from taking actions which endanger civilians and make peace more difficult.  “These next hours and days are critical,” she said, adding that the United Kingdom will continue to do all it can to bring an end to this violence and work towards a more peaceful future, for Israelis and Palestinians alike.
5. The representative of France expressed support for two States living in peace and security within secure and recognized borders along 4 June 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as a shared capital, in accordance with relevant Council resolutions.  France had expressed its concerns early on, in April, amid tensions in Jerusalem, and pointed to the risks of continued settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem.  “Escalation creates risk of a major conflict, with unforeseeable regional repercussions,” he said, stressing that everything possible must be done to immediately end the hostilities.  He said France is particularly worried about the high number of civilian casualties on both sides and strongly condemns rocket fire by Hamas against Israel, contravening international humanitarian law.  “France will never compromise on Israel’s security,” he emphasized, recognizing Israel’s right to self-defence, which must be exercised with utmost restraint, in strict compliance with international law and international humanitarian law.  He expressed grave concern about civilians in Gaza, calling on all parties to ensure aid access and to protect media and humanitarian personnel.  All provocative statements and calls to violence must stop.  Measures to restore calm in Jerusalem must prevail, including respect for the 1967 status quo of holy sites and ending evictions of Palestinian families from East Jerusalem, including Sheikh Jarrah.  “We condemn settlement activity in all its forms,” he assured.  Similarly, rockets from southern Lebanon and Syria are particularly worrying, he said, pointing to the risks of escalation in northern Israel.  For its part, France has stepped up its engagement with relevant stakeholders.  President Emmanuel Macron held talks with Israel’s Prime Minister and the Palestinian President to facilitate a return to ceasefire in Gaza and to restore calm in Israel and the Palestinian territories.  Furthermore, President Macron will hold talks with the President of Egypt in the coming days.  France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Minister meanwhile has spoken with his Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian and Egyptian counterparts.  Expressing full support to all ongoing mediation efforts, notably by Egypt, he underscored the urgency of relaunching the peace process by promoting resumed negotiations between the parties.  Rebuilding trust is the goal of France’s efforts, along with Germany, Egypt and Jordan, and of the meeting organized in Paris on 11 March.  “The Security Council must unite to launch a unanimous call for a swift cessation of hostilities,” he stressed.  “This is our only priority today and it is our collective responsibility.”