Unofficial Transcript by Human Rights Voices

November 24-25, 2014, UN Headquarters, New York
General Assembly: 59th Meeting: Question of Palestine (Agenda Item 36); Situation in the Middle East (Agenda Item 35)

PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY:  The 59th Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly is called to order.  The General Assembly will consider agenda item 36, entitled Question of Palestine.  Under this item, the Report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People has been circulated in Document A/69/35, and the Report of the Secretary-General on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine has been circulated in Document A/69/371.
In connection with this item, the General Assembly has before it four Draft Resolutions issued as Documents A/69/L.21 entitled Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, A/69/L.22 entitled The Vision for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat, A/69/L.23 entitled Special Information Program on the Question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information on Secretariat, and A/69/L.24 entitled Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine.
Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, this morning I attended the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People organized by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.  I thank the Committee once again for its work, including raising awareness on the unresolved question of Palestine.
The International Year proclaimed by the General Assembly in Resolution 68/12 reflected the desire of the international community to see the conclusion of the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations with a final peace agreement.
This year did not bring the progress we were hoping for, as the direct peace talks were suspended.  The violence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which erupted almost immediately after the failure of the last round of negotiations led to the death and injury of scores of civilians and destruction of property.  We must condemn all acts of violence against civilians.  I call on all participants to observe calm and restraint and to refrain from provocative actions and incitement.
Excellencies, I remain concerned at the current impasse in the peace process.  This situation us untenable, and it prolongs the uncertainty, the instability and insecurity that is so detrimental to both Palestinians and Israelis.  It is important that parties resume talks and make their best efforts to create an environment conducive to the resumption of direct negotiations.
The international community should continue to support the parties to overcome their differences and return to direct talks within a clear framework based on internationally recognized parameters.
The United Nations should play a more decisive role in supporting the parties in their effort to achieve a just and comprehensive negotiated settlement in the Middle East based on a two-state solution, with the state of Israel and the state of Palestine living side by side in peace and security within internationally recognized boundaries.
Finally, I wish to commend the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA, for the vital role it has continued to play in providing basic services to alleviate the suffering of the growing population of refugees, the Palestinian refugee population.
The recurring cycle of violence and ... [?] [00:04:44] has impacted on the agency's ability to provide basic humanitarian services.  Taking into account that the largest percentage of the agency's funding comes from voluntary contributions, I reiterate my strong appeal to member states and other international partners to make additional efforts to fully fund the agency's core budget.  I also urge new donors to make financial commitments to the agency's work.  I thank you.
I first give the floor to His Excellency for the Sake of Senegal in his capacity as Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, who will introduce Draft Resolutions A/69/L.21, A/69/L.22, A/69/L.23 and A/69/L.24.
SENEGAL:  Thank you, Mr. President.  On behalf of Ambassador Seck, I shall make the following statement.  Mr. President, Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, first of all, may I once again thank all delegations and you yourself personally, Mr. President, for your active participation in this special meeting of the Committee on the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People held this morning to mark the Day of International Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
The messages received show the wishes of the international community as a whole, as represented by the United Nations, to arrive at a just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine, which is that there be two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace.
Mr. President, your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, one year ago the General Assembly declared that 2014 would be the Year of International Solidarity with the Palestinian People in the hope that, following recognition of Palestine as an observer member in 2012, following adoption of its resolution, this would start off a new stage in our work and would lead to a resumption of negotiations between Israel and the State of Palestine.
At the time, we voiced a hope that the State of Palestine would by now be a sovereign, independent, full member of the United Nations, but our hopes did not come to fruition.
Last year, there was an increase in illegal settlements and our -- the problems increased.  Rather than having progress in direct negotiations, in 2014 we saw a withdrawal of that, an increase in violence, particularly in May and June, and this continued in Gaza throughout the summer, and indeed, on the esplanade of the mosque in occupied Jerusalem.
The Committee described the harsh military exercises in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem, and collective punishment.  There was strong condemnation of Israeli violence in Gaza, and recently there were raids by Israeli extremists and Zionists and attacks against high persons in the government, and in al-Haram al-Sharif, there was an attempt to impose Israeli rule.
There were many challenges, and the Committee condemned rocket attacks from Gaza against Israeli civilians and condemned the heinous attack last week in Jerusalem against Israelis at prayer.
Under these circumstances, all the parties that continue to work to contain the negative wave of violence -- the United States, the EU, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Arab League and the United Nations -- they indeed deserve our support, and we commend them fully in their work.
I would like to pay tribute to the governments of states that have recognized the State of Palestine.  Today, 135 states have recognized it.  That is over two-thirds of the 193 members of the United Nations.  I would urge all the other states to do likewise.  This is a decisive step which will help to end the conflict, and it is a sign of genuine commitment on the part of the international community to achieve a just and lasting peace and to support the Palestinian people as they seek to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination.
Last year, our committee continued its work to proceed from Resolution 67/19, which raised the status of Palestine to an observer member of the United Nations.  We supported the resumptions of negotiations with a view to a two-state solution.  Despite the failure of the last cycle of negotiations, negotiations are the only viable way of reaching a final solution.  But they must be based on clear parameters and a clear time frame.
The state of Palestine has made real progress this year in the building of the state.  We welcome it's accession to a number of international conventions and other instruments, and we also welcome the establishment after the Gaza War of a national consensus, national union government, which has undertaken to comply with the norms and principles which are recognized at the international level.
The committee strongly supports the State of Palestine in its work, and we would urge everybody to cooperate fully with the new Palestinian government.
Our committee deeply believes that the United Nations must continue to shoulder its continuing responsibility vis-à-vis the question of Palestine until it is resolved in all its aspects in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations.  We ask on the Security Council to take strong measures for implementation of its own resolutions on the question of Palestine, and to fully discharge its obligations under the Charter of the United Nations.
And we will continue to discharge the mandate given us by the General Assembly to create the necessary international atmosphere so that the Palestinian people can exercise their inalienable rights.
Against this backdrop, I would like to introduce to the Assembly the four draft resolutions adopted by the Committee, namely, Draft Resolutions A/69/L.21, A/69/L.22, A/69/L.23 and A/69/L.24.  There have been broad consultations with regional groups on these draft resolutions, and they have been adopted by the committee.
The first three deal with the work of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, the Division of Palestinian Rights in the Secretariat, and the Special Information Programme in the DPI.  The General Assembly confirms the importance of the mandates given to those entities.  The committee intends to make sure that the resources provided are used in a viable manner.
I would like to draw your attention to a few points, particularly new points in these draft resolutions.  In A/69/L.21, which renews the mandate of the Committee, the General Assembly calls on UNCTAD to report to it on the economic costs of the occupation.  This is following recommendations made at one of the seminars of the Committee on Assistance to the Palestinian People.  We believe this will help to strengthen the information available on this important aspect of the question of Palestine.
In the second draft resolution, A/69/L.22, the General Assembly renews the mandate of the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat and calls on the Secretary-General to provide that division with the resources it needs to carry out all the prescribed activities.
The third draft resolution, A/69/L.23, deals with the Special Information Programme on the Question of Palestine.  Here, the General Assembly, renews the mandate of DPI and asks it to continue initiatives that will help to create an atmosphere which is propitious to dialogue and peace efforts.
The fourth draft resolution, A/69/L.24, A Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine, in this one, the General Assembly confirms its position on the essential elements of such a settlement and refers to developments last year.  It expresses real concern over the situation on the ground, particularly the devastating humanitarian situation in Gaza following this summer's violence, and the increase in tension in the West Bank, particularly in occupied East Jerusalem.
In the draft resolution, the Assembly calls for a resumption of negotiations with support from the international community on all matters relating to permanent status.  It stresses that the international community must renew and step up efforts, and it commits all states and intergovernmental organizations to pursue policies providing for respect for obligations under international law, particularly in respect of settlements.  I trust these provisions, and the other provisions in the text, will be strongly supported by you all.
The four draft resolutions set forth positions, mandates and programs of major importance to an organization which has continuing responsibility for the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine.  Our committee continues to be fully committed to the cause of peace between Israelis and Palestinians on the basis of resolutions adopted by this Assembly and by the Security Council and in accordance with international law.  Thank you very much, sir.
I now give the floor to His Excellency, Christopher Grima of Malta, Rapporteur for the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, to introduce the committee's report.
MALTA:  Mr. President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, it is an honor for me in my capacity as Rapporteur of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to present to the General Assembly the Annual Report of the Committee, contained in Document A/69/35.  Allow me to summarize each section of the report.
After the introduction of the report, Chapters 2 and 3 outline the mandate entrusted to the Committee by the General Assembly, and the organization of the Committee's work during the year.
On the Chapter 4, the report reviews the situation relating to the question of Palestine as monitored by the Committee and contains a detailed factual account of developments that have taken place in the reviewed period, which ended on 6 October 2014.  The most recent events will be reflected in the next report.
Chapter 5 contains the action taken by the Committee, including the Chairman's participation in General Assembly and Security Council debates, statements issued by the Committee and its Bureau, and the continued dialogue between the committee and members of intergovernmental organizations.  This chapter also informs about the various international meetings and conferences organized by the Committee, as well as other mandated activities carried out by the Division for Palestinian Rights.
Chapter 6 provides an overview of the work done over the year by the Department of Public Information in pursuance of General Assembly Resolution 68/14 of 26 November 2013.
The last chapter of the report contains the conclusions and recommendations of the committee, in which, following the war during this summer in Gaza, the committee welcomes the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry by the Human Rights Council as an important step towards bringing accountability for violations of humanitarian and human rights law.
The Committee also welcomes the request by the Palestinian leadership addressed to the Secretary-General that the territory of the State of Palestine be placed under an international protection system by the United Nations.  The Committee also calls on the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly to take practical steps to follow up on the findings of previous fact-finding missions.
Also in this chapter, the Committee calls on all United Nations member states to support the administration of Gaza by the Palestinian National Consensus Government under the leadership of President Abbas, which should provide a window of opportunity to stabilize Gaza.
The Committee calls for the full opening of Gaza crossings for the legitimate and sustained flow of persons and goods in accounted with Security Council Resolution 1860 and the 2005 Agreement of Movement and Access as the normalization in Gaza would significantly reduce tensions and facilitate the resumption of the political process.
Noting the limitations of the traditional format of bilateral Israeli-Palestinian final status talks facilitated by a single member state, the Committee calls for proposals for innovative approaches and formats that could help break the deadlock and accelerate the end of the 47-year Israeli military occupation and the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, in particular their right to an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.  The Committee urges the Security Council and the General Assembly to give positive consideration to all such proposals.
The Committee welcomes the accession by the State of Palestine to a number of international conventions and treaties and encourages the signature of further international instruments which would allow it to pursue justice and accountability for Palestinian victims through the available international legal mechanisms.
Convinced that the sustainable development of the Palestinian economy cannot take root under the existing regime of Israeli occupation, which exacts annual costs of an estimated $7 billion borne by the Palestinian economy, the committee calls on the General Assembly to establish provisions for a mechanism which would allow the United Nations to document these costs of occupation.
The committee will focus its program of international meetings and conferences in 2015 on the following topics: promoting accountability for Israeli violations and the needed protection for the Palestinian people; mobilizing increased international scrutiny of the developments on the ground, in particular settlement activities; promoting action by the international community to put an end to all illegal Israeli policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; examining the legal ramifications of the new international status of the State of Palestine; and finally, calling attention to the plight of the Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails.
The Committee will also continue to encourage civil society partners to work with their national governments, parliamentarians and other institutions with a view to gaining their full support for the work of the Committee and the United Nations as a whole.  The Committee encourages its members and observers to mobilize their respective civil societies at the national level, in particular the youth [?] [00:23:16], and to establish solidarity committees with the State of Palestine.
Finally, the Committee reiterates its view that the Special Information Programme on the Question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information has made an important contribution to informing the media and the public of the relevant issues and requests the continuation of the program and the necessary flexibility warranted by developments relevant to the question of Palestine.
In closing, I would like to express the hope that the report that I have just presented will be of assistance to this General Assembly in its deliberations on the question of Palestine.  Thank you, Mr. President.
PALESTINE:  Mr. President, it is my honor on behalf of the State of Palestine to address the General Assembly in this important debate.  On this International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, I reaffirm the gratitude of the Palestinian people and government for the compelling expressions of solidarity and support received from all around the world.
We also express appreciation to the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and its Chair, Ambassador Seck of Senegal, for presiding over this morning's meeting and introducing the draft resolutions on the question of Palestine.
We also thank the Rapporteur, Ambassador Grima of Malta, for presenting the Committee's annual report and the other Bureau members -- Afghanistan, Cuba, Indonesia, Namibia and Nicaragua -- and all members and observers of the Committee for their principled, strong support of the just cause of Palestine.  We also commend the work of the Division for Palestinian Rights and DPI's Special Information Programme on Palestine over the past year.
I thank the Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, for his report on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and wish to renew our appreciation for the support of the UN system, consistent with its abiding responsibility until the question of Palestine is resolved in all aspects, including the efforts of his Special Representative Robert Serry of UNSCO and the tireless efforts of all the UN agencies providing vital assistance to the Palestinian people, including UNRWA, UNDP, UNICEF, OCHA, WFP, OHCHR, WHO, UN Women, UN Habitat and UNFPA, along with other international organizations and partners.
The decades-long political, humanitarian, financial and moral support by the international community has helped to sustain the Palestinian people, including more than 5 million Palestine refugees in the absence of their inalienable rights.  We are grateful for this support while again calling for exertion of all possible efforts in line with the Charter, relevant resolutions and international law to redress the injustice that our people have endured for far too long.
Mr. President, a year ago, despite the many challenges and harsh reality faced by the Palestinian people, we came before the General Assembly with greater hope.  We were in the midst of yet another round of resumed peace negotiations under the auspices of the United States of America, with the Palestinian and Israeli ideas convened in direct negotiations as a result of the tireless efforts of Secretary of State John Kerry and with the support of the Arab Ministerial Follow-up Committee, Quartet and concerned states from every corner of the globe.
Despite more than 20 years of negotiations and the situations worsening on every front, the Palestinian leadership agreed to again engage in good faith the peace process, reaffirming its commitment to a nonviolent political approach for realizing our rights and peace.
All were in unison as to the goals -- to achieve a comprehensive solution to the conflict by bringing the parties together, to justly resolve all core final status issues, the questions of the Palestine refugees, Jerusalem, settlements, borders, security, water and prisoners, and to actualize the two-state solution on the basis of the pre-1967 borders with a complete end to the Israeli military occupation that began in 1967, and the fulfillment of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination and their independent, contiguous, sovereign and democratic State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital, thus beginning a new chapter of peace, coexistence and security between the State of Palestine and the State of Israel.
Despite the passage of time and the illegitimate attempts by Israel, the occupying power, to create facts on the ground and repeatedly impose new conditions on the peace process, the international consensus remained firmly in support of the two-state solution based on the parameters enshrined decades ago in UN resolutions, the Madrid principles, Arab peace initiative and Quartet roadmap.
Among the resounding messages, the small opportunity remaining to realize the two-state solution must be seized before it is diminished beyond the realm of viability and possibility.  And Palestinian-Israeli peace would be of immeasurable benefit, not only to the two peoples, but for the region and entire international community, which for too long have been burdened with the conflict and its ever-present threat to global peace and security.
It was also in this spirit that the General Assembly proclaimed 2014 to be the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People and reiterated its call on all states, the UN system, intergovernmental organizations and civil society to exert all efforts in support of the Palestinian people and the realization of their rights.
Hopes rose that the necessary momentum and political will will be mobilized to finally fulfill the right of the Palestinian people to live as a free people in their homeland and for Palestine to take its rightful place among the community of nations and to start a new era in the Middle East.
Yet, that hopefulness has faded in a year that has witnessed instead the collapse of the peace process and a dramatic deterioration of conditions due to Israel's illegal and destructive actions, reckless provocations and incitement and flagrant intransigence and bad faith in negotiations which have brought the conflict to a precipice and made a peaceful settlement more elusive than ever.
Mr. President, the current situation in Occupied Palestine is perilous.  In the wake of Israel's war against the Gaza Strip, the third war in six years on this besieged part of our homeland, and due to the intensification of its illegal colonization campaign in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem, and its relentless repression, provocation and collective punishment of the Palestinian people, tensions have risen to extreme levels.  Violence has escalated in a highly incendiary situation that threatens to implode.
The urgency of international action to avert a complete destabilization and consequences of such an outcome and to salvage the prospects for peace cannot be overstated.  In Gaza, the 1.8 million Palestinians, children, women and men, and the majority of them Palestine refugees, remain imprisoned and isolated under the illegal Israeli blockade, now in its eighth year, which has debilitated the economy and caused widespread poverty and unemployment, food insecurity, health problems and other social ills.
The Palestinian civilian population there also continues to endure untold suffering due to the devastation and humanitarian disaster deliberately inflicted by the Israeli military aggression of July and August.
 The shocking human and physical toll of that criminal Israeli aggression is by now well known.  However, we must recall these facts, for the carnage and destruction continue to impact every aspect of life in Gaza, and the deep wounds, trauma and grief of our people remain unhealed.
The Israeli occupying forces killed more than 2,180 Palestinians, the vast majority civilians, including 516 children and 283 women, and injured more than 11,000 people, among them 3,000 children, causing permanent disabilities to thousands of civilians.  Children were killed on beaches as they played, in the sanctity of their homes, in UNRWA schools, in playgrounds, in the arms of their parents, who could not save them from the Israeli onslaught.
1,500 children have been orphaned as mothers and fathers were also not spared, including in Israeli bombings that flattened homes atop entire families, as occurred in Shejaiya, Hozar and Rafah, among other areas, where Israel pursued a scorched-earth policy, destroying homes and massacring civilians with vengeance, laying waste to entire communities and terrorizing the whole population.  The trauma inflicted has been widely reported, with nearly 400,000 children -- 400,000 children alone in psychological distress and in need of support, as assessed by UNICEF.
More than half a million people were displaced as the Israeli aggression raged in Gaza, the largest displacement of Palestinians since 1967.  Fearful families fled their homes in search of safety, including under the UN flag, with 290,000 people sheltering an UNRWA schools at the height of the conflict.  But nowhere was safe in Gaza, and UNRWA schools were repeatedly struck in Israeli attacks that killed and injured innocent civilians and destroyed UN facilities in grave breach of international law and in violation of UN impunity and the inviolability of its premises.
The destruction inflicted by the occupying power has been described by the Secretary-General as -- and I quote -- mile after mile of wholesale destruction, end of quotation, that reduced many neighborhoods to rubble.  As reported by the UN more than 100,000 Palestinian homes were affected, including 20,000 homes either completely destroyed or damaged beyond habitation, rendering 110,000 people homeless.
Thousands of meters of water and sanitation infrastructure were severely damaged, exacerbating the water crisis in Gaza, and intensifying the risk and spread of disease and damage to electricity networks, including the main power plant, continues to impact all sectors of life.
75 hospitals and medical facilities and more than 100 UN facilities also sustained damage in Israeli strikes, and at least 500 economic and industrial properties were destroyed, causing extensive loss of livelihoods and furthering the de-development of Gaza.  Religious and historical sites were left in ruins, and over 8,000 unexploded ordnance is impeding rubble removal and reconstruction and endangering lives.
While we await the results of the investigations by the Human Rights Council's Independent Commission of Inquiry, as well as by the Secretary-General's Board of Inquiry, it is without doubt that gross human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law amounting to war crimes were committed by Israel in its July and August military aggression in Gaza.
We reiterate the need for accountability for all of these Israeli crimes.  Accountability is essential for ensuring justice for the victims and, in turn, justice is fundamental if genuine healing and reconciliation between the two peoples are ever to be achieved.
We condemn Israel's refusal to cooperate with the Commission of Inquiry and its constant obstruction of international efforts to establish the facts and to achieve accountability.  In this regard, we believe that efforts to uphold international law, including by the convening of the high contracting parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to determine measures to enforce the Convention in Occupied Palestine would help to both avert such aggressions in the future and promote accountability for what has occurred.
In the meantime, the situation in Gaza remains dire.  Consolidation of the fragile cease-fire continues to be thwarted by Israel's refusal to resume talks.  Moreover, despite the Cairo International Conference on Palestine Reconstruction in Gaza and the generous pledges of international support, despite the efforts of the Palestinian National Consensus Government, and despite the tripartite agreement brokered by UNESCO -- UNSCO -- Israel continues to hamper reconstruction, and the delays in recovery are exacerbating the misery of our people, whose anger at their plight is deepening as the shock of the aggression lifts, and their plight remains unaddressed.
We urge the international community to demand that Israel, the occupying power, fully lift this inhumane blockade and allow for the expeditious entry of construction materials to rebuild Gaza, as well as unimpeded humanitarian access to alleviate the disaster deliberately inflicted on Gaza.
These demands are obligations incumbent upon the occupying power under international humanitarian law.  Continued violations and delays risk grave consequences, including greater instability and desperation among the population.
Mr. President, the situation in the rest of Occupied Palestine, including in occupied Jerusalem, remains critical, as well.  Israel's violations and crimes, including settlement activities, military raids, killing and injury of Palestinian civilians, arrest of Palestinians, provocations, incitement and hateful rhetoric by religious extremists and government officials and terror rampages by Israeli settlers, have escalated.
Tensions are at a fever pitch, and the situation continues to deteriorate.  While we are mindful of the urgency of making peace, including in the context of the turmoil racking the region, and are engaging with the international community to break the deadlock and end this nearly half-century military occupation, Israel is instead expanding an entrenching its illegitimate control over our territory and ruthlessly subjugating our people, destroying the two-state solution, starting a new cycle of deadly violence and dragging us further away from the goal of peace.
Jerusalem, holy to the three monotheistic religions and the key to peace, is at this moment a painful reflection of the occupation's entrenchment and Israel's blatant rejection of peace.  Israel's unlawful attempts to change the demography, character, identity and status of Occupied Jerusalem and its provocation and incitement, particularly vis-à-vis al-Haram al-Sharif, are inflaming this volatile situation and aggravating religious sensitivities, instigating a dangerous religious conflict that must be averted.
Repeated incursions by settlers, extremists, occupying forces at al-Haram al-Sharif, as well as ongoing excavations and tunneling threatening the integrity, foundations and sanctity of holy sites; stringent restrictions on access to the city, affecting both Palestinian Muslims and Christians, severely impede freedom of worship and movement, and the closure of Palestinian institutions in the city continues.
Here we reiterate that Al-Quds is the heart of Palestine.  It has been the religious, political, social, economic and cultural center of the Palestinian people for centuries, and will remain so.
As enshrined in General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, the international consensus on the status of Jerusalem is firm, including nonrecognition of Israeli claims to sovereignty over East Jerusalem and consensus that East Jerusalem is occupied territory and remains an integral part of the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967.
All Israeli measures, including extension of the so-called basic law, and attempts to change the status quo at the holy sites that are aimed at altering the city's status are null and void and must be rescinded forthwith.
Mr. President, the international consensus on the illegality of Israeli settlements in Palestine is also firm.  Yet, Israel persists with its colonization campaign in contempt of UN resolutions and international law, and of the demands for a complete cessation of all settlement activities, including in East Jerusalem.
The Israeli government has even gone so far as to deride the international community with claims that there is no occupation and that they will never stop building in our land.
In grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention, plans for the construction of thousands of settlement units have been declared and advanced by the occupying power in the past year, and thousands more acres of Palestinian land have been seized.
Every day we are witness to the construction of Israeli settlements and the apartheid wall, the expropriation of Palestinian land and the varying schemes and military orders, the seizure of homes, including by extremist settlers, as well as the save demolishing of homes in flagrant acts of colonization, as well as reprisal against Palestinian civilians.
All of these illegal actions undermine the territorial integrity, contiguity and integrity of our state and viability of the two-state solution based on the 1967 borders, taking us closer and closer to a one-state reality with all of the implications in this regard.
Such actions also continue to cause the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians, constituting another grave breach.  The occupying power is now threatening thousands of Palestine refugee Bedouins with massive forced transfer from their homes, communities and pastoral way of life, all to facilitate its unlawful annexation aims.
The stability, security and presence of Palestinian families in East Jerusalem is also in constant jeopardy as they continue to suffer home demolishings and revocations of their residency rights in addition to raging violence, discrimination and virulent racism against them by Israeli extremists, who persist in attacks against Palestinians, including killing, assault, kidnapping attempts on children, as well as attacks against Muslim and Christian holy sites that have seriously destabilized the city.
Israel also continues daily military raids, violently attacking, killing and injuring Palestinian civilians, and ransacking and destroying Palestinian homes and properties.  Severe restrictions on movement continue in collective punishment of the entire population, and occupying forces continue to protect and support extremist settlers, committing acts of violence and terror against Palestinian civilians with impunity.
These raids have also entailed Israel's repression of any opposition to the occupation and the continued arrest and detention of Palestinians, bringing the total number of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel to more than 6,000 people, including children as young as 12 years old, women, men and parliamentarians who are enduring horrific abuse, including all forms of cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment and torture and sanitary conditions of captivity and other violations of their most basic human rights.
We condemn all of these illegal Israeli actions and call on the international community to firmly condemn these violations and demand their immediate end.  The situation, as all have recognized, is totally unsustainable, and if left without remedy, will not remain stagnant, but will spiral out of control with grave consequences.  Responsible international action to address this long-festering conflict and bring the parties back from the precipice is a matter of utmost urgency.
Mr. President, the crisis the Palestinian people face has reached existential proportions.  Under occupation and in the diaspora, where regional instability foremost, the conflict in Syria and its spillover into Lebanon and Jordan has severely impacted the Palestine refugee community.
Our people are suffering immense and growing hardships, all stemming from the grave injustice done to them in Al-Nakba of 1948 and thereafter.  Their repeated displacement and dispossession generation after generation, and the continued denial of their inalienable rights is an injustice that pains not only our people and the Middle East region, but the international community as a whole, for which this conflict remains a source of shame and a threat to global peace and security.
The international community, foremost the Security Council, must uphold its established positions and must send a clear message to Israel, the occupying power, that it will no longer tolerate the obstruction of a peaceful settlement.  The parameters of a solution have long been known and supported by the international community based on international law and principles of justice.
The Security Council must implement its resolutions and fulfill its responsibilities to contribute to bringing an end to this illegal situation, recognizing its broad and dangerous political, religious and security dimensions.  This includes responsible and timely action on the initiative we have brought before the Security Council for setting a time frame to end the occupation and achieve a comprehensive and just solution of all core issues that fulfills the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including to independence in their State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side with Israel in peace and security on the basis of the pre-1967 borders and ensures a just solution for the Palestine refugees question on the basis of Resolution 194.
Defusing the situation and creating a credible political horizon must be a priority.  Israel must be compelled to comply with the law and commit to the path of peace and negotiate in good faith.  Negotiations will never succeed in the absence of this.
If Israel remains intransigent, it must be held accountable, and alternative political, legal and nonviolent methods must be immediately considered to ensure Israel's compliance and provide protection to the Palestinian people for as long as this belligerent occupation persists, for it is clear that past methods and efforts have failed to uphold the law, uphold human rights and secure the peace and justice we have long sought.
Mr. President, the value of hope for human perseverance cannot be quantified.  At the same time, the consequences of the loss of hope are unimaginable.  We appeal to the international community to not let the Palestinian people lose hope.  Give our children hope.  As stated before this august assembly 40 years ago this month, the late President Yasser Arafat -- and I quote -- Do not the olive branch fall from our hands, end of quotation.
For decades, our people have been sustained by a deep conviction in international law and the international community's pledges to achieve a just resolution of their plight.  With us, reiterate our appeals to the international community today.  We are committed to peace, as affirmed by President Abbas from this rostrum, and affirmed in the program of the Palestinian National Consensus Government, and we call on the General Assembly, the Security Council and all member states to rise to their responsibilities and commitments and to help us stop the bloodshed and suffering.
After nearly seven decades, it is time to finally bring an end to this tragic conflict and to allow the Palestinian people to know justice, to know peace, to know security, know human dignity and to finally know freedom, like all other peoples on this planet.  And I thank you, Mr. President.
SAUDI ARABIA:  Thank you, Mr. President.  Mr. President, I am pleased to speak to you today on behalf of the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.  At the outset, I would like to express my gratitude to you for your wise leadership of the work of the General Assembly.  In addition, I would like to extend my appreciation to the Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for his briefing and the Rapporteur of the Committee for introducing the report.
I am honored to talk to you day on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.  This crucial day, when the international community reaffirms its commitment to the rights of the Palestinian people and its determination to put an end to the Israeli occupation which has created great injustice against the Palestinian people and other Arabs living under occupation.
Mr. President, almost two years ago this body recognized the State of Palestine as a nonmember observer state at the United Nations by adopting its Resolution 67/19.  This resolution and the overwhelming support it received was an important step towards righting a historic wrong.  It was an attempt -- it was an important step in showing Israel that the status quo that it is working hard to cement is unacceptable to the international community.
Last year, the international community as a whole rallied behind the negotiation process to put an end to the Israeli occupation and achieve a lasting peace based on the two-state solution.
This overwhelming support and effort could have ended this great injustice against the Palestinian people that has been going on for decades, had it not been for Israel's intransigence.  The negotiations ended before they even started, as a result of Israel's absolute refusal not only to compromise, but to do what they are obliged to do according to international law, such as stopping settlement activity, dismantling settlements, taking down the wall of apartheid, ending the blockade on Gaza, putting an end to the use of excessive and lethal force against the unarmed civilian population, ending the policies of forced evictions, forcible transfer of civilians, demolitions of homes and confiscation of properties, releasing detainees that are held without charge and prosecuting extremist terrorist Israeli settlers.
Mr. President, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation holds Israel responsible for all these violations of international law and calls upon the international community to hold Israel accountable and to cease these illegal and unjust acts and policies.
We also hold Israel responsible for the escalation in the city of Al-Quds, Jerusalem, due to the latest unprecedented measures against the Blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, which involve the crime of closing the mosque and denying worshippers access to pray in it, together with the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by occupation soldiers and settlers.
Mr. President, there is another development that causes concern, which is the draft -- the law issued by the Israeli cabinet lately that declares Israel as a Jewish nation.  This is discrimination against the non-Jewish residents and citizens of Israel, and will lead to two classes of citizens, first-degree -- first-class citizens, who are Jews, and second-class citizens, who are non-Jews.  The world cannot stand by idle while Israel practices more discrimination within its legal system enforced in the lands it controls.
Mr. President, the time has come to put an end to the Israeli occupation of Arab lands.  We call on the international community to support the efforts at the Security Council for the purpose of setting a timeline to end the Israeli occupation of Palestine and Arab lands, withdrawing to the borders of June 4th, 1967, making progress towards implementing the two-state solution, and granting independence to the Palestinian people.  The international community as a whole recognizes the importance of the principle of self-determination.  Now is the time to put it into effect.
Mr. President, it's strange for the Representative of Israel to speak today on issues that are unrelated to the agenda item we are considering today.  However, this is not strange, because Israel reverses realities every day in an attempt to convince the international community of something other than the truth.
It is strange that the Representative of Israel attacks Sweden for its brave stance instead of urging its government to respect international commitments and international law.
It is also strange for the Representative of Israel to take pride in what he calls democracy and freedom and justice based on depriving others of their rights and their lands before there was an Israel.  And thank you, Mr. President.
OMAN:  Mr. President, I have the honor and pleasure to speak today on behalf of the Sultanate of Oman on the issue of Palestine.  In this regard, allow me to express first our appreciation to His Excellency, Abdou Salam Diallo, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Senegal and Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, for the report he prepared -- prepared by his committee, which is contained in Document A/69/35.
We also express our thanks to the Secretary-General for his report contained in Document A/69/34 on the Situation in the Middle East.  We likewise commend the statement of the Chairman of the Committee on the Situation in the Palestine Occupied Territories.
Mr. President, we are gathered today to discuss a tragically longstanding issue which, while remaining complex, has become increasingly fraught with danger as a result of the recent acts of Israeli violence perpetrated on innocent Palestinians in Gaza.
We call upon the United Nations, the Security Council and other concerned actors to assume their legal and moral responsibility to uphold international legitimacy and the implementation of the Security Council resolutions related to this issue.
We also call upon the international community to compel the occupying power to implement the relevant resolutions and to fulfill all of its obligations and to withdraw from all Occupied Arab Territories, including the Syrian Golan and the rest of the areas that are still under occupation in southern Lebanon.
Mr. President, the General Assembly has proclaimed 2014 as the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.  By this action, the international community declared its intention to seek a just peace resulting in the freedom and national independence for the Palestinian people.  But the occupying power has adopted another cause.  It has chosen instead the path of indiscriminate use of weapons and excessive force that has brought death to Gaza Palestinians, most of whom were the elderly, children and women, as well as the destruction of thousands of homes, civilian infrastructure, commercial properties and the facilities of the United Nations.
Mr. President, Oman welcomes the recent visit of the Secretary-General to the Middle East as indicative of his recognition of the need to urgently seek a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly in the light of recent tragic events.
It applauds the decision of the Swedish government to officially recognize the State of Palestine.  It commends the majority vote in the British Parliament stating its belief that the British government should recognize the State of Palestine.  It is pleased with the decision of the Spanish Parliament to urge the Spanish government to encourage the recognition of Palestine as a state.
We take this opportunity also to express our appreciation to the Arab Republic of Egypt and Norway for organizing the Conference of Donors in Cairo last month, and calls upon the states participating in the conference to implement the results of the conference.
Mr. President, the expansion and the construction of Israeli settlements and the forcible transfer by the occupying power of Bedouins and herder communities living in the West Bank to central locations constitute a violation of Palestinian human rights and is in breach of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which states individual or mass forcible transfers, as well as deportations of protected persons from occupied territory to the territory of the occupying power or to that of any other countries, occupied or not, are prohibited regardless of motive.
Mr. President, Oman expresses its equally deep concern about the tragic situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories resulting from the Israeli blockade, the intensive inhuman and illegal acts designed to change the demographic composition of the population, as well as the practices of the occupying power in the Noble Al-Quds and the tax on the Noble Mosque.
Mr. President, Oman vigorously stresses that security and stability cannot be achieved through the use of military force as a means to achieve security.  As the minister responsible for foreign affairs, His Excellency, Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, made clear in the statement of Oman during the 69th Session of the General Assembly, security and stability cannot be achieved through the use of excessive force and the insistence to inflict heavy loss of lives, injuries and destruction on the largest possible scale.
However, we think the path to achieving security and stability that underpins economic and social recovery can only be realized through partnership and peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis.
We believe there is a chance now to achieve this objective following the cease-fire agreement reached between the two sides.  We stress the importance that the two sides stick to this agreement and avoid any violations under any pretexts.  In this respect, we call upon the Palestinians and the Israelis to resume negotiations in order to reach a just and comprehensive settlement that would provide peace and security for Israel and responds to the hopes and aspirations of the Palestinian people.
In conclusion, Oman confirms its strongly held view that it is necessary to return to dialogue and negotiation and calls upon the concerned parties interested in the peace process, the Security Council and the Quartet to play an active role with a view to reaching a just and comprehensive solution and the desired peace.
Israel, the occupying power, should abide by all legal and international decisions and the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, living side by side with Israel within an internationally recognized border.  Thank you, Mr. President.
SWEDEN:  Mr. President, Sweden fully aligns itself with the statement made by the European Union, but would also like to take the opportunity to make a few additional remarks.  Let me say up front that the Swedish recognition of the State of Palestine aims at making the parties less unequal and to improve the prospects for a negotiated final status agreement.  We are taking sides for peace, not for one party, and we join 134 countries that already recognize the State of Palestine.
We do this built on insights and engagement in finding a peaceful solution in this conflict since Count Bernadotte in the '40s, our early contact with PLO through Olof Palme, successful work with Egypt and Sweden to start a dialogue between the United States and the PLO in 1988, and with the many Swedes that went to live the experience of kibbutz life in Israel in the '60s and '70s and onwards, and based on longstanding relations with Israel and with the Palestinians.
Now, the young people in both Palestine and Israel need to see that there are alternatives to violence.  Our hope is that the recognition will strengthen constructive and moderate forces on both sides, that it will contribute to an end of the occupation and help to stop a development towards a one-state reality.
It is critical times.  The recent vicious circle of violence, the devastating Gaza War and the recent increase of provocations, violence and terrorist attacks in Jerusalem is a painful warning signal of this urgency.
Sweden condemns the horrific terrorist attack on Jewish worshippers in Jerusalem last week.  All actors have to unite to prevent the political conflict to turn into a spiral of violence with also religious dimensions.  If not, the prospects of reaching a two-state solution that meets the aspirations of both parties will be gone.
The lack of progress fuels new acts of violence, of course, in the immediate area, but also in the wider Middle East.
There are no acceptable excuses for provocations, terrorist attacks, rockets towards civilians or other violent actions.  The Israeli settlement expansion, the demolitions, land confiscation, forcible transfer and resettlements in Palestine, they are not in accordance with international law and are making a negotiated final status agreement on a sustainable two-state solution not only more difficult, but soon almost impossible.
The conditions in Gaza are unacceptable and unsustainable, and a return to the situation before the war is not an option.  Status quo means that the two-state solution is fading away during the rapid deterioration of the situation on the ground, both in Gaza and in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.  The borders of Gaza must be opened for construction material, for all goods and people.  The trade possibilities have to increase.
The inhabitants of Gaza need to see immediate improvements of their living conditions so that they do not lose hope about the future and so that they do not lose faith in the international community.
The time has come for a more active involvement by the international community.  Of course, by us in the European Union, by the UN Security Council, the USA, the Arab League and the Quartet.  We must all assist the parties with clear parameters and with a defined time frame aimed at the realization of a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the conflict.
The goal is that Israel and Palestine could live side by side in peace and security within recognized borders.  The international community has a responsibility to protect and to reassure constructive and moderate actors in Palestine which adhere to nonviolence, recognition of Israel, recognition of previous agreements, and Sweden will certainly contribute to this.
On today's occasion, it is high time to turn words into concrete action on the ground.  At his moment, it is important to support President Abbas, strengthen the Palestinian Authority and the consensus government in the West Bank and in Gaza.
Sweden has recently adopted a new five-year development strategy for Palestine, with a total amount of 200 million U.S. dollars, an increase with 50%.  This year also marks 65 years since UNRWA was established to support millions of Palestinians forced to flee their homes.
Sweden will continue to be one of the main supporters to UNRWA, and this year we've contributed with approximately 50 million U.S. dollars to the agency, and we are also proud to exercise the chairmanship of its ad comm.
Mr. President, let me end by saying that we expect both the Palestinian and Israeli leaderships to do their utmost to ensure that both peoples soon may live in prosperity, peace and security.  Only with peace can true and full security be obtained.  Thank you, Mr. President.
LEBANON:  Thank you, Mr. President.  On this day of International Solidarity with the Palestinian People, I would like to acknowledge the Swedish decision to recognize the state of Palestine and the recommendation by the parliament in the UK and Spain to their governments to recognize in turn the state of Palestine.  
We must stress from the outset that the state of Palestine will remain a state chafing under occupation and that our collective responsibility proceeding from the UN charter and the provisions of international law is the assistance of the state to put an end to occupation and achieving the independence and naturally granting it full membership in our organization.  
We meet today at a time when the crisis over when Jerusalem and when the peaceful endeavors by this seem to be stalled while Israel continues its policy of aggression, especially in expanding settlement processes in a flagrant violation of international legitimacy and the resolutions of this organization.  
Madam President, the conflict in Jerusalem and over Jerusalem is almost a microcosm today of the basis of the Israeli-Arab conflict and in its solution lies the key to just and comprehensive peace in our region.  No wonder within the walls of old Jerusalem is a history unlike the history of all other cities.  It is here a mixture of the stories of prophets and apostles and the reports about kings, sultans and noblemen and the actions of other human beings.
In Jerusalem, the temporal mingles with the spiritual, and it is difficult to distinguish faith and politics.  In Jerusalem the pictures of the past intersect in the present with the dreams of the future.  It is above all a city of symbols.  
When we say that conflict in Jerusalem and over it is almost today a microcosm of the basis of the Israeli-Arab conflict, it is because Israel as regards Jerusalem continues its blatant defiance of the decisions of the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Human Rights Council, ECOSOC and UNESCO and the advisory opinion of the ICJ, all of which reject proceeding from the principles of the UN charter and the provisions of the public international law and the provisions of the Geneva and Hague treaties, all of which reject the acquisition of territories by war and denounce the provocative practices of Israel in Jerusalem since 1967 and condemn its actions aimed at changing the status and character of the city, especially its decision to annex East Jerusalem and its declaration of the so-called basic law and considers all of which null and void and call for the full revocation, including by way of example the Security Council resolutions 252, 267, 446, 452, 465, 471, 476 and 478. 
The fact of the matter that in Jerusalem, as in all other occupied territories, and even more so, Israel continues to construct settlements and appropriate the properties of Palestinian Arabs and harass them by various means, including the demolition of their houses in order to displace them under various pretexts.  
It is worth nothing here that Israel's first action on occupying East Jerusalem in '67 was the demolition of what was called the Moroccan Quarter within hours and its displacement of its inhabitants.  As for the settlement, it's proceeding afoot since that date, since the number of settlers in East Jerusalem now exceeds 250,000.
About 35% of the territories of East Jerusalem have been expropriated for the purpose of settlements, while Palestinian Arabs are not allowed to build except on 13% of East Jerusalem.  Naturally, this is theoretical, because most of this area has already been built.  Also obtaining from the occupation authorities building licenses by the Palestinian residents is simply one of the most difficult things, if not impossible.  
Between 1967 and the end of last year, Israel had demolished more than 2,000 homes in East Jerusalem and expelled 40,309 inhabitants.  Let us not forget the role of the wall -- the apartheid wall and the policy of the occupation authorities aimed at encircling East Jerusalem with settlements in a manner that impedes connection between it and the north of the West Bank and its south and even its east in addition to its policy of preventing all the other inhabitants of the West Bank to enter Jerusalem except by special permits, which is, of course, not easy to obtain.
Madam President, when we say that Jerusalem is the road to the -- to the just and comprehensive peace in our region, we mean that without eliminating occupation from it and the restoration of Arab Palestinian rights, Christian and Islamic in East Jerusalem, there will be no viable, peaceful settlement.  
East Jerusalem alone is the capital of the state of Palestine, and there is no other substitute for the state of Palestine.  What the occupation authorities calls the united Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the state of Israel is not, in fact, but a form of occupation rejected by the world -- the world in its entirety.  This alleged unity is a product of war and the logic of force.  It is simply an expression of domination.  
Jerusalem refuses to be a monochromatic city.  It is not only sacred to Jews.  In Jerusalem Christ spread his message.  In it is the road of Golgotha and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.  For Muslims, it is the first ..., and the third noble sanctuary.  It is also the land from which the prophet ascended to heaven and made a night journey.  
Only the elimination of occupation from East Jerusalem and the restoration of the usurped Arab rights, to its Christian and Islamic, then Jerusalem would regain its significance, a city of peace, a city of humanity in its entirety and the loftiest values of mankind.  
In conclusion, I cannot find more eloquent than the great Palestinian poet, Mahmoud Darwish.  In Jerusalem, and I mean within the ancient walls, I walk from one epoch to another without a memory to guide me.  The prophets over there are sharing the history of the holy, ascending to heaven and returning less discouraged and melancholy because love and peace are holy and are coming to town. 
And the speaker is repeating, In Jerusalem, I mean within the ancient walls, I walk from one epoch to another without a memory to guide me.  The prophets are over there are sharing the history of the holy, ascending to heaven and returning less discouraged and melancholy because love and peace are holy and are coming to town.  Thank you, Madam President.  
BOLIVIA:  Thank you, Madam Chair.  Madam Chair, I will deliver this statement in Spanish.  Madam President we greatly appreciate the work done by Ambassador Sec, the chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.  The Plurinational state of Bolivia confirms its supports for the self-determination of the Palestinian people and their right to a free sovereign. Madam Chairman, first allow me to express our most sincere congratulations for the work which the presidency of the 69th session is carrying out.  My delegation welcomes the excellent action of His Excellency, Mr. Fodé Sec, Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and its bureau for the excellent work which it has done, which has allowed us to count on transparent information with regard to the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory including East Jerusalem.  
The Plurinational State of Bolivia reaffirms its support to the self-determination of the Palestinian people and its right to have a free, sovereign and independent state with international borders prior to 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly of the United Nations.  
Madam President, the Plurinational State of Bolivia reaffirms in this International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People proclaimed by the General Assembly in resolution 6812 reaffirm its support to put an end to the Israeli occupation in Palestinian territory and implement the two-state solution, with a view to the fact that the Palestinian people can exercise their inalienable rights, including the right to self-determination.  
Bolivia energetically condemns the Israeli blockade implemented against the Palestinian people and against international humanitarian law and other similar human rights law applicable in strict respect of the General Assembly of the United Nations resolution, including resolution 181 dating back to 1947.
My country rejects the terrorist attacks called protective age against the Israeli settlement which cost the lives of 2,189 Palestinians, ... of whom were civilians, including 5,13 children and 269 women and caused 11,000 wounded.  
Bolivia followed with indignation the reports of different organizations on how the homes of more than 100,000 civilian Palestinians of Gaza were destroyed by Israeli bombing, making their homes inhabitable with undue detentions, seizure, psychological torture and even worse, including extremes like denying civilians freedom to have food and minimum hygienic conditions in illegal Israeli detention facilities, facing before the international community the attention not to cease their genocidal acts.
Madam President, the policy of the state of Israel continues to have illegal settlements, including the West Bank and has approved of thousands of housing units, taking into accounts the incursions of Israeli extremists in the Al Aqsa mosque, as well as confiscation of land, excavation near to sacred sites, the demolitions of houses, revocations of identity documents and the displacement of Palestinian residents.
Most of the population of Gaza has lost their productive possibilities.  219 businesses and workshops have suffered from damage, and 128 were completely destroyed, which caused even greater difficulties to the economy, and the lack of employment of 30,000 as well, 70,000 hectares damaged, a great part of the agricultural infrastructure.  
The electrical center of Gaza, which suffered from damage on the 29th of July by Israeli -- by the Israeli air could not be - no electricity for more than 18 hours a day.  The reconstruction would cost $7.8 billion.  
Bolivia considers it unacceptable that thousands of Palestinians, among which are many children and women, are still detained in Israeli prisons under harsh conditions with a lack of hygiene, lack of communication, denial of due process, the lack of medical adequate attention and the denial of family visits, as well as harassments or the death of prisoners and detainees in serious situations of sickness.
Bolivia will continue to join its efforts with the international community to ensure that the aspirations of peace, freedom, justice and dignity of the Palestinian people be part of the history of humanity in accordance with United Nations' charters, international law and the resolutions of the United Nations, including resolution 194, chapter 3.  Thank you very much.  
PAKISTAN:  Thank you, Madam President.  Today, Pakistan expresses its full solidarity with the people of Palestine.  The people of Pakistan steadfastly stand by Palestine in its quest for the fulfillment of its legitimate aspirations for the realization of the right to self-determination and full statehood.  
Madam President, the Palestinians continue to pass through a dark chapter in their history.  But the Palestinians and the international community must not lose hope.  Today as we speak, our hearts go out to the Gazans who suffered so grievously this past summer.  We condemn the recent acts of desecration of the Al Aqsa mosque attacks against worshippers and the use of weapons and bombs inside the mosque by the Israeli army.
The mosque was closed to worshippers for the first time since 1967.  Restrictions on worship that continue must end.  Steps to erase Palestinian, Muslim and Christian heritage must be halted.
Last year, the General Assembly declared 2014 as the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.  As the Secretary General reports, the year started with a great sense of hope, but ended with return to violence.  The peace process broke down and prospects of peace have further diminished.  
The massive settlements that increased by 150% during the last year and culminated in the largest land grab in three decades doomed the faint hope for peace right from the beginning.  The 50-day spate of violence in Gaza over the summer, which left more than 2,100 Palestinians dead, exacerbated the humanity and plight of Gazans who were already food insecure and dependent on aid.  
Madam President, we welcome the establishment of a board of inquiry by the Secretary General and a commission of inquiry by the Human Rights Council to look into the events of Gaza.  These are steps in the right direction, but a lot would depend on whether they would be allowed to complete the inquiries or whether their recommendations would be implemented at all.  
Over the past year, destruction, demolitions and forced displacements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem increased by 24%.  The impact of Israeli restrictions on the movement of Palestinian people and goods led to the decline of economic growth in the occupied Palestinian territory from an average of 11% a few years ago to a mere 1.5% last year.  All this, Madam President, depicts the dire situation of the Palestinian people.
Madam President, revitalization of the peace process would bring fleeting hope, but without a serious and sincere commitment to peace, dialogue for the sake of dialogue will serve no purpose.  So far, the efforts of the international community, the Security Council and this assembly to revive the peace process have failed.  The initiatives of the quartet and the Arab League have not been productive.  Questions are being raised about the viability and relevance of a two-state solution.  
We commend Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, and Secretary of State John Kerry for investing political capital and energy in the peace process.  We especially thank the Secretary General for his energetic diplomacy to diffuse the crisis in Gaza and to channel humanitarian aid to the devastated areas.  
Madam President, this dark moment in the history of the Middle East must be changed into a defining moment.  For that, the prevalent paradigm of strategic thinking and calculations has to change.  Both sides and the international community have to realize that it is now or never.  Violence will offer no solution.  The parties should step back to reflect, make hard choices and give peace a chance.  
Direct negotiations based on internationally agreed parameters with clear benchmarks and timelines are the only options.  The only path to viable and sustainable peace is the establishment of the state of Palestine, based on pre-1967 borders with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital.  Until this realization sinks in, peace will remain elusive.
Vacation of all Arab lands by Israel, including the Syrian Golan, is imperative for peace in the Middle East.  Madam President, there have been positive developments too.  Sweden has recognized Palestine.  The British, Irish and Spanish parliaments have voted for Palestinian statehood.  The French parliament is contemplating to do so.  This is a growing trend and the writing on the wall.  Other states will follow suit.
Madam President, the Security Council has a draft resolution on its table that could pave the way with a clearly-marked pathway to peace.  It would bring the council back at the helm of maintaining peace and security where it belongs.  We urge the Israeli and Palestinian leadership to influence the future of the next generations of their states and the future of the region.  They must start talks for enduring peace.
In the meantime, the following steps should be urgently taken.  The blockade of Gaza should be lifted.  Demolitions of Palestinian houses and expulsion of Palestinians from their properties must stop.  All Palestinian prisoners must be released, and pledges for the reconstruction of Gaza should be honored by contributors and donors.  In this context, we pay tribute to UNRWA for its solid plans for recovery and reconstruction and for the sacrifices that they have rendered.
Madam President, the government of Pakistan has contributed US dollars 1 million to UNRWA.  We hope that this will help alleviate in small measure the suffering of the Palestinian victims of the Israeli military offensive in Gaza.  I thank you, Madam President.  
KUWAIT:  Madam President, we are having our debate here today while Israeli practices are continuing in Jerusalem, in addition to illegal harassment in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.  They want to completely crush the Palestinian people.  
We condemn action taken against the Al Aqsa mosque and failure to respect its holiness.  These are the holiest places for Muslims.  We condemn the Israeli authority's refusal to let the Muslims come to pray there, and we condemn what is being done by Israel on a daily basis, and we condemn what is being done by Israeli extremists with the connivance of the police at Al Haram Al Sharif.
Also we condemn what was done during the 50 days against Gaza last summer.  This has left thousands of dead and wounded and complete devastation, which was added to what was done in 2009.  There were enormous human rights violations and there was no protection of civilians during armed conflict in accordance with the convention.
The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was held today and we commemorated resolution 6719 on accepting Palestine as an observer member of the United Nations.  We appreciate the efforts of the Secretary General and the United Nations, particularly the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices in the Occupied Territories.
We would like to thank them for their ongoing, intensive work to make know the suffering of the Palestinian people and also their legitimate aspirations.
Kuwait confirms the inalienable nature of the rights of the Palestinian people to set up an independent state within borders pre-1967 with Jerusalem as the capital, and we would call on the Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities under the charter for international peace and security.
Positive steps must be taken to achieve peace.  It is the -- the Arab Group put a draft resolution to the Security Council with a firm timeframe for Israeli withdraw from the occupied Palestinian territory, and we condemn the Israeli policy of settlements and of removing Palestinians from their land, demolishing their houses and detaining Palestinians.  
We are deeply concerned over the occupying power's construction of new settlements, new housing in Jerusalem and other occupied territory.  We must call on the international community to bring pressure to bear on the occupying power to end such practices and to respect the Fourth Geneva Convention.
We have heard the representative of Israel speak.  We will not react to what he has said.  But it seems that Israel believes itself above the law and can therefore flout the resolutions of the United Nations.  He attacked all those policies that are against the policy pursued by the occupying power.
In the past, there has been talk of the status quo, and the dangerous possibilities of what would happen if there is a complete freezing of the two-state solution.  So Kuwait would call on the international community to bring pressure to bear on Israel to halt its policy of aggression, to halt its policy of illegal settlements in the occupied territory, to stop desecrating the Al Aqsa mosque and to halt all attempts to change the demographics and geographic and historic nature of Jerusalem, to lift its blockade on Gaza immediately and to respect international law and the resolutions of the Security Council, 242, 338, and so forth.  And it should also withdraw from all territory occupied in 1967.  
Madam President, Kuwait calls for the immediate release of all Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons, particularly sick people and the young and the old, detained before the Oslo agreement.  We call on the international community to bring pressure to bear on Israel in respect -- and it should treat Palestinian prisoners as prisoners of war with a view to their release.
Madam President, we reiterate our demand for Israel to apply Security Council resolution to withdraw from the Syrian Golan to the 1967 line.  Continuing occupation of Syrian territory is a real obstacle to peace in the Middle East.  
Kuwait is committed to stand side by side with Lebanon to preserve its territorial integrity.  Israel should stop crossing into Lebanese air space, and it should respect the implementation of the Security Council resolution 1701.  
We fully support the Palestinian people's legitimate aspirations.  We pay tribute to that people for their courage and the resolve they have to exercise their rights.  We will continue providing moral and material support to them so that an end can be put to the Israeli occupation so that a Palestinian state can be established with East Jerusalem as its capital in accordance with international law and the principles of the Madrid conference and the quartet roadmap and the Arab League initiative.  Thank you, Madam. 
JAPAN:  Madam President, I am very pleased to see you presiding over this important agenda item.  I wish to address both agenda item number 35, the situation in the Middle East, as well as item 36, the question of Palestine.  I wish to pay tribute to Ambassador Mansour, permanent observer of the state of Palestine as we celebrate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people today.  
Madam President, the long-awaited direct negotiations between Israel and Palestinian came to an abrupt halt in April.  This was followed by the eruption of the Gaza crisis from July to August.  Under these circumstances, we, unfortunately, do not foresee the resumption of negotiations any time soon.  
Meanwhile, we see troubling signs of tension, exacerbated by the recent clashes at the Al Aqsa compound, and the attack in the Har Nof synagogue.  Japan condemns all violence violation and incitement.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims and their bereaved families.  
We commend the efforts made by the Jordanian government to calm the situation.  We welcome that during US Secretary Kerry's recent visit to ..., the leaders of Israel, Jordan and Palestine have agreed to work to calm the situation.
We attach importance to the affirmation made by the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to maintain the status quo on the Al Aqsa compound.  Japan therefore calls on both the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to exercise political leadership and courage to ease tensions and to refrain from unilateral action, as well as incitement.  Both sides must work towards enhancing mutual trust for the resumption of peace negotiations.
Madam President, the recent crisis in Gaza was the third large-scale conflict in the last six years.  The vicious cycle of trust and violence must end.  Recent events have reaffirmed, once again, the need for a just, durable and comprehensive peace based on a two-state solution.  
From this viewpoint, the land seizure by Israel in September in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are not only illegal but run counter to international efforts towards a two-state solution.  Japan calls on Israel to completely freeze its settlement activities, which are violations of international law.  
Correspondingly, we look to the Palestinian national unity government to remain committed to the renouncement of violence, recognition of the state of Israel and adherence to the previous diplomatic agreements.  Japan also calls on Palestine to refrain from any unilateral action that may hinder the resumption of peace negotiations.
Japan will continue to assist the parties in building mutual confidence.  Furthermore, we must look to nurture mutual confidence of future generations.  In this regard, Japan recently welcomed 10 young leaders from Israel and Palestine under our invitation program for confidence building.
Since 1996, the Japanese government has invited more than 200 youths from both Israel and Palestine.  These visits have strengthened their mutual trust and deepened their understanding about Japan's peace efforts towards the Middle East region.  
Madam President, Japan pledged to provide more than $20 million in aid towards Palestine at the Gaza Reconstruction Conference held in October.  This is in addition to the $7.8 million already disbursed in August.  This constitutes a part of Japan's $200 million pledge announced by our Foreign Minister Kishida at the conference on the Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development, CEPAD, held in Jakarta in March.  
These commitments, however, were made not for the return to the status quo ante, but rather they are commitments to support the parties involved in attaining a sustainable ceasefire, coexistence and prosperity in the region.  Therefore we recall the importance of establishing an international photo-op [?] mechanism that addresses the issues of security, humanitarian assistance and good governance.  
Japan stands ready to work towards this goal with Israel, Palestine and the United Nations among others.  Madam President, as we pursue the goal of a two-state solution, we must also strengthen the economic foundations that will underpin the overall political process.  From this perspective, Japan continues to make a distinct contribution by mobilizing private investments in Palestine.  
One such example is a corridor for peace and prosperity initiative, its flagship project the Jericho agro-industry park seeks to transform the area into an export center.  It is anticipated that the project will create 7,000 with expected annual economic benefits of more than $40 million.
Moreover, the joint project led by Japan in collaboration with Israel, Jordan and Palestine, is a well-grounded exercise in building mutual confidence.  We are pleased that 11 companies have already signed tenant contracts.  One of them is due to be in operation very soon. 
Japan is also looking to channel the experiences and resources of East Asian countries for Palestinian development.  With this objective in mind, Japan initiated the Conference on the Cooperation Among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development, CEPAD, in February, 2013.  Numerous capacity-building projects in cooperation with Indonesia and Malaysia, have already been implemented.  
We note with appreciation that upon a joint proposal with my distinguished colleague, Ambassador Desra Percaya of Indonesia, this assembly will welcome the progress of CEPAD in the resolution entitled Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine to be adopted tomorrow.  
The recent Gaza crisis and the ensuing tensions on the ground have demonstrated the urgency of advancing the peace process.  
In closing, I want to emphasize that Japan in cooperation with the United Nations and the international community remains committed to playing and important role in the pursuit of durable peace and prosperity in the region.  I thank you, Madam President.  
BAHRAIN:  Madam President, at the outset, I would like to express thanks to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, its chairmanship and its membership for its valuable report, A/69/35 presented before us, where it revealed the reality of what takes place on Palestinian territories have been occupied since 1967.  It also revealed its different activities in pursuit of putting an end to the Israeli occupation and to establish an independent Palestinian state and sovereign state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
We also thank DPI for its program on Palestine, and the coverage -- the media coverage it administered on the occasion of the International Year for the Solidarity with the Palestinian People.  
Madam President, the world today celebrates, once again, the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.  Under -- against the backdrop of circumstances that at minimum be described as inhuman, where the brethren -- our brethren in Palestine are suffering immensely, and accordingly the Kingdom Bahrain reiterates its constant support for the question of Palestine and for the -- our brethren, the people of Palestine to allow them to exercise their inalienable rights, at the forefront of which is the establishment of an independent state on its national soil with East Jerusalem as its capital, as other peoples are elsewhere in the world, and to restore all its legitimate rights that are safeguarded by international instruments.  
And on this occasion, His Majesty, the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, may god preserve him, has presented a letter on this occasion.  He emphasized that a just solution and comprehensive solution will only be -- will only happen with the establishment of a full Palestinian state with the pre-1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its -- the capital as per the Arab Peace Initiative and the two-state solution, and as per all international instruments and resolutions, and in this regard, the Kingdom of Bahrain commends the Swedish decision to recognize the state of Palestine and the Palestinian people's right to live side by side with Israel.  We call upon all friendly nations who have not yet done so to do so, to fulfill the aspirations of the Palestinian people and to promote stability and peace and security in the Middle East.  
Madam President, the committee's report has indicated a lot of what the Palestinian people suffer.  Their condition in the occupied East Jerusalem is of greater concern, as per the report, because of the increased attacks and into the Al Aqsa mosque and provocations and incitement in addition to the continued confiscation of lands and excavation near the holy sites and demolition of homes and others -- other issues, such as expelling residents from their homes.  
Madam President, the Kingdom of Bahrain always reiterates the necessity to implement international resolutions and will continue to support our march towards granting the Palestinian people their rights -- their inalienable rights, and establish a Palestinian state, a sovereign state with East Jerusalem as its capital.  Thank you, Madam President.  
EGYPT:  Thank, you Madam President.  Our meeting is taking place with a regrettable events taking place in the occupied territories.  Last summer there was war in the Gaza Strip and the targeting of civilians on a large scale.  
The destruction of the infrastructure of the Gaza Strip and other targets prohibited by international law was clear and firm.  The result of this were 2,500 deaths among civilians and wounded and vast destruction.  In the last two months, we have shown a great increase in the activities of settling in the occupied territories, as well as provocative, unprecedented events in the holy sites of East Jerusalem.  
This is an attempt to create a new status quo on the ground, a status quo which is illegal according to international law, and Egypt and the international community refuses.  Recent practices are not only flagrant violations of international law and a threat to peace and security in the world, but these violations threaten the peace process as a whole.  
Given that it aims at changing the situation in Jerusalem, and to increase the number of settlements which endangers chances of a two-state solution and this prevents the existence of a viable Palestinian state.  Egypt condemns all acts of violence against civilians.  These acts are condemned by all members of the international community, including the state of Palestine, and we call upon Egypt [sic] to immediately cease all illegal measures in the Palestinian -- occupied Palestinian territories.
Egypt has cooperated with Norway to organize the International Conference on the Reconstruction of Gaza on 12 October.  The conference met with a great success and mobilized $5.4 billion through international pledges for that purpose.  We recall the importance for donor countries to respect the commitment made at that conference.  
It is also necessary in order to bear the fruit of this conference to accelerate construction material to the Gaza Strip so that 80,000 Palestinians can recover their homes and they can return and to give hope to the people of Gaza whose suffering has lasted all too long.
During the holding of the reconstruction conference on Gaza, many countries, in particular the Secretary General of the United Nations, relevant UN bodies, have reiterated the need for the Cairo conference to be the last conference on reconstruction.  We agree entirely with that idea, but we repeat from this rostrum that the only guarantee is to achieve a just and comprehensive settlement to the Palestinian question by creating a Palestinian state with full sovereignty with Jerusalem -- East Jerusalem as its capital, and the guarantee is to have a solution to the question of refugees and in accordance with resolution 194.
Without that, there will be a cycle of violence sooner or later.  Again, repetition of the massacres, of destruction, and this will make the opportunity of stability a simple mirage and we'll continue the unbearable injustice against this sister country, deprivation of its rights guaranteed by international laws and the most simply humanitarian laws, namely the right to live in dignity in a state which has fully fledged independence.   
Egypt commits itself to the international community and the sister country of Palestine to continue its tireless efforts to find a just and global solution to the Palestinian question based on the resolution of international law.  We request the United Nations and the Security Council to fulfill their indispensable role to achieve this solution in -- within a reasonable period of time, taking into account that the occupation has continued for a period which has tried the Palestinians and the international community.  
All Palestinian rights must be based on the criteria of law, not taking into account balance of powers or political answers or other considerations which have contributed to deprive the Palestinian people of its inalienable right.  I thank you, Madam President.  
CHINA:  Madam President, today the United Nations is celebrating the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestine People, which serves as another reminder to the international community that it is urgent to find a solution to the question of Palestine.  
The question of Palestine is an important root cause of the long-term turmoil in the Middle East.  The question of Palestine and Israel is at the center of the Middle East issue.  A real solution to the question of Palestine is conducive to the world peace and stability.  
China regrets that the question of Palestine has prolonged over half a century and the people of Palestine still haven't re-sought their legitimate rights even 'til today.  The talks between Israel and Palestine lapse into stalemates from time to time, and repeated eruptions of conflicts between the two sides has brought enormous suffering to the people of Palestine.  
The international community must step up its efforts and work innovatively so as to form synergy and find a solution to the question of Palestine.  
Madam President, China is always committed to peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine.  In 2013, President Xi Jinping of China put forward a four-point proposal for the settlement of the Palestine question.  They are the right direction to follow should be an independent Palestinian state and peaceful coexistence of the Palestine and Israel negotiations should be taken as the only way to peace between Palestine and Israel.  Principles such as land for peace should be firmly upheld.  The international community should provide important guarantee for progress in the peace process.   
As we observe the International Day of Solidarity with the People of Palestine, President Xi has sent a congratulatory message on behalf of the Chinese government and people to express empathy of and support to the Palestinian people.  President Xi emphasized that China firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people, fighting for the restoration of legitimate rights and interest.
China supports the establishment of an independent state of Palestine enjoying full sovereignty on the basis of the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.  We support Palestine joining the UN and other international organizations.  China sincerely hopes that Palestine and Israel will resume peace talks at an earlier date so as to give peace a chance and the people can enjoy lasting peace.  
Madam President, peace between Palestine and Israel is a common aspiration of the people of the world.  The international community should provide more help in this respect.  China supports the UN and Security Council in playing their due roles.  At the same time, a comprehensive solution to the Middle East question cannot be separated from the settlement of the issues between Syria and Israel and those between Lebanon and Israel.  The Syria/Israel track and Lebanon/Israel track are important components of the peace process in the Middle East.  China fully supports Syria and Lebanon in safeguarding the national sovereignty, terra-integrity and legitimate desire to recover the occupied territories. 
We support the strategic choice by the Arab countries to promote comprehensive and lasting peace in this region.  China is ready to work with the international community to move forward the peace process in the Middle East.  
Madam President, a turbulent Middle East fraught with hot spot issues and spreading terrorism seriously challenges international peace and security.  Promoting peace, stability and development in the Middle East is in the common interest of the international community.  China follows closely to the situations of the Middle East and has all along stood for respecting the rights of the countries and peoples of this region and to choose their political systems and paths of development in light of their own situations.
We encourage all parties concerned to try to resolve their differences through inclusive and political dialogues.  We hope that in addressing the Middle East issues, the international community should adhere to the principles and purposes of the UN charter and the basic norms governing international relations.
We are against external military intervention and overthrow of the legitimate government of a country by force.  We further hope that the international community should adhere to uniform criteria and is certified against terrorist threats, remain committed to the peace process in the Middle East and scale up economic assistance to and cooperation with the Middle East so as to create favorable conditions for achieving peace, stability and development in the region.  
China stands ready to work with the international community and continue to make unremitting efforts to promote peace, stability and development of the Middle East.  Thank you, Madam Chair.  
INDIA:  Madam President, thank you for convening this important discussion on the question of Palestine at the General Assembly.  We are marking the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestine People.  On this important occasion, let me reiterate India's unwavering support for the just cause of Palestine and solidarity with the Palestinian people for their struggle.
Our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has today sent a message on this occasion, which reaffirms this support and solidarity.  
Madam President, our civilizational links and historical bonds with the Palestinian people span centuries.  We have, therefore, a clear understanding of their struggle and an unwavering sympathy for their cause.  India's position on the Palestinian question was inspired by her own freedom struggle, led by Mahatma Gandhi, who supported rights of the Palestinian people.  Since then, India's commitment to the Palestinian cause has been a core feature of its foreign policy.
Madam President, India supports a negotiated solution resulting in a sovereign, independent, viable and united state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital, living within secure and recognized borders side by side and at peace with Israel as endorsed in the Arab peace initiative, the quartet roadmap and relevant UN succession resolutions.  
Madam President, the suffering of the people in Gaza persists in the aftermath of this summer's conflict, which resulted in tragic loss of civilian life, especially women and children, and extensive destruction of houses and infrastructure.  It is important that the blockade on Gaza should be lifted fully and humanitarian supplies and desperately-needed materials for reconstruction allowed in without restrictions.
We are deeply concerned about rising tensions in East Jerusalem.  The imperative need is for urgent deescalation, for restraint, for avoidance of provocation, and for a return to the peace process.  Diplomacy and statesmanship have to prevail over hatred and violence.  There is no other road to a lasting peace.
Madam President, apart from strong political support for the Palestinian cause, India continues to support the development and nation-building efforts of Palestine by consistently extending technical and financial assistance to Palestine.  It also contributes $1 million annually to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East.  India has recently pledged $4 million in response to the national early recovery and reconstruction plan for Gaza.
We are also implementing development projects in Palestine jointly with Brazil and South Africa within the framework of IPSA and have pledged $1 million for a new project to reconstruct the Atta Habib Medical Center in Gaza.
Madam President, Mahatma Gandhi once said, An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.  The need here is to listen to his wise words and eschew hatred and violence.  We firmly believe that dialogue is the only viable option in the search for a just, durable and comprehensive peaceful solution of the Palestinian issue.  We hope that both sides will demonstrate the necessary political will to return to the negotiating table and resume dialogue.
I thank, you Madam President.  

MORNING SESSION IN GA 
NOVEMBER 25, 2014

CHAIRMAN:  The General Assembly will continue its consideration of agenda item 36 entitled The Question of Palestine to continue with the debate on this item.  
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES:  I thank you, Mr. President.  On behalf of the United Arab Emirates delegation, I would like to extend our sincere thanks to the head of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the esteemed members of this committee for their efforts to obtain justice for the Palestinian people, and for revealing the true repercussions of the Israeli occupation.  I wish also to take this opportunity to reaffirm from this podium the message sent by the President of the United Arab Emirates to the Chair of the committee this morning on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People regarding the continued support of the government and the people of the United Arab Emirates to the Palestinian people in their struggle to realize their legitimate aspirations to establish an independent sovereign state like any other peoples.
Mr. President, our discussions today on this topic are especially relevant in view of the grave developments in Palestine underscored by the persistent impasse of the peace negotiations due to Israel's failure to carry out its agreed upon commitments.  
The growing unrest and serious situation of the security, humanitarian and social conditions in the Palestinian territories resulting from the unrelenting aggressive policies taken by Israel against the Palestinian people add to this aggravation, particularly in East Jerusalem just recently.  This has negative repercussions on the situation on the ground.  
The alarming daily unilateral security measures taken by Israel most recently illustrated by the storming of Al Aqsa mosque by Israeli forces and extremist settlers and the repeated flagrant aggressions against the Palestinian worshippers, including women, have contributed to escalating the current atmosphere of confrontation, leading to clashes of retaliation, tension and violence in the Palestinian territories.  
The truth is that the systematic Israeli attacks on Al Aqsa mosque provoke Muslims all over the world.  Such attacks would lead to more crises and affect peace and security in the Middle East.  In this context, we support the position of the Hashemite King [AUDIO CUTS OUT -- RETURNS AT 00:05:29] tension resulting from the unacceptable Israeli practices just referred to.
We also emphasize that Israel must respect the sanctity of such holy places and implement all its related obligations under international law.  
[AUDIO CUTS OUT -- RETURNS AT 00:05:59] it included excavations near the holy places in East Jerusalem in addition to confiscation of additional lands and destruction of Palestinian property and infrastructure.  
Israel also systematically constructs settlements and expands the area of the wall in villages and towns of the West Bank, especially in occupied East Jerusalem.  In addition, Israel continues its unjust blockade on Gaza and obstructs the efforts of reconstruction and recovery needed to meet the basic emergency needs of its population, which exceeds 1.8 million.
Mr. President, the UAE renews its strong condemnation of all war crimes committed by Israel and welcomes the Secretary General's recently formed internal investigation committee to investigate Israel's attacks on buildings, schools and UN facilities in the Gaza Strip.  We hope that this independent investigation would be expanded to cover all crimes committed by Israel during the same period, which resulted in the death of more than 2,189 Palestinians, including 513 children and 269 women -- at least. 
In order to identify those who are responsible for these crimes and hold them accountable under international criminal law, in this context we emphasize that the time has come for the international community, especially the quartet and the Security Council to act in accordance with the provisions of international law and the relevant resolutions of international legitimacy, including taking effective measures for the protection of the Palestinian people.
In this regard, we stress the urgent priority of the following.  First, demanding Israel to immediately and completely cease all its settlements activities, including its separation wall built in the West Bank and the surroundings of Jerusalem under international supervision, as these activities are null and void.  
Second, compelling Israel to remove all barriers and restrictions preventing the freedom of movement for the Palestinians and their trade and economic activity, as well as lifting the unjust siege imposed on Gaza Strip -- on the Gaza Strip since 2006.
Third, obligating Israel to release more than 5,000 Palestinian prisoners, including those under administrative detention.  In this regard, we emphasize that the justifications given by Israel to maintain its security in the region cannot be proven through its flagrant and repeated violations of its obligations under international humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Israel's security will be achieved only when it fully complies with its obligations as an occupying power and demonstrates genuine -- only this will demonstrate a genuine political will towards achieving a real peace in the region and cooperates in achieving the two-state solution on the basis of the pre-1967 borders in accordance with the Arab peace initiative.
Mr. President, the UAE, which is deeply concerned about the dire and unprecedented humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people, welcomes the commencement of the operations of the temporary Gaza reconstruction mechanism earlier this month and supports the very important role played by the UNRWA and other international organizations in the implementation of this mechanism.
The UAE also urges the international community to pressure -- to put pressure on Israel to fully and unconditionally cooperate with this mechanism through removing all restrictions put in place more than 14 months ago to allow the entry of the construction material needed for the rebuilding of the vital projects in Gaza.  
For its part, the United Arab Emirates will continue to fulfill its commitment of paying $200 million US dollars in aid for Gaza as part of its direct and indirect financial, humanitarian and development aid programs.  We also welcome the important role played by Egypt in its continuous support for the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian people, and we call upon the international community to strengthen its political and development support to the Palestinian National Authority to enable it to carry out its responsibilities.  
Also we thank the government of Sweden, as it took a decision to acknowledge the Palestinian state, and we hope that similar positions would be undertaken and commitments by other member states -- Mr. President, in conclusion, we emphasize that the time has come for Israel to realize that its existence as a secure country relies on normalizing its relations and establishing stable economic operation with the countries in the region, which requires it to reconsider its aggressive positions against the Palestinian people and neighboring countries.
We also stress the importance of achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement for the Palestinian issue and the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Middle East, as well as the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side with Israel and neighboring countries in mutual peace and security in the region.  I thank you, Mr. President.
MALAYSIA:  Mr. President, at the outset my delegation would like to thank Ambassador Sec, Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for his statement.  Malaysia also aligns itself with the statement made by Saudi Arabia on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.  
Mr. President, my delegation appreciates the indispensable work carried out by the committee, the Secretariat's division for Palestinian rights and the other organs within the United Nations systems relating to the question of Palestine.  We commend the commitment efforts and contribution of the Secretary General and the United Nations in this regard, and we hope that they will persevere with the amendment and carry out their responsibilities faithfully towards achieving a just and lasting peace in the region.
Malaysia applauds the efforts taken by the committee in commemorating the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People every year.  The successful organization of activities in cooperation with governments, United Nations bodies, parliamentarians, intergovernmental organizations and civil society organizations had increased the international focus of the question of Palestine.  
My delegation welcomes the recognition of Palestine by the parliaments of the United Kingdom and Spain, and we heard during last Friday's international meeting of parliamentarian organized by the committee.  
We also welcome the recognition of Palestine by the government of Sweden, bringing the total number of countries which have done so to 135, which is more than two-thirds of the membership of the United Nations.  Today, Malaysia also joins the international community in observing the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.  
Mr. President, the question of Palestine has been before the United Nations for more than six decades.  Yet we are still nowhere near resolving the conflict and achieving just and durable peace between Palestine and Israel.  Malaysia reaffirms its longstanding commitment in supporting Palestinians' continuous efforts for self-determination, sovereignty and independence underpinned by the various international principles and laws.  
In this regard, Malaysia reiterates its full support on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people for an independent state of Palestine with the realization of two states based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine living in peace and security.  
Malaysia had commended the establishment of the Palestinian unity government, and we reiterate our unstinting support on their efforts towards self-determination and statehood.  
We hope that all member states will support the unity government administration of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip under the leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas.  Malaysia welcomes the assurances by President Abbas that the government would continue to abide by the Palestinian Liberation Organization commitments with regards to recognition of Israel nonviolence and adherence to previous agreements.  However, we were alarmed on the rise of violence which has erupted in Jerusalem, including the recent attacks at the places of worship in the holy city which resulted in the loss of innocent civilian lives.
The live of each human being, be it man, woman or child, is sacred and precious and must be protected.  Any acts of violence inflicted upon innocent civilians in this conflict, be they Palestinians or Israelis, are therefore unacceptable and deserve equal criticism and rejection from us all.  
In this regard, we also condemn Israel's continued invasion by military force into the compound of Al Haram Al Sharif, which has long been recognized as the holy site for both Muslims and Christians.  Malaysia further condemns Israel's continuing building of illegal settlements in Palestinian lands, including in East Jerusalem, which is further weakening the possibility of a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders.
In spite of the provocations of occupying power, Malaysia appreciates the readiness and commitments from the state of Palestine to continue negotiations and the same spirit should be ameliorated by Israel.  We therefore urge the international community to further demand Israel to immediately cease its illegal settlement building in the occupied Palestinian territory before the viability of a two-state solution is completely eroded.
Mr. President, let me now turn to the situation in the Gaza Strip, which had deteriorated following the outbreak of hostilities last summer.  The reports of the committee and the Secretary General contain very alarming accounts, revelations and stark realities about the situation on the ground.  
After 51 days of Israeli military aggression in Gaza between July and August 2014, 2,189 Palestinians, including 413 children, were killed.  More than 108,000 Palestinians were left homeless, and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced.  
Israel's security forces also destroyed thousands of crucial social and economic infrastructure, including UNRWA schools, which had been used as shelters for displaced persons.  Malaysia is deeply saddened by the unbearable suffering that the Palestinian people, particularly those in Gaza, have had to endure as the result of Israeli atrocities and violation of international humanitarian laws.
The long-term ceasefire agreement between Israel and Palestine brokered by the Egyptian government on 26 August 2014 was therefore a much-needed development which Malaysia had welcomed.  We had also called on both parties to honor the agreement with the hope that a ceasefire agreement would pave the way for both sides to resume direct negotiations to ensure a lasting peace in the region.  
My delegation believes that stronger political will at the highest levels from all parties are needed to further encourage a more constructive dialogue.  
My delegation's notes from the reports before us, we are deeply concerned that the scale of humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is unprecedented.  Food, clean water, sanitation and electricity remain scarce with vast networks having been destroyed by the Israeli aggression.  
While the Israeli settlers even have enough [AUDIO CUTS OUT UNTIL 00:20:34] significantly reduce tensions and facilitate the resumption of the political process.  However, let me be clear.  Normalization does not mean that the citizens of Gaza will continue to live in a de facto open air prison, nor does it mean an indefinite extension of the 47 occupation of Palestinian territories and the continued building by illegal settlements by Israel.
Indeed, to use a term which has been used repeatedly in recent months, normalization does not mean a return to the subtle status quo ante.  Normalization to us means the realization and fulfillment of the inalienable rights of all the Palestinian people and for them to live the normal lives that many of us enjoy in peace, freedom, dignity and ultimately in a land which they can call their own.  
Mr. President, as a member of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Malaysia fully endorses the committee's report and its recommendations.  My delegation is also pleased to cosponsor all resolutions under this important agenda item.  
To conclude, Mr. President, my delegation reiterates that direct talks and negotiations between Palestine and Israel is the only way to ensure long-term peace, security and stability in the region.  No effort should be spared to achieve long overdue freedom, justice, peace and dignity for the Palestinian people.  I thank you, Mr. President.
CUBA:  Thank you very much, Mr. President.  Cuba fully aligns itself with the statement made by the distinguished representative of Iran on behalf of the nonaligned movement of countries.  We're grateful to the president of the committee for the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the presentation of the report to the committee.  
The situation of the Palestinian people has worsened since we had a similar debate in 2012.  Palestinian civilians were victims of the massacre that was carried out by Israel against the Gaza Strip during a 50-day period of an operation that took place in July and August.  The report of the committee on Palestine describes the damage caused by the criminal attack in which 2,189 Palestinians were murdered, 67% of whom were civilians, including 513 children and 269 women.  And it also injured over 11,000 human beings.
The homes of over 100,000 Palestinians in Gaza were destroyed or seriously damaged.  This damage worsened the living conditions of the 1.8 million residents of Gaza who were already facing critical living conditions after eight years of Israeli blockade.  
The aggression occurred precisely when the international community was renewing its efforts during the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People that was proclaimed by the General Assembly through resolution 68/12.  The objective of that resolution is to mobilize broad support to put an end to Israeli occupation and to deliver a two-state solution with a view to ensuring that the Palestinian people can affectively exercise their inalienable rights, including the right to self-determination.
Now almost three months after the ceasefire in Gaza, we have been observing with concern how this situation in East Jerusalem has been gradually deteriorating.  The Israeli government has announced its intention to build new settlements in Palestinian territory that was occupied illegally, as well as constant demolitions of buildings and expropriations of Palestinian lands.  
They are also intending to carry out forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of families and transferring settlers to occupied territories, and this will only refuel tensions because of the long and bloody military occupation.
Cuba reiterates its strong condemnation of the ongoing military occupation by Israel of Palestinian territory, the illegal policies and colonizing practices in occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.  We also condemn the violations of human rights and the systematic war crimes that are causing immense suffering to the people of Palestine.
Mr. President, only a few hours ago we celebrated the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People and on that occasion His Excellency Bruno Eduardo Rodriguez Parilla, who is the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, addressed a letter to the president of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People on behalf of the government and people of Cuba.
In the letter, the foreign minister reaffirmed our unequivocal solidarity with the Palestinian people and Cuba's firm and resolute support for all -- rather, for all actions geared towards promoting both the reconstruction of the Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders and with a capital in East Jerusalem, as well as the right of the people of Palestine and the state to become full-fledged members of the United Nations.  
He also recalled the historic decision of the General Assembly to grant Palestine observer state status in the United Nations and reiterated the need for the Security Council to pronounce and accept without further delay a request by Palestine for its recognition as a member state of the United Nations submitted in 2011.  This is the manifest desire of the vast majority of the member states of this organization.  
The letter also pointed out inter alia that Palestine has shown clear proof of its commitment to the multinational system and that it has been working responsibly and professionally in the United Nations educational, scientific and cultural organization, UNESCO, where it was admitted as a member state in 2011.  
Cuba fully supports any Palestinian initiative geared towards a Security Council resolution that establishes a deadline for the end to the Israeli military occupation of Palestinian territory and enables the exercise of their inalienable right, including the right to self-determination in an independent Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Cuba also reaffirms its unequivocal solidarity with the Palestinian people and calls for the immediate, unconditional and complete lifting of the cruel and illegal blockade of Gaza, as well as the opening of border crossings and control points so that people will be giving full access and humanitarian aid can go into the Gaza Strip. 
Only the end to the colonizing policy, the freeing of Palestinian prisoners and the recognition of the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people will allow us to have a significant meaningful political process that will lead to lasting peace in the region. 
Mr. President, the situation in the Middle East affects in one way or another all member states.  In an interconnected and interdependent world, it is more and more important to ensure that we comply with the basic objectives of the United Nations, which is to promote peace through political and negotiated settlements of conflicts, promoting the development and wellbeing of all peoples and promoting and protecting human rights for all, including the right to development.  
The question of Palestine, including Jerusalem and an end to the occupation and illegal practices of Israel in the Golan are issues that require a definitive and urgent solution through the pertinent resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council to ensure that there is definitive, just and lasting peace for all peoples in the Middle East.
All the moral force, prestige and legitimacy of the United Nations must be marshalled to achieve these objectives.  We must reject war and the use of force decisively and unequivocally.  We must repudiate and strongly condemn all terrorists, all acts, methods and practices of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations by whomever, against whomever and where they are committed, and these are essential in all our endeavors to achieve this peace.
Cuba, Mr. President, will continue to work with the rest of the international community to ensure that we achieve these aims.  Thank you.  
QATAR:  Thank you, sir.  The delegation of Qatar wishes to extend thanks to you for convening this meeting and for your valuable introductory statements.  We wish also to extend thanks and appreciation to the representative of Senegal, the chairman of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people [sic] for his statement yesterday.  
We wish to renew our thanks and appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the division of the Palestinian rights [sic] and we endorse the recommendations contained in the report of the committee.  We appreciate the activities carried out by the committee, especially during this year, the Year of International Solidarity with the Palestinian People.  
Sir, this year has witnessed serious, regrettable and painful events that nearly put the whole region on the brink of serious dangers that could be difficult to address as a result of the deaths of thousands of civilians in Gaza, destruction of the infrastructure in Gaza due to the unjustified Israeli military campaign.  We have took part in the efforts that aimed at putting an end to human and material losses and to averting the whole region more dangers that could be ... [00:32:36] to international peace and security and at the regional and the international level.
We renew our renowned position, namely that international law should be respected, as well as international humanitarian law, by the implementation of Israel of all its commitments as the occupying power.  The attainment of comprehensive peace in accordance with international legality resolutions will never be achieved by the use of excessive force, the ongoing violation against civilians, the destruction of homes, the forced displacement and the confiscation of land.  Quite to the contrary, this policy will aggravate the conflict and they will push the parties to more extremist positions.
Accordingly, we condemn the recent exacerbations of the conflict in the occupied Jerusalem as the Israeli forces carried out an incursion in the Holy Haram [sic], preventing the worshippers from praying inside the mosque.  This is a dangerous escalation that could undermine all possibilities of attaining the desired peace in the Middle East.  
The recent dangerous events that took place and continue to take place and the ensuring international human rights violations should be an incentive for the international community to continue and resume the peace negotiations in the Middle East in order to achieve a comprehensive and fair resolution to the Palestinian question. 
The United Nations and the Security Council should shoulder their responsibility by a speedy action in order to achieve this goal and by positively responding to the -- to the application by the Palestinian leadership to the United Nations.
Given the unanimous rejection and condemnation by the international community to occupation and to illegal settlement, the ongoing Israeli settlement policies and its refusal to carry out its commitments and to uphold the international human law [sic] will lead to more death, more destruction and more victims and will undermine the -- all the efforts that aim at achieving the two-state solution.  
We are hopeful that Israel will respond positively to the desire by the Palestinian party in order to continue the peace process and to set free the last prisoners -- the last Palestinian prisoners which were imprisoned prior to the Oslo agreements.
We also have welcomed the Palestinian national reconciliation agreement last April in order to achieve permanent peace between the two parties and as -- and as a building block in the establishment of the Palestinian state.  We all realize that the international recognition of Palestine by the -- as Palestine has been accepted as an observer state in the United Nations sends a clear message by the international community that -- that the establishment of the independent Palestinian state is imperative.  Therefore, the reconstruction of Gaza and the lifting of the siege and the building of the Palestinian institutions is -- constitutes steps in the right direction.  
We believe that the establishment of the two-state solution on the borders of the 1967 [sic] with East Jerusalem as its capital in accordance with Security Council resolution, especially 242 and 338, the roadmap and the Arab peace initiative is imperative.  This requires Israel to end its occupation of all the occupied Arab territories, including the occupied Syrian Golan, the occupied Lebanese territories and the whole world is awaiting the -- awaiting Israel to join this unanimous position by the international community.  I thank you, sir. 
NICARAGUA:  A very good morning to you, Mr. President.  My delegation aligns itself with the statement made by the Islamic Republic of Iran on behalf of the Nonaligned Movement.  We also wish to extend our special appreciation to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division of Palestinian Rights and we call on this assembly to never cease working until the people of Palestine fulfill their inalienable right to a Palestine state.
After 66 years, not only does Israel continue to hamper the achievement of peace and the establishment of a Palestinian state that is sovereign and independent, but it has also further increased its illegal practices that undermine any genuine solution to this conflict.
However, was we do every year, the international community uses this opportunity to renew its solidarity with the Palestinian cause and with peace in the Middle East.  
Mr. President, our government also extends a fraternal welcome on this international day to the heroic people of Palestine and their authorizes and national unity government and we reaffirm our absolute and total solidarity with the struggle for freedom and for the exercise of their inalienable rights to self-determination with the creation of the Palestinian state, using the pre-June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital.
Nicaragua is concerned by and condemns the fact that in this year, 2014, the year of solidarity with Palestine, we have once again witnessed some of the worst aggressions against the people of Palestine, resulting in the murder of over 1,500 persons, including -- most of whom were children and women.  And they also saw their infrastructure totally leveled.  We must recognize the noble efforts of the international community and the support afforded the people of Palestine so far in reconstructing their heroic Gaza.  However, we reiterate the call for delivering on promises as soon as possible to accelerate this reconstruction effort and thereby ensure that Gaza has at the very least the minimum conditions required for survival and to face this coming winter.
Mr. President, we wish to stress the fact that once again it is not possible to continue with this vicious circle of attacks, reconstruction and attacks.  Israel continues to go unpunished regardless of the prohibition against actions that are violations under international law, including the Fourth Convention of Geneva and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice.  
On this day of solidarity, we call for the respect of the right of Palestinian refugees and to lift the criminal blockade against Gaza, and we reiterate our solidarity with the prisoners and political detainees of Palestine and call for their release.  
We also condemn the illegal practices of building more settlements and illegally changing the demographic composition of occupied Palestinian territory.  This is in addition to the recent provocations of some settlers and extremists in some religious sites, and more specifically the Al Aqsa mosque.  
As we commemorate this day, we also use this opportunity to celebrate 34 years of diplomatic relations, rather, and Nicaragua's recognition of the Palestinian state and of our friendship with Palestine since that historic visit of Yasser Arafat.  In this connection, we have carried out various activities jointly with the association of the Palestinian/Nicaraguan community.  We saw the participation of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of Palestinians born in Nicaragua.  
Likewise, we formed a solidarity committee with the Palestinian people and we are also celebrating the Nicaraguan heroes that fought for Palestine, such as Patricio Arguello Ryan and Salim Shibley.  
Mr. President, peace in the Middle East requires a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as the freeing of the Syrian and Lebanese territory occupied by Israel.  Likewise, the situation in the Middle East and the Palestinian situation and the rest of the occupied territories must be resolved through dialogue and negotiations, taking into account the legitimate interest of all states in the region without foreign interference.
As we draw to the close of 2014 as the year of solidarity with the Palestinian people, the government and people of Nicaragua call on the international community to ensure that the United Nations fulfills its historic responsibilities by adopting a resolution that has a definite deadline for creating a Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital and in so doing we will pave the way for just and lasting peace in the Middle East.  Thank you very much, sir.  
LIBYA:  In the name of God, the compassionate and the merciful.  Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, as the United Nations General Assembly once again considers the question of Palestine today, the tragedy of the Palestinian people continues.  Feelings of frustration increase within the international community as it is unable to stand with them.
Unfortunately, the international community has remained paralyzed and it notes the suffering of the Palestinian people because of illegitimate Israeli practices and the inhuman treatment of the Palestinian people by the occupying powers.  
In recent years it's become clear that the Israeli entity is refusing to recognize the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and by all possible means is seeking to ensure the legitimacy of its occupation of all Palestinian territories.  It is clearly refusing the establishment of a viable Palestinian state and by all possible means it is seeking to control all plots of land of historic Palestine so that Israel can expand and strengthen itself as a racist state where only Jews can live.
Furthermore, we would remark the racist nature of Israeli entity which is being strengthened every day because of the laws of the occupying power and its practices in accordance with the Zionist doctrine that the General Assembly had declared a form of racism by its resolution 33, 1979.  
Ladies and gentlemen, there is an unnatural situation that can be seen where the Israeli entity has made absurd the efforts of the international community.  This absurdity is only strengthening the status quo, the status of occupation at the expense of the rights of the Palestinian people.  It has become difficult to establish a sovereign Palestinian state living side by side with Israel because of settlement building, which has now extended to half of the West Bank and has separated the Palestinians to the extent now where they are living in cantons and it's difficult to cross from one to another.
Palestinian leaders have been forced to accept less than a quarter -- I repeat less than a quarter of the rights to their historic land.  They still maintain the hope to establish their rights over this quarter.
Palestinian leaders have concluded with the powers over 10 agreements, but the Israeli party every day has been prevaricating and manipulating the situation and no agreement has yet been enforced.  
The Israeli policy of ridding the territory of Palestinians and getting rid of them all, this is well known, as is the confiscation of land, the destruction of housing, prevention of construction, destruction of crops and prevention of vital access for Palestinians.  Confining them, establishing settlements everywhere, preventing access to places of worship for Palestinians, encouraging settlers to attack Palestinians, as well as illegitimate work to Judaize Al Quds.  
One natural consequence of these practices has been that Jews now have over 95% of historic Palestinian territory, whereas they only had 6.2% of this territory in 1947.  You can judge for yourself the terrible incidents that have occurred.  
Mr. President, the General Assembly resolution 6719, adopted in 2012, gave rise to hopes for the Palestinians, and through this resolution the state of Palestine was accepted as an observer state to the United Nations.  Despite the difficulties faced by the state of Palestine, with respect to their endeavors to become fully-fledged members, all peace-loving members of the United Nations should support Palestine so that it can obtain this status of being a fully-fledged member of the United Nations so that its sovereignty can be extended throughout its territory.  
In this regard, Libya welcomes the courageous decision of Sweden to recognize the state of Palestine.  We invite all European member states and all states that have yet to recognize the state of Palestine to do so as swiftly as possible in order to contribute towards peaceful efforts and to rid the spectre of war from the Middle East. 
In Libya we also welcome the accession of the state of Palestine to the four Geneva conventions and to some other conventions as well.  We in Libya invite the Palestinian Authority to accede to the Rome statute of the International Criminal Court as quickly as possible in order to ensure that those who have perpetrated grave crimes against the Palestinian people are duly judged.
The destructive launched by the Israeli occupying powers every two or three years now has meant that this region has been transformed into a large-scale prison.  This is terrible.  This is a prison that's worse than all others, however, because infrastructure, housing, school and hospitals are destroyed.  Civilians are killed indiscriminately.  The latest death toll is one example, 2,131 Palestinians were killed with 601 children, 18,000 deprived of their homes and 108,000 civilians displaced.  
It is high time for the international community to adopt the necessary measures to protect the Palestinian people from inhuman Israeli practices and their human rights violations, and it is high time to establish a deadline to put an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory and for the state of Palestine to access the United Nations as a fully-fledged member.  
Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, we condemn the ongoing occupation of the occupied Syrian Golan and the Shebaa Lebanese farms, as well as the brutal practices of occupation against Syrian residents in occupied Syrian territory.  
Lastly, we would like to reaffirm that the end of the conflict in the Middle East and the establishment of peace will require a just solution that guarantees the end of the occupied Palestinian territory in accordance with the principles of justice and the United Nations resolutions, and will require that rights are guaranteed to Palestinians, including right to determination, right to self-determination, the right to live in a sovereign independent state with Al Quds as the capital.  Thank you.  
ICELAND:  Mr. President, the Security Council has in recent weeks received a number of letters from the Israeli and Palestinian missions highlighting acts of aggression and provocation.  The situation seems to be spinning out of control.  Unless leaders on both sides show the necessary courage, restraint and courage forthwith, the consequences for each community and the region will be dire.
Mr. President, five Israelis were killed and a number injured in an attack by four men wielding knives and pistols last week in a West Jerusalem synagogue.  About a week before that, an IDF soldier was stabbed, as was a young Israeli woman.  Use of cars as instruments of terror has increased and several Israeli civilians, including a baby have been killed in such attacks.
According to OCHA, 47 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the beginning of the year.  Palestinians injured in clashes with Israeli security forces in the West Bank are in the thousands.  There have been 543 demolitions over the year, including reintroduction of punitive demolitions, in contravention of international law.  
There are increasing and violent multiple raids in East Jerusalem and the West Bank by the IGF and attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians and Palestinian property continue.  
Mr. President, facts on the ground as they have been developing for some time now are steadily eating away at the prospective of a two-state solution.  Hope is being eroded.  Palestinians on the West Bank and in East Jerusalem see their human rights flouted, their property seized and destroyed, their children arrested or injured.  Gaza remains blockaded with an extremely serious humanitarian situation and no prospect of becoming a normal economy and part of the Palestinian state.
At the same time, Israel feels threatened and many Israelis live in fear of violence.  Mr. President, Iceland recognized the state of Palestine in 2011.  This modest signal, added to that of many other member states of the UN, it encompasses the vision of a state based on the 1967 borders and where Israel and Palestine can live side by side in peace and security.  
In the current circumstances, the leaders of both sides need to take measures to stop retaliation and violence.  Restraint is difficult and needs strong leadership.  Now is the time for leaders to engage with each other.  Provocation and retaliation will continue the downward spiral.  Thank you, Mr. President. 
NORWAY:  Mr. President, recent developments on the ground give cause for great concern.  The murderous actions that we have witnessed the last few weeks are gruesome, appalling and unacceptable.  We react with particular disgust and condemnation to the murder of four worshippers in a Jerusalem synagogue on November 18.  
The temptation to call for vengeance and further hate must be restrained, and the cycle of violence must stop.  Jerusalem, a city that is holy to three great religions of peace must not be the center of strife and violence.  To achieve this, we believe that the sensitive status quo of the holy sites must be fully respected and should not be challenged.  
We commend those who call for moderation, such as Israel's chief Sephardic rabbi, Yitzhak Yosef, who has admonished his fellow followers of the messianic faith to cease the provocative visits to Haram Al Sharif, the temple mount.  
Mr. President, the recent violence in Jerusalem, together with the Gaza war this summer, are merely the symptoms of the overarching problem.  The problem is the failure hitherto of the parties to reach a lasting two-state solution in which Israelis, as well as Palestinians, can live side by side in peace, security, dignity and mutual recognition.  
Credible negotiations towards this goal must be urgently revitalized.  Norway believes that the parties will not return to the table by their own devices.  Both are entangled in dynamics, both internal and between themselves, which increase the gaps between them and weaken the hands of those who want to negotiate.  Therefore, the international community should come to their assistance.
Norway also urges the parties to refrain from unilateral acts that preempt negotiations and from all forms of incitement that undermine moderate leaders.  This includes further building of settlements in violation of international law.  Without the resumption of a credible political process, what has been achieved in terms of building the foundations for the two-state solution may soon be torn apart.
Mr. President, while hoping for negotiations to address the fundamental issues of the conflict, there are substantial humanitarian challenges that urgently require immediate action.  The Cairo Conference on Palestine and Reconstruction of Gaza on October 12 was a success.  Norway is pleased by the overall focus of the conference.  We underline the insistence that humanitarian needs in Gaza, after the military confrontations this summer, must be addressed with a perspective on the whole of Palestine.  
The donors are engaged in building a Palestinian state in support for a negotiated end to the conflict.  The massive destructions in Gaza call for urgent reconstructions as a humanitarian imperative.  Therefore, Norway was pleased with the pledges made.
With respect to the urgent needs of the people in Gaza, it is now vital that the $5.4 billion US dollars pledged, including $2.5 billion US dollars allocated to Gaza, translate rapidly into real contributions on the ground.  We therefore urge all the donors to deliver on their pledges in a transparent way.  Contributions should preferably be channeled through the Palestinian Authority.   
The Cairo Conference was not important for its pledges only, but also for its unified political message.  There will not be any fundamental change of the political, security and economic situation in Gaza unless the blockade is lifted, and unless the Palestinian Authority executes full authority of the entire Palestinian territory.  
Brave leadership is required on both sides to end the unsustainable situation in Gaza.  Both parties should urgently make progress towards a durable ceasefire.  First, a sustainable reconstruction of Gaza will largely depend on an overall framework of support to Palestine under the leadership of one legitimate recipient government for Palestine.  We therefore urge all parties involved to support a process that results in the PA regaining all its government functions and effective control of Gaza, including the crossing points.
Norway calls on all Palestinian factions to end internal divisions and to cooperate with the Palestinian consensus government, uniting behind a common Palestinian vision under the leadership of President Abbas.  
Second, a transformed Gaza will simply not be possible unless the border crossing points are opening.  We therefore urge a change of Israeli policy to open the borders allowing Gaza to trade normally on a permanent basis while addressing the security needs of civilian populations.
Mr. President, both parties must cooperate with and fully implement the temporary materials monitoring and verification mechanisms of large-scale reconstruction materials negotiated by the UN.  Not only import, a shift allowing export from Gaza is indeed needed too.
Third, it is crucial that the PA is in charge of the reconstruction efforts of Gaza, but to do so requires an increased coordination of donors and a system to monitor progress from Cairo.  The only comprehensive mechanism to follow up both the pledges and the political messages from Cairo that exist are the AHLC structures.  The latter is the only forum where both parties are participating as members and provides an efficient system to report and monitor independently on progress made by the donors and the parties.  
To utilize these structures, Norway is reactivating the local aid coordinating regimes in Ramallah and Jerusalem.  The next HLC meeting, scheduled March 2015 in Brussels, will be the first high-level stock-taking of the Cairo conference.  
Mr. President, a number of recent actions on the part of Israel in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are deeply troubling.  The international community is unanimous in its condemnation of the recent expropriation of land near Bethlehem, recent announcements of plans for new settlement construction, in particular in Givat Hamatos, Ramat Shlomo and Har Homa, and recent settlement activities in East Jerusalem and continued demolitions and forcible transfer, as well as plans to displace bedouins in the West Bank.  
These actions are in violation of international law and counterproductive to the viability of the two-state solution.  We urge Israel to reconsider and reverse these actions.  
Mr. President, Norway has a history of commitment to the situation in the Middle East and the faith of the Israeli and the Palestinian people.  We support renewed diplomatic and humanitarian efforts to bring peace, security and dignity to Israelis and Palestinians.  We will continue to do so through our leadership of the HLC and other means conducive to the overarching goal of a lasting two-state solution.  Thank you, Mr. President. 
LAOS:  Mr. President, the question of Palestine has been on the United Nations' agenda for more than six decades now, and yet the Palestinian people have no glimmer of hope for realizing their right to self-determination and freedom.  It is time for us to take a historic step towards putting an end to the occupation of the Palestinian land and paving the way for the peaceful resolution to the conflict.  
We believe that achieving peace between Israelis and Palestinians is the most critical and needs a sustained and active international involvement.  We welcome the decisions by countries that have recognized the state of Palestine and hope that more countries will follow suit.  
I also wish to express my deep appreciation to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon for his tireless efforts to bring an end to this long-overdue question.  
Mr. President, we are deeply concerned with the conflict in and around the Gaza Strip in July and August, 2014, which caused tremendous loss of life of innocent people, including civilians, which were mainly, children, women and elderly, destroyed homes and civilian infrastructure, including United Nations' facilities, displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians.
We are also deeply concerned with the recent escalation of violence in the West Bank and Jerusalem.  We call on all parties to exert all efforts necessary to avoid further exacerbating the already very tense situation and take every possible step to create conditions conducive to the success of people negotiations and to refrain from actions that undermine trust and jeopardize the talks, including the continuing construction of settlement units in the occupied Palestinian territory and the attack on civilians on both sides and religious sites.  
Mr. President, the Lao PDR wishes to see a just, lasting, comprehensive and peaceful solution to the Palestinian conflict, consistent with relevant UN resolutions, and major initiative undertaken in the past decades which envisage a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side in peace and security with the state of Israel and other neighbors, within the secure and internationally recognized borders.  We therefore call upon the parties to resume and accelerate direct peace negotiations towards the conclusion of a final peace settlement on this basis.  
The Lao PDR has long recognized the state of Palestine.  I wish to reaffirm our continued support to the Palestinian people in attaining the long-delayed goal of a vial, peaceful and prosperous state of Palestine that is a full-fledged member of the United Nations.  I take this opportunity to commend the role of the work of the United Nations' agencies, especially the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East to assist, including emergency assistance to the Palestinian people during all these years amid multiple difficulties.  
We also wish the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People every success in its noble endeavor for a peaceful, just, comprehensive and lasting solution to the question of the Palestinian.  I thank you, Mr. President.  
KAZAKHSTAN:  Mr. President, we thank the United Nations Secretary General for his report on peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine.  We also thank the members of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for their report.  
My country expresses its serious concern on the continuing violations and conflict in Palestine, its occupied territories, including East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip and in the whole region.  The developments there do not allow speaking about any improvement and mitigation of the situation.  
We condemn the rocket launches by Hamas and the disproportionate use of force by Israel in densely populated areas leading to the loss of lives of hundreds of innocent civilians from both sides.  We are very much concerned on continuing violation of human rights, suffering of civil population, particularly of the vulnerable groups.  
It's lamentable that many years of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians with the strongest involvement of the whole international community have not brought any concrete results.  The persistence of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to threaten regional and international peace and security, the negative implications of which are not confined just to this region, but are felt well beyond and across the globe.  
The ultimate goal of the efforts of all parties involved should be the restoration and promotion of the peace processes in all directions.  All parties of the Middle East conflict must fulfill their commitments with increased responsibility and accountability.  
We commend the internal Palestinian reconciliation process and consolidation of the government of Palestine, efforts to alleviate the situation.  Kazakhstan expresses its hope that the international actions, including those of the United Nations Secretary General, would contribute to the ceasefire and the resumption of further peace talks.  My delegation commends the work of the UNRWA.  
My country reiterates our recognition of the legitimate right of the Palestinian people for self-determination, the creation of an independent state of Palestine within the 1967 borders, peacefully coexisting with Israel, and for obtaining the full-fledged membership to the United Nations.  
The two-state solution is the only viable option for a durable peace reached through direct and meaningful negotiations towards a comprehensive, fair and lasting solution, including an end to occupation, an end to conflict.  We call therefore, on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to show wisdom, responsibility and political will to reach a historic disagreement that would meet the legitimate aspirations of their peoples.
Mr. President, as the question of Palestine is directly linked to the situation in the Middle East, Kazakhstan is very much alarmed with the overall situation there.  The well-coordinated international efforts needed to be applied to stop senseless bloodshed, to find the political solution with the participation of all parties involved and with their voices and concerns heard. 
We have to try our best to restore peace and stability in the region to get rid of the stabilizing factors, provide appropriate, useful conditions for return of refugees, and restorations of economies to the settlement of political prizes with its dramatic security, human rights and humanitarian consequences.  
In conclusion, we again urgently call on all parties, especially those having real political power and influence, to commit their political will to ensure lasting peace and security on Palestinian territories and in the Middle East and freedom and justice for all people through a genuine multilateral approach.  Thank you. 
VENEZUELA:  Mr. President, Venezuela wishes to congratulate the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to promote the independent sovereignty of these people.  We welcome the report of the committee, A/69/A/35.  Mr. President, for Venezuela, the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is an opportunity, a timely opportunity to look at and focus on the process of peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine to have negotiating political settlement to this conflict.
Our country reiterates its call on Israel to withdraw from occupied Palestinian territories, to put an end to its policy of settlements and to tear down the wall.  We also demand a definitive lifting of the roofless blockade against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, as this is an illegal measure that has been applied for over seven years.
Full compliance with international law by Israel, including compliance with resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council is an essential condition for bringing about firm, lasting peace in the Middle East.  
Mr. President, Venezuela categorically condemns the illegal actions of the occupying force, including inter alia the indiscriminate use of force, arbitrary detentions of children, women and men, massive forced displacements, demolition of homes, denial of access to water and arable land, harassment of teachers and students in the Gaza Strip, and restrictions on free movement.
Acts of state terrorism and war crimes perpetrated by the occupying force are liable for international prosecution and cannot be ignored.  Finally, Venezuela, as we celebrate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People reaffirms its support for the self-determination of our brother people [sic], and we support the existence of a free sovereign and independent Palestinian state living peacefully with internationally recognized pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
We advocate for the full entry of Palestine as a member state is fully-fledged here in the United Nations.  Thank you sir.  
MOROCCO:  Mr. President, I would like to begin by commending the tremendous, positive efforts of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People under the chairmanship of Ambassador Sec.  I would like to remind you of the solidarity message that His Majesty, King Mohammed VI sent to the chairman of the committee that expresses our solidarity with the Palestinian rights in full and for the establishment of their free and independent state on the pre-'67 borders with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital.
This meeting is held at a critical time for the Palestinian question.  After the launch of the negotiations in July 2013 and the efforts of the Secretary of State John Kerry, supporters of peace thought that these negotiations would lead to a solution that would end the occupation.  They were also optimistic due to the Palestinian reconciliation and the establishment of a national unity government.
However, the turn of events came to the dismay of the peace-loving as negotiations came to a halt due to Israeli pretexts that are simply not convincing.  And then the world was shocked and taken aback when Israel waged an unacceptable and unjustified aggression on Gaza that claimed more than 2,000 lives, including children, women, the elderly and persons with disabilities, in addition to thousands of persons that were injured who had their homes coming tumbling on their heads. 
This has led to a deterioration of existing deplorable humanitarian situation due to Israeli systematic provocative action that seek to increase the suffering of the Palestinian people.  There are no safe places in Gaza, and this has led to unprecedented humanitarian disaster.  
UNRWA schools were not spared.  They were teeming with the displaced.  They thought that UNRWA schools would be safe, and all this is in grave violation of UN charter and international humanitarian law.  
Mr. President, according to the instructions of His Majesty, King Mohammed VI, the Chairman of Jerusalem Committee, Morocco, since the beginning of the Israeli aggression provided humanitarian and financial support to our Palestinian brothers in solidarity in their ordeal.  Also we participated in the donor conference held in Cairo on 12 October under the sponsorship of Egypt and Norway, and we will contribute to the reconstruction of Gaza through a number of projects that will be determined in terms of their details as we coordinate with the national Palestinian Authority and within the UN mechanism that will be developed for this particular purpose in the reconstruction of Gaza.
We commend the efforts of Egypt, whether pertaining to brokering a ceasefire that was signed on 26 August, or the efforts to make such ceasefire permanent.  Mr. President, we follow with concern the escalation by Israel in terms of the cause of Al Quds Al Sharif and the continued provocative statements by Israeli authorities and the continued Judaization [sic] of Jerusalem and the continued establishment of settlements and forced displacement of the residents and the continued aggression against the compound and the prayers in the compound, and all attempts to end the legal position of Al Quds Al Sharif as per the international legitimacy resolutions as part of the occupied Palestinian territories, and this puts us into a path towards religious dispute, and we deplore such aggressive methods that would make Palestinians and millions of Muslims feel more of the injustice.  And this is not in line with UN resolutions on Al Quds Al Sharif and other occupied Palestinian territory.
It is also in ... with international efforts to find a just settlement for the Middle East conflict, and this would be a breeding ground for extremism that would harm us all.  In this context, we call upon the international community to continue to bring pressure to bear on Israel so that it would end its aggression against Al Aqsa mosque and would end all acts and actions of building settlements and Judaization of Al Quds Al Sharif.
Mr. President, the Kingdom of Morocco and His Majesty the King has hosted on 12 November a coordination meeting of the ministerial team of the OAC that has the mandate, according to the recommendations of the 20th session on Jerusalem, that was mandated by the two ministerial meetings of the ministers of foreign affairs to deliver a message to the -- the message of the Islamic world to the international forces that there needs to be a defense -- defense for the Aqsa mosque, and we truly believe that the Palestinians of -- sorry, the rights of the Palestinian people should be respected, and His Majesty did reaffirm in many occasions whether in bilateral meetings or at international fora, that there should be a limit to, an end to settlement and the Judaization of Jerusalem.  
In addition to this, we have sent a message to the Pope of the Vatican, referring to the risks of unilateral action that would be detrimental to the civilizational landmarks of Al Quds Al Sharif.  Also we sent messages to international parties on the grave escalations in the city of Jerusalem due to the Israeli escalation.  This would all be detrimental to the holy and sacred nature of the city, and we condemn the Israeli project to Judaize Jerusalem.
Mr. President, the Palestinian cause would not be resolved by war, bloodshed and killing innocent civilians.  The only means to resolve the cause is to return to negotiations and to have good faith within criteria for a two-state solution for two states living side by side in peace, security and coexistence.  And we have a steadfast position that is based on the Arab peace initiative and international legitimacy resolutions for the establishment of a Palestinian independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the 4 June 1967 borders.  I thank you.  
ECUADOR:  Mr. President, I wish first to express my delegation's alignment with the statement made by Iran on behalf of the countries of NAM.  For my delegation, it is particularly meaningful that we can take the floor today in this meeting of the plenary of the General Assembly as we celebrate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, in this the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People and it is also an opportunity for me to extent a fraternal welcome on behalf of my country to the people and government of Palestine.  The adverse circumstances facing the people of Palestine at present are for all of us an example of the vigor of the unceasing and legitimate fight of this courageous people as they seek to have their identity and their rights to live in a Palestinian state that is free and sovereign recognized.
My country recognized this right several years ago, and the recognition of relations between the republic of Ecuador and the state of Palestine was expressed through the opening of the embassy of the state of Palestine in Ecuador and our corresponding diplomatic representation in Ramallah.  
Mr. President, the last trace of destruction and death left behind by Israeli military aggression against the Palestinian territory, particularly in Gaza, rattled consciences and confirms that from any perspective the status quo is unsustainable.  It also confirms that peace in the Middle East requires a lasting solution to the question of Palestine.  
Such a solution, Mr. President, requires recognition of an independent, sovereign, democratic, viable and contiguous Palestinian state coexisting side by side with Israel in peace and security based on the pre-June 4, 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.  Such a solution, Mr. President, also requires the end to -- an end to military occupation and fully exercise of the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and sovereignty over their territory.
Such a solution, Mr. President, also calls for the fair treatment of the question of Palestinian refugees that were expelled from their territory.  Such a solution, Mr. President, also requires a final end to the blockade of the Gaza Strip, and such a solution, Mr. President, requires that Israel halt and reverse its policy of settlement and its construction of the wall.  All of these actions violate international law as we see in the opinion issued by the International Court of Justice.  
Mr. President, the General Assembly in its plenary will take action today on several resolutions related to the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East.  These resolutions can count on my country's sponsorship.  In this regard, I must say that these resolutions are being tabled because the question of Palestine is a call to the consciousness of the vast majority of the international community.  It is the international community which through the United Nations decided to commit to the Palestinian path towards the full exercise of their rights as a people and to the establishment of a series of bodies that from various perspectives have been supporting this cause and in so doing help alleviated the serious situation faced by the Palestinian people over several decades now.
And here, sir, I am referring inter alia to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and other Arabs of the Occupied Territories.  Here I'm also referring to the Division for Palestinian Rights of the General Assembly.  Ecuador reiterates its full commitment and support for their work.  
Having said that, Mr. President, we must recognize the fact that the United Nations can still and must still do more.  The Security Council, which is the body entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining or reestablishing international peace and security, must comply with its role now that it has before it a draft resolution presented by the Arab League, which we hope will be given the due treatment it deserves because of the circumstances.  
As we call on parties, especially Israel, to reinitiate immediately negotiations in the framework of a peaceful solution based on two states, we call on Israel to refrain from unilateral measures that inflame the religious aspect of the conflict, which will become even more dangerous.  Otherwise, they must maintain the status quo of the religious sites, in particular, the Al Aqsa mosque and Al Haram Al Sharif.  
In conclusion, Mr. President, we encourage the United Nations and more specifically the Security Council to enable the prompt fulfillment of a wish that cannot be denied.  That wish is full access of the state of Palestine to the United Nations as member state 194.  Thank you.
COSTA RICA:  Thank you very much, Mr. President.  On behalf of the government and people of Costa Rica, I wish to extend this expression of our solidarity on this very special day with the people of Palestine.  We wish to join with you this year in recognition of the International Year of Solidarity with the People of Palestine.  
67 years have gone by since Costa Rica voted in favor of resolution 181 of the General Assembly, which proposed as a solution the creation of two states under the former mandate -- British mandate of Palestine.  In 2008, we recognized the state of Palestine and we supported their entry in UNESCO.  
Costa Rica voted two years ago in favor of the resolution on the status of Palestine, which enabled it to become a permanent observer state here at the United Nations.  Costa Rica, as a democratic state which has not had an army for 66 years and is a defender of peace, the rule of law and the respect for human rights, reiterates its firm condemnation of the escalation in violence in the conflict.  
We call once again on the parties to resolve their differences, which for so long has made it impossible for both peoples to live in peace and security.  And in this connection, we urge the -- we call for the resumption of negotiations based on the obligations in previous agreements between the parties, and backed by international law and by decisions of the Security Council and the General Assembly.  
We wish to see Palestine transform the hope of one day achieving peace and stability, something to which their entire society aspires.  We wish to see this become tangible and a reality for them.  Thank you very much, sir.  
INDONESIA:  Mr. President, thank you for convening this meeting.  Let me also thank the Secretary General for his report on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine.  
Indonesia associates itself with a statement delivered by the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.  Mr. President, the international community has always been persistent in its overwhelming support for the peaceful settlement of conflict between Palestine and Israel.  Indeed, there is no military solution to that conflict.  All parties must make a substantial effort towards peace.
The international community, including the UN, must be ready to exert the utmost assistance to ensure a fair, credible and results-oriented peace process to take place.
Mr. President, Indonesia has followed with deep concern the events that recently unfolded in Jerusalem, I particular Israel's continued incursions against the Al Aqsa mosque.  Those actions only ignite hostility and worsen the already-volatile situation.  
We would also underscore that the West Bank, including the Al Aqsa mosque, is an integral part of the Palestinian territory that is occupied since 1967.  Accordingly, the construction of settlements in the area is not only contrary to international law, it is an obstruction to the viability of a state of Palestine which we expect will emerge from the peace process.  
The year 2014 has also witnessed Israel's inhuman aggression on Gaza.  The aggression has only deepened the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which is already dire due to the Israeli blockade.  This blockade, which has entered its eighth consecutive year, is nothing more than a collective punishment imposed on the whole population of Gaza and a clear violation of international law.  
On a different but related matter, Indonesia would like to underline that the year 2014 coincides with the tenth anniversary of the ICJ advisory opinion on the separation wall.  The illegality of the wall is clearly established under the advisory opinion.  Yet Israel continues its construction.  
We share the view of the ICJ that the wall tantamounts [sic] to a de facto annexation and is not a temporary security measure, as claimed by Israel.  Mr. President, the international community must be resolute.  We cannot afford to allow the continued violation of international law by Israel.  
Indonesia is therefore of the view that the establishment of the commission of inquiry of the Human Rights Council is a welcoming effort to put a stop to the culture of impunity to Israel's violations.  In this regard, I would like to reiterate our deep concern over Israel's recent refusal to grant access to the members of the commission to enter Gaza.
The actual presence of the commission in Gaza to see directly the conditions in the aftermath of the Israeli aggression will contribute to an objective, transparent and professional investigation.  
Mr. President, last year this august assembly adopted a resolution which declared the year 2014 as the International Year of Solidarity with the People of Palestine.  The year 2014 is nearing its end, while the promise of peace for Palestinian people is still far on the horizon.  With great sadness, we take note of the observation of the Secretary General that the negotiated solution that would bring the realization of legitimate rights of the Palestinian people remains elusive.
Instead of a two-state solution, the unfolding events have dangerously led to a one-state reality.  It remains our fervent hope that the year 2014 can still witness a substantial breakthrough in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, a breakthrough that will shed light for the Palestinian people in their question for independence.
Indonesia therefore calls on Israel to heed the noble aspiration of the international community, that is the establishment of an independent state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital.  Without the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, the world will continue to see violence between Palestine and Israel.  Thus, I fully subscribe to the words of the Secretary General during the Gaza Reconstruction Conference last month.  The cycle of building and destroying must end.
And to that end, the Israeli occupation must stop immediately.  I thank you, Mr. President.  
ARGENTINA:  Thank you very much, Mr. President.  Mr. President, the Argentine Republic is of the view that the international community must understand the meaning of this year that has been proclaimed as the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.  This means that we must become responsible for the urgent need to put an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, especially, Mr. President, because 67 years have already gone by since resolution 182/2 was adopted by this General Assembly, and 47 years have gone by since the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip and other territories.
Mr. President, we note that since the peace conference in Madrid in 1991, several peace initiatives have been launched multilaterally, as well as initiatives taken by several states without, unfortunately, any of these initiatives attaining the objective that we all aspire to and hope for, that we finally put an end to Israeli occupation and that we see the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state.  
Indeed, Mr. President, following the Madrid conference, we saw negotiations take place in part -- as part of the Oslo process in 1993, which led to the signing of the declaration of principles of 1993 and the signing of the agreement of 1994 in Cairo.  
Subsequently in 2000, we saw the Camp David summit.  In 2002 we saw the Arab peace initiative in Beirut.  In 2003, the quartet adopted the roadmap, and then in 2005 we saw the Sharm El-Sheikh summit, and in 2007 we saw the resumption of the Annapolis negotiations, and later on in 2010, we saw the launching of direct talks between the parties.  And in 2011 we saw new life breathed into the quartet's peace plan.  And in 2012, rather, the Arab League refloated its proposal for a peace initiative, and finally we saw requests for direct negotiations between the parties.  
I could cite other initiatives or proposals that were formulated over these years, but this list I just gave you is sufficient to explain the frustration worldwide at the lack of any real progress towards peace between Palestine and Israel.  All of us in this room know full well what parameters have been fully recognized by the international community if peace is to be achieved based on a two-state solution, a Palestinian state based on the June 1967 borders, such to the agreement between the parties, Jerusalem as a capital of both states, a just, fair and agreed solution on the question of the refugees, and in addition to that, the recognition of the right of Israel to live in peace and security in internationally recognized, secure borders.
But unfortunately, Mr. President, after so many attempts by the international community to achieve peace, the situation continues to be characterized by continuing cycles of violence and destruction.  Mr. President, with respect to the events taking place in Gaza in the summer this year, Argentina condemns the disproportionate use of force by Israel which led to enumerable lives lost among civilians, including women, children and the elderly, the attack on schools and hospitals, and, of course, I must mention, Israel's blockade of this territory.  
At the same time, I want to make it clear that my country condemns the launching of rockets by Hamas from Gaza towards Israel.  And I do so in the strongest of terms.  
Mr. President, my country continues to be profoundly concerned by the humanitarian crisis experienced by Gaza and it is for this reason that on 12 October Argentina lent its support to the international community's efforts to rebuild Gaza.  We actively participated in the conference in Cairo.  After 50 days of violence and unprecedented devastation, rebuilding Gaza and alleviating the serious needs of the people of Palestine requires a huge endeavor on the part of the international community.
There are legitimate questions following all of this on the dimensions established in international humanitarian law and more specifically with respect to the obligation to protect civilians.
Mr. President, while we see the beginnings, once again, of work geared towards rebuilding Gaza and we see efforts to strengthen the truce reached on August 26, we must send a message that if we are to put an end to this cycle of destruction, we must have a lasting solution that transcends mere assistance in the short term, while we leave the causes that led to the violence to fester.  In Cairo, the heads of state made it clear that maintaining the status quo is not an option.  
With respect to the situation of tension being experienced in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, Argentina unequivocally condemns the violence over the past few days in the Kehilat Bnei Torah Synagogue on the 18th of November and the unpunished attacks by extremist settlers against the Al Mughayir mosque on 11 November.  All of these acts cannot be allowed or justified.
We note with great concern that Israel's response to the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory is almost exclusively focused on the security dimension, including military operations, wide-scale detentions and the practice of demolishing the homes of those accused of committing acts of terrorism and their families.  At the same time, we still see deep tensions caused by unilateral measures, acts of incitement and restrictions on sacred sites in Jerusalem.  This can only fuel the flames of the religious causes to this conflict, and it's difficult to maintain them.  They can potentially explode.  
We deplore the inflammatory rhetoric of the extremists on both sides, and we regret that in this situation, which is already a delicate one, Israel continues its campaign of settlements with new announcement of settlements and more confiscations of lands in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.  
In this connection, we reiterate that these unilateral measures are an affront to peace, and they make it more difficult to achieve a two-state solution.  
Mr. President, in this context, we wish to recall that my country's position as a non-permanent member of the Security Council is that the Security Council must cease tolerating because of its inaction acts of provocation and acts that are incompatible with peace and must do everything within its power to salvage the two-state solution as long as it still remains a possibility.  
Mr. President, in closing, I wish to express Argentina's conviction that the roots of the violence in the occupied Palestinian territories lie in the lack of hope and the stagnation in negotiations.  We need a collective effort.  We believe that it is not sufficient to condemn the excessive use of force by Israel or the launching of rockets by Hamas or the death of civilians, in particular women and children, or for us to continue to rehash and repeat over and over that building settlements is illegal and contrary to peace.  Nor does it make sense for us to express our deep concern at the unpunished actions of extremist settlers.  This is not enough.
We must say, Enough of the incessant rhetoric, the unnecessary violence and we must work towards a two-state solution as established in the relevant resolutions of this General Assembly, the Security Council, the roadmap and in the Arab peace initiative, as well as in many other documents that were negotiated by the international community in past decades.  Thank you very much, Mr. President.   
BANGLADESH:  Mr. President, the history of the Palestinians is a story of human tragedy.  It is a unique saga of long suffering of a section of human race inflicted by another starting with the occupation of land, altering history, then escalation of violence and military incursions leading to imposition of inhuman conditions on the people through demolition of homes, confiscation, closures and blockades.
The report of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, the report of the Secretary General and other reports reflect and validate, yet again, appalling human rights and humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.  Gaza borders have been subject to a regime of closure that is without precedent anywhere in the world.
The quality of life of the Palestinians have already diminished to subsistence level.  For example, in Gaza 1.7 million people have been living in 360 square kilometer area.  80% of them are extremely poor and rely on food handouts.  90% of the water available there is unfit for human consumption.  31% of vital medicines are unavailable in the hospitals.  These are only a few statistics that would demonstrate the precarious condition in which the people of Palestine is languishing.
The recent attacks in Gaza are yet again flagrant violations of international law and utter disregard for international outcry by the occupying power, Israel.  Mr. President, the illegal separation wall continues to divide and isolate communities, destroying their livelihoods and preventing hundreds of thousands access to their jobs, families, markets, schools and hospitals.  
Periodic escalation of violence only leads to further despair and desperation.  Israel continues to build the wall on West Bank, contrary to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice.  Unfortunately, all this is happening before the eyes of the international community and in the absence of any resolute action.
It is time to review our role as responsible members of the global community and reflect on what we could have done better, and take an objective position on this longstanding human rights and humanitarian issue.  
Mr. President, the root cause of the conflict is the illegal occupation.  It has to end sooner than later.  One issue that deserves our most serious attention is the continued of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories.  The international community made repeated calls to cease such activities.  The settlements present an existential threat to the viability of a future Palestinian state.  It is contrary to the international law and therefore must cease.
The International Court of Justice described the violation by Israel of the Palestinian peoples' right to self-determination as the violation of erga omnes obligation.  If peace in the Middle East is to be achieved, we must exert collective pressure on Israel to stop expansion of illegal settlements and dismantle the existing ones in line with its obligations under article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.  
Mr. President, the observer status of Palestine in the United Nations is a small step towards amending historical injustice.  Much work lies ahead to create the conditions that will allow the resumption of meaningful negotiations and preserve the viability of the two-state solution.  
All must realize that there is -- there cannot be a military solution to this longstanding conflict.  Only through negotiations can there be a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  Therefore, we stress on the resumption and immediate resumption of the stalled peace process.  Our collective endeavor remains to realize the inalienable right and legitimate aspiration of the Palestinian people by creating an independent, contiguous and sovereign state of Palestine based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side in peace and harmony with Israel. 
We believe that the Fourth Geneva Convention, the Security Council resolutions 242, 338 and 425, the principle of land for peace, the Madrid Conference terms of reference, the roadmap, and the Arab peace initiative are the best guides for achieving a peaceful solution.  
We certainly need our collective resolve to achieve this.  Otherwise, peace, hope and prosperity of the people in the Middle East will remain as elusive as ever.  
Let us take this opportunity to recommit ourselves to working together for a lasting peace in this holy land.  I thank you.
MALDIVES:  Thank you, Mr. President.  On behalf of the Republic of Maldives, it is an honor for me to address this august assembly during this International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.  My delegation takes this opportunity to express once again its unyielding support to the people of Palestine and that of the entire region.  It is with great sadness that we bear witness to new and continuing atrocities by those who choose to promote violence, hatred and fear.  
This statement addresses both the agenda item on the question of Palestine and that on the situation in the Middle East, and thus my delegation extends its thanks to the Secretary General for its reports under these agenda items.  We also thank the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for its report.
Mr. President, the inability of this assembly to mitigate unending streams of hatred that fuel decade-long conflicts in the region is one of the enduring failures of our community of nations.  There is no blemish as dark upon the visage of this organization as that of the occupation of the state of Palestine.  
Generations are living and dying under such ignominy and repression that cycles of violence, hatred and fear are eternally perpetrating.  Though we as an international community call for peace, we must understand that peace cannot be found at the end of a barrel of a gun.  Peace cannot be achieved by apartheid in the guise of semi-autonomy.  Peace can only be achieved through the end of occupation.  
Once again, the Maldives calls for a two-state solution recognizing the sovereign and independent state of Palestine based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.  Until that day, my delegation will continue to acknowledge the flagrant violations of international law which regularly occur under occupation.  
We are especially distressed by recent developments, including increased tensions in occupied East Jerusalem and in the Gaza Strip.  The Secretary General's report, noted with regards to the most recent assault, During the offensive, 2189 Palestinians were killed, 1,486 of them identified as civilians, including 513 children and 269 women, and 11,100 were injured, including 3,374 children, 2088 women and 410 elderly persons.  It is estimated that up to 1,000 of the injured children will have a permanent disability, and up to 1,500 orphaned children will need sustained support from the child protection and welfare sectors.  
This loss of life and limb is supplemented by the destruction of essential infrastructure, theft of natural resources and daily forms of operation.  The report notes that according to official statistics, Israel arrested more than 805,000 Palestinians over the course of this conflict and that more than 200 have died in Israeli jails as a result of torture, denial of medical treatment or deliberate killing.
Mr. President, continued excessive and disproportionate use of force against Palestinian civilians and infrastructure are part of an institutionalized policy of collective punishment.  A key example of this is the reinstatement of a policy demolishing the family homes of Palestinians suspected of crimes.  
The Maldives condemns any criminal activities by whomever they are committed, while at the same time condemning institutionalized policies of collective punishment as a flagrant violation of international law.  My delegation would like to draw special attention to Israeli settlements whose construction have more than doubled in 2013 and attempt to alter the nature and character of the state of Palestine.  
These settlements are illegal and have been condemned by this General Assembly, by the Human Rights Council, by the Economic and Social Council, by the International Court of Justice and by the Security Council.  Yet despite this unanimity, more settlements are constructed and more international corporations relocate and support these settlements.  The overwhelming international consensus has not manifested itself in tangible outcomes.  
Mr. President, policies of hatred and oppression in Palestine have radicalized generations across the region.  Its neighbors face constant instability from ideologies perpetuated by hatred, and today the region faces one of its biggest threats in the form of the so-called Islamic state.  State and non-state actors in the region are using religion to justify violence and the violations of international humanitarian law.
The government and the people of Maldives strongly condemn these groups, their ideologies and their activities.  In Iraq, the Maldives remains deeply concerned that almost 2 million citizens have been internally displaced during the course of the year and that thousands more flee from their lives every day.  The situation is just as dire for more than 3 million Syrians who are currently refugees abroad, while 11 million Syrians within the country are in desperate need of humanitarian aid.   
Unfortunately, the ongoing, relentless violence prohibits aid from reaching more than half of these civilians.  The Secretary General noted that many ordinary people are denied the basics required for their survival, food, healthcare, clean water, when assistance is available a short drive away.   
Mr. President, the challenges that the Middle East region faces are neither national nor regional.  Instead, the challenges are manifestations of the global struggle to eradicate hatred, fear and ultimately violence from our community of nations.  It is our duty to lead the way to end these cycles of violence and go beyond the surface of the region's problems to the instability at its core.  I thank you, Mr. President.
CHAIRMAN:  We have heard the last speaker in the debate on this item.  I should like to inform members that the consideration of draft resolution A/69/L.21, A/69/L.22, A/69/L.23 and A/69/L.24 will be taken following the conclusion of the debate on agenda item 35.  The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 36.
The General Assembly will now consider agenda item 35 entitled The Situation in the Middle East.  The report of the Secretary General on this situation on the Middle East has been circulated in document A/69/341.  In connection with this item, the General Assembly has before it two draft resolutions issued as documents, A/69/L.25 entitled Jerusalem, and A/69/L.26 entitled The Syrian Golan.  
I have now given the floor to the distinguished representative of Egypt to introduce draft resolution A/69/L.25 and A/69/L.26.  Please.  
EGYPT:  Thank you, sir.  We are about to usher in the second half of the second decade of the 21st Century.  We are proud of the several achievements made by humanity.  We rejoice in these achievements as they contribute to the welfare of human beings.  However, the international community can no longer ignore one of the most unfair practices against humanity, namely occupation and the imposition of the status quo by force by utilizing the gap between the balance of power, on the other hand, between unoccupied nation and the -- an occupying power on the other.
Expressing the rejection by the international community of the ongoing occupation and the Israeli practices in the occupied Arab territories, I present on behalf of the cosponsors the two resolutions, namely the draft resolution on Jerusalem and the draft resolution on the Syrian Golan.  The first one, A/69/L.25 underscores the terms of reference of the relationships of the General Assembly and the Security Council, which addresses the special status of occupied Jerusalem, underscoring that all the administrative and legitimate -- and legislative, rather -- measures taken by Israel are null and void to alter the legal status of the holy city.  
It also underscores that any comprehensive and fair solution to the question of Jerusalem should include international provisions accompanied by international guarantees that secure the freedom of religion and conscience of the inhabitants.
It should also include ending of settlements and the attempts of the Judaization committed by the Israeli settlers.  It should also put an end to the excavations in and around Jerusalem and the -- and around the holy sites.
The second draft resolution, A/69/L.26 recalls Security Council resolution 497 of 1981 and reaffirms the deep concern by the General Assembly of -- as Israel failed to implement the aforementioned resolution and underscores the implementation of the Hague '97 agreement and the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 on the occupied Syrian Golan, occupied since 1967, and the illegality of the imposition of Israeli resolutions and laws on the occupied Golan.  It calls on Israel to withdraw to the pre-4 June 1967 borders.  
The cosponsors believe that it is about time for the international community to pursue a comprehensive approach as it addresses the situation in the Middle East.  The people of the region continue to suffer as a consequence of violence and aggression and war.  
This will never be achieved without a strong international will, and serious commitment by Israel to withdraw completely from all occupied Palestinian and Arab territories in implementation of the General Assembly and Security Council resolutions and the principle of peace, land for peace and the international law.
In order to achieve that, we call upon you all to vote in favor of the two draft resolutions in demonstration of strong international will and upholding the international legality ending occupation and in order to fulfill the lofty principles of the charter.
RUSSIAN FEDERATION:  Mr. President, a year ago from this rostrum we talked about active support for US efforts to establish a direct negotiating process between Israel and Palestine.  At the same time, we stressed the need to increase the role of the Middle East quartet by including the League of Arab States in it, since the Middle East settlement is too complex an issue to try to pull this off alone.  
Unfortunately, the quartet continued to be kept in the dark, and unilateral efforts, as many times in the past, proved unsuccessful.  The outcome was that the tenuous hope for peace was replaced by despair and fear.  The gulf of mistrust between Israelis and Palestinians has grown ever deeper.  The region has experienced its bloodiest and most destructive period in the last two decades of open Israeli-Palestinian confrontation.  
And even following the ceasefire, no prospects could be seen for a swift recovery nor any horizons for moving towards peace.  The Holy Land, once again, has seen a wave of violence and hatred unleashed.  A succession of killings in Israel and in the occupied territories have only reaffirmed that the negotiating vacuum is being filled by extremists and terrorists, and in this vicious circle there is once again no place for any glimmers of hope.  
It is clear that without collective settlement frameworks, and without the decisive involvement of the Security Council in addressing this most serious regional issue, it will be extremely difficult to end the stalemate, if not impossible.  After all, the achievement of the Palestinian-Israeli settlement will largely determine the stability of the entire region and curb the dangerous wave of turbulence that has taken hold there in recent years.
We are convinced that a solution to the question of Palestine must be found that is in keeping with the well-known international legal basis, including UN Security Council resolutions, the Madrid principles, the roadmap and the Arab peace initiative. 
It is also important to help restore Palestinian unity based on the PLO platform.  This will help to realize the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a just and lasting peace settlement.  The powers of authority of the national unity government must be extended throughout the territory of Palestine as quickly as possible and without exception.  Unless this occurs, the effective recovery of the Gaza Strip will remain in question.
Israeli settlement building on occupied territory has seriously exacerbated the situation, including in East Jerusalem, a city that is holy to the followers of the three monotheistic religions where ill-considered unilateral actions have far-reaching consequences.  
Such actions increase mutual hatred and can escalate situations and threaten the territorial contiguity of the Arab quarters in Jerusalem.  Settlement building contravenes international law and must cease.  The situation requires a deescalation and further clamp downs are extremely dangerous in this powder keg, and we are not only referring to a lack of negotiating prospects.  The region is experiencing great upheavals.  Terrorist activity has reached catastrophic proportions.  A caliphate of extremists of all stripes today has strengthened its positions over large areas of Iraq and Syria, moving their ranks towards other countries, including Lebanon and Libya, growing rich from crimes and the shadowy trade in oil and gas resources, and improving their skills in handling weapons of mass destruction.
Effectively, combating terrorism requires the joint efforts of the entire international community based on Security Council resolutions 2170 and 2178.  Of course, coordination is important here between states that have unified in a coalition against the Islamic state and with the forces in the region that are the natural opponents of terror and have unwittingly combated it for a long time now.  These include Bagdad and Damascus.  And naturally in the face of the terrorist threat, the people of the countries and regions must come together.  
The fight against terrorism should be one of the key issues for dialogue between the Syrian government and the opposition, and once begun, traction could then be gained on other momentous aspects of the Syrian settlement.  
In this context, we place hopes in the efforts of the Secretary General's envoy in Syria, Staffan de Mistura.  We support in principle his ideas, including the initiative on local freezes.  Russia will continue to work constructively with all constructively-minded Syrian parties based on the 2012 Geneva communique and the principles of maintaining the national, ethnic and faith-based unity of Syria, its territory integrity and sovereignty.  Thank you. 
SYRIA:  Thank you, Mr. President.  First of all, allow me to thank my colleague, the permanent representative of Egypt, for submitting the two draft resolutions entitled Syrian Golan and Al Quds, East Jerusalem.  Mr. President, I'd like to begin my statement by reading out a letter addressed to a Syrian citizen living in the occupied Syrian Golan.  
And I quote, We, the Syrian Arabs living in Syrian occupied Golan, are attached to our land and to our patriotic position and to our mother country, Syria, wounded, which we hope will be victorious over all its enemies.
We transmit our sufferances and the pain provoked by the Israeli occupation, which is illegal, on a daily basis.  Our only mistake is that we are protecting our land and the land of our ancestors.  We are being subjected to many violations since the first days of the occupation, which began on June 5, 1967.  
Our water, our horticultural resources are being stolen, as is our land.  Collected sanctions are being imposed on us by Israeli tribunals.  Indeed, the Israeli illegal entity is trying to asphyxiate us as Syrian citizens and is imposing extreme fines upon us simply because we built a house to live there with our children on our land and on the land of our ancestors.
Although is our natural right, this land does not belong to the Israeli entity, as it claims, and as it would wish.  This Syrian citizen continues.  The violations by the illegal occupying power are unbelievable and are seeking to make us abandon our land.  This entity through its tribunals is imposing considerable fines and seeking to throw us into prison or threatening to destroy our homes.  The same entity is conducting settlement building.  It is giving settlers administrative facilities to enable the building of settlements on our land.
The entity is providing financial assistance to these persons and encouraging them to carry out arbitrary action, which cannot be accepted.  The Israeli entity is undermining the values of democracy and freedom.  It claims to have these, but at the same time it is robbing hydraulic and water sources, as well as financial and other resources.
Those who contradict Israeli democracy are called terrorists that need to be fought.  We are part of the Syrian peaceful people, and we only wish to have our rights as a people living under the yoke of occupation.  This is what we demand.  These are the most basic measures for us to live in dignity.
This was a letter from a Syrian citizen living in the Syrian Golan.  This reflects some of the suffering of our people living under Israeli occupation since 1967.  Indeed, the authorities of the Israeli occupying power are violating human rights in a terrible manner and are conducting arbitrary policies of discrimination and injustice.  
Recently, Israel added another chapter to its violations, namely providing support to Takfiri terrorists in the zone of separation in the Syrian Golan, including by treating their wounded in Israeli hospitals.  Latest developments in the situation in the region, which led the mission there to withdraw from some of its operations temporarily -- this was not accidental.  It rather confirms what we had cautioned against, namely support to the regimes, particularly Israel's support for terrorist groups associated with Al-Qaida in the separation zone.  
This is not only a flagrant violation of the separation agreement and of international law and General Assembly's good counsel relevant resolutions, but also is thwarting the efforts of UNDOF and its ability to discharge its duties.  It is also jeopardizing the UN peacekeepers in their efforts.
This support provided to terrorist groups, including to the ... [02:30:40] in the separation area, thus has enabled these groups to open fire against armed forces and to kidnap UNDOF peacekeepers and to target them and to fire upon them, including by Israeli forces in the Golan area.
The UN must discharge its duty and deal with this issue in a serious manner without hesitation.  After the leaders of the peacekeeping office in a justifiable manner have ignored any warnings and all the information that we've provided in recent years.  
Mr. President, despite all international requests from the United Nations concerning the need to put an end to the Israeli occupation on Arab territory, and the need to build an independent Palestinian territory with the pre-1967 borders, no progress, however, has been achieved.  The situation is actually getting worse.
Prospects to create a Palestinian state, as expected, are becoming more remote.  Instead of seeing progress towards peace and security in the region, what we have seen is another chapter of Israeli aggression against Gaza, during which war crimes and crimes against humanity were committed.  
We've seen an unprecedented trend of settlement building, particular in East Jerusalem.  The number of Israeli settlers since the Oslo agreement of 1990 has gone from 70 million to 700,000 today.  Today, we can also see an exacerbation of violence against Palestinian civilians, and an increase in aggression against holy sites, Christian and Muslim alike, including Haram Al Sharif.  
Lastly, the representative of Israel told the Security Council that East Jerusalem wasn't settled or occupied.  It was the eternal capital of the Israeli people in flagrant violation of all relevant UN resolutions and the international consensus, including resolutions of friendly states to Israel.  
Israeli intransigence has allowed it to -- has led even European countries to criticize Israel, even when those have expressed their support for some of the basic rights of Palestinians.  In light of this escalation provocation, some are still proclaiming they're against settlement building and that they seek to have a two-state solution.  However, we have yet to see any steps taken to end settlement building or any glimmer of hope for the creation of a Palestinian state for a just, lasting peace in the region.  No measures have been taken in that regard by the United Nations.  
In conclusion, I would like to invite member states to support the draft resolution entitled The Syrian Golan to bolster international law, the charter and to be consistent with relevant resolutions, including Security Council resolution 479 of 1981 which considered null and void any such actions by Israel.  Thank you.
MALAYSIA:  Mr. President, as my delegation participates in this annual debate of the General Assembly on the situation in the Middle East, we are again reminded of the cotemporary geopolitical importance of this region.  The Middle East region is considered by many as the cradle of civilian and the birthplace of the three major monotheistic traditions of Islam, Christianity and Judaism.  
This is also a region which has been very much influenced and impacted by both internal and external interests, whether in sociopolitical spheres such as ideology and sectarianism, or in military terms of defense and containment or in economic priorities such as energy security. 
Regrettably, this region is continuing to experience more than its fair share of violence, with history repeating itself in territories being occupied by conquest, as well as conflicts being waged in the name of religion.  
Millions of innocent civilians continue to suffer due to the lack of political solutions to disputes, both old and new.  The ... [02:37:00] lines drawn by the colonial powers are also now being washed away by blood through the action of non-state actors.  
In recent weeks, even the holy city of Al Quds and its places of worship were not spared from violence and provocative acts.  Therefore, Malaysia remains gravely concerned on the overall situation in the Middle East.  
As a strong believer in multilateralism, we believe that member states of the United Nations have a collective responsibility to ensure that the peoples of the Middle East will be able to live in peace and stability.  Mr. President, first and foremost, among Malaysia's priorities in the Middle East, is a just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine.  We again reaffirm our solidarity with the Palestinian people and reiterate our support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinians for an independent state of Palestine with the realization of two states, Palestine and Israel living side by side, based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.
Malaysia has also remained committed towards the implementation of internationally recognized initiatives such as the Arab peace initiative, the Oslo accords, the quartet roadmap, the Madrid terms of reference and relevant Security Council resolutions.  Our position on this matter has been consistent and clear, as outlined in our earlier statement during the debate under the previous agenda item.  Yet we firmly believe that this pivotal issue is central to the situation in the Middle East.
Malaysia reiterates our condemnation of Israel's illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories of West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.  However, Israel's violation of international law have continued unabated, both in the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as in other occupied Arab territories.  It is therefore apparent that the occupying power continues to refuse to honor their commitments to international agreements, and this is compounded by the inflexible attitude of the Israeli leadership.   
We do not see the logic in Israel objecting to so-called unilateral actions by the Palestinian leadership to accede to international agreements when this is welcomed by the majority of member states as a demonstration of the state of Palestine's adherence to international norms.  
On the other hand, the Israeli government itself defies logic by unilaterally continuing to build and announce settlements which are illegal under international law and condemned by even their own allies.  
My delegation also reiterates our shock and deep concern on the recent violent and provocative action in Al Quds.  We urge an end to such actions, in particular those affecting Al Haram Al Sharif and the Al Aqsa mosque, as well as other houses of worship on the holy city of Jerusalem.  
In this regard, we hope that all parties will heed the call of President Abbas, who warned against the situation turning from a political dispute into a religious conflict.  
Mr. President, Malaysia also condemn the acts of violence which occurred in the Gaza Strip this summer.  The Israeli assault of the Gaza Strip left thousands dead and tens of thousands homeless as their residences turned into ruins.  The international community was rightly shocked and demonstrated their solidarity and generosity during the recent Cairo conference on the reconstruction of Gaza.  
However, my delegation wishes to take this opportunity to caution against another instance of history unfortunately repeating itself.  We have seen this pattern before during Operation Cast Lead in 2008-2009 where again thousands were killed, and again billions of dollars were pledged during the Sham Al Sheikh Conference on reconstruction.  Yet in 2012 Israel again ferociously attacked the people of Gaza in the Operation Pillar of Defense, reducing the territory to rubbles. 
Before we even begin to consider the notion of donor fatigue, we must seriously consider the more agonizing ... of those in Gaza affected by these cycles of violence.  We should not turn the oft-quoted build/destroy, build/destroy cycle remarks of the Secretary General into a cliché to be rehashed every few years when the situation repeats itself.  
Instead, we should focus our efforts towards a comprehensive solution to this almost perpetual series of events, beginning with a concrete end to any and all acts of violence.  
While my delegation notes the security concerns from the various interested parties, we reiterate our firm demand on the lifting of the blockade of Gaza and we call for the opening of crossings in and out of the territory with a priority on access for humanitarian aid and reconstruction material.  The long-suffering people of Gaza deserve better from the international community, and it is time we deliver on this.  
Let me now turn to the situation in Syria.  Malaysia is concerned with the escalating violence that has resulted in heavy casualties and hardship to the people of Syria.  We reiterate our call for all parties to immediately end the violence and human rights violations in particular against civilians.  My delegation also urges for all necessary measures to be urgently taken to ensure that humanitarian access is provided to those in need.  
The ongoing instability has now provided opportunities for other armed terrorist groups with ulterior motives to take root in the region, such as the so-called Islamic state.  Malaysia rejects the action of this group, and we condemn the violence being committed in the name of Islam.  We also regret that the international community's call to end the violence when not heeded, and we are now faced with another factor in the conflict.  
My delegation hopes that we are collectively able to combat this emerging trend before history, again, repeats itself, and yet another black flag rises in the Middle East in the absence of a resolution to the conflict.
Malaysia, therefore, reaffirms that a political solution is the only way to end the conflict.  And we will continue to support international efforts which call upon all parties in Syria to immediately end the crisis in a peaceful and meaningful manner through dialogue and negotiation.  
All parties inside and outside Syria should come together and work towards a political solution which is Syrian-led and inclusive to ensure a viable and sustainable outcome.  In this connection, my delegation also welcomes the appointment of UN special envoy, Staffan De Mistura, and we wish him well in carrying out his important mandate.  We are following his work closely, and we note the progress he has made, particularly in developing the framework for freezing of the conflict in Aleppo.  My delegation also thanks his predecessor, Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi, for his tireless efforts.  
Mr. President, with regards to the occupied Syrian Golan, Malaysia reiterates our strong rejections of Israel's changing of the physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure and legal status of the territory.  Last year, my delegation had objected to Israel's ongoing activities, exploiting all deficits in the southern half of the occupied Syrian Golan.  We have since learned that these activities have recently been overruled by the relevant authorities, albeit on the grounds of environmental impact.  
However, we remain concerned that the Israeli company involved in this activity is considering an appeal to overturn the ruling.  In this regard, my delegation wishes to reiterate that all measures and actions undertaken by Israel, including the construction and expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied Syrian Golan since 1967 constitute a flagrant violation of international law and the UN charter.  In this regard, Malaysia calls for an immediate and full withdraw of Israel from the occupied Syrian Golan in line with the relevant Security Council resolutions.
Mr. President, Malaysia is pleased to cosponsor the two resolutions under this agenda item.  We reaffirm that the root causes to the deteriorating situation in the Middle East must be addressed, including and in particular the illegal occupation of Israel in occupied territories.  Thus, it is our hope that the relationship on Jerusalem and the Syrian Golan will be adopted, as in previous years, as a demonstration of the international community's resolve towards this end.
In conclusion, Malaysia wishes to underline our position in a moderate approach to conflict relationship in order to bridge the differences and restore civility to the life of Palestinians, Syrians and other peoples of the Middle East.  As the Prime Minister of Malaysia has stated in this year's general debate of the General Assembly, The fight against extremism is not about Christian versus Muslim or Muslim versus Jews, but moderate versus extremists of all religions.  We therefore need to rally a coalition of moderates, those willing to reclaim their religion and pursue the path to peace.  
As such, we believe it is important to continue to sow the seeds of moderations in the region and remove the root causes from which extremists find fertile soil to plant their poisonous ideology.  I thank you, Mr. President. 
CHAIRMAN:  We have heard the last speaker in the debate on this item.  I would like to inform members that action on draft resolutions A/61/L.25-26 will be taken after we take action on draft resolutions, A/69/21-24 and agenda item 36.  This will be done this afternoon at 3:00.  
The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 35.  The meeting is adjourned.  

PM SESSION 
NOVEMBER 25, 2014
GENERAL ASSEMBLY



CHAIRMAN:  The 61st Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly is called to order.  The General Assembly will resume its consideration of Agenda Item 36, Question of Palestine, to take on action on Draft Resolutions A/69/L.21, entitled Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People; A/69/L.22, entitled Division of Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat; A/69/L.23, entitled Special Information Programme on the Question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat; and A/69/L.24, entitled Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine.
Before the Assembly takes action on the resolutions one by one, members are reminded that they will have an opportunity to explain their vote on all four resolutions before and after action is taken on all resolutions.  We shall now proceed to consider Draft Resolutions A/69/L.21, A/69/L.22, A/69/L.23 and A/69/L.24.
Before giving the floor to the speakers in explanation of vote before the vote, may I remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to ten minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats?  I give the floor to the delegation of Italy on behalf of the European Union.
ITALY:  Thank you, Mr. President.  I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union.  The EU wishes to thank the Palestinian delegation for the successful outcome of our negotiations on a number of resolutions on which action is taken by the General Assembly.  As an outcome of these negotiations, the EU confirms its consolidated voting pattern on these resolutions.
At this point in time, we would like to put on record that with regards to all resolutions that are adopted during the 69th Session of the General Assembly, the EU and its member states consider that whenever Palestinian government is mentioned, this refers to the Palestinian Authority.  Furthermore, the use of the term Palestine in any of these resolutions cannot be construed as a recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of the member states on this issue, and hence on the question of the validity of an accession to the conventions and treaties mentioned therein.
Finally, the European Union as a whole has not expressed a legal qualification with regard to the term forced displacement used in a number of resolutions submitted under Item 36 and Item 51.  I thank you, Mr. President.
ISRAEL:  Thank you…. against the resolutions because they are as outdated as they are outrageous.  Countless countries face dire economic conditions at home but manage to find the resources for UN bodies that fund anti-Israel incitement and the defamation and delegitimization of Israel.
The international community has found funding to create a UN website called The Platform for Palestine.  This site calls for the boycotting of Israel and Israeli products.  Every year, the UN spends over $6 million the Division for Palestinian Rights, the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Department for Public Information's Special Information Programme on Palestine.  Every year, my delegation asks what each of these institutions do, and we have yet to receive a response.
Mr. President, this Assembly voted 2014 as the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.  As the year draws to a close, I have to ask what was achieved.  Did the Year of Solidarity motivate the Palestinian Authority to finally hold elections?  Not at all.  Did the Year of Solidarity inspire the Palestinian Authority to prepare their people for peace?  Not in the least.  Did the Year of Solidarity bring us closer to peace?  Far from it.
All those who claim to stand for peace should ask what they are voting for -- solidarity with perpetuating the conflict, solidarity with the culture of hatred and incitement, solidarity with unilateral actions instead of direct negotiations?  I will conclude by saying the following:  There is no moral clarity in this vote for solidarity.  To my colleagues, I say the following:  When you today vote for reason and responsibility.  Consider the texts before you, and then ask yourselves the following:  Will you continue the tradition of rubber-stamping resolutions, or will you take a stand and seek lasting solutions?  I call you to vote against these resolutions.  Thank you, Mr. President.
CHAIRMAN:  We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote before the vote.  The Assembly will now take a decision of Draft Resolutions A/69/L.21, A/69/L.22, A/69/L.23 and A/69/L.24.
We turn first to Draft Resolution A/69/L.21, entitled Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.  I now give the floor to the Representative of the Secretariat.
REPRESENTATIVE OF SECRETARIAT:  I should like to announce that since the submission of the Draft Resolution, and in addition to those delegations listed on the L document, the following countries have also become cosponsors of A/69/L.29 -- 21 -- Plurinational State of Bolivia, Brunei Darussalam, Guyana, Niger and Vietnam.  Thank you, Mr. President.
CHAIRMAN:  Thank you.  A recorded vote has been requested.  We shall now begin the voting process.  Those in favor of Draft Resolution A/69/L.21 please signify.  Those against?  Abstentions?
MALE SPEAKER:  The General Assembly is now voting on Draft Resolution A/69/L.21, entitled Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.  Will all delegations kindly confirm that their votes are accurately reflected on the board?  The voting has been completed.  The machine is locked.
CHAIRMAN:  The result of the vote is as follows:  In favor, 94.  Against, seven.  Abstentions, 56.  Draft Resolution A/69/L.21 is adopted.
We turn next to Draft Resolution A/69/L.22, entitled Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat.  I now give the floor to the Representative of the Secretariat.
REPRESENTATIVE OF SECRETARIAT:  I should like to announce that since the submission of the Draft Resolution, and in addition to those delegations listed on the L document, the following countries have also become cosponsors of A/69/L.22:  Plurinational State of Bolivia, Brunei Darussalam, Guyana and Niger.  Thank you, Mr. President.
CHAIRMAN:  Thank you.  A recorded vote has been requested.  We shall now begin the voting process.  Those in favor of Draft Resolution A/69/L.22 please signify.  Those against?  Abstention?
MALE SPEAKER:  The Assembly is now voting on Draft Resolution A/69/L.22, entitled Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat.  Will all delegations kindly confirm that their votes are accurately reflected on the board?  The voting has been completed.  The machine is locked.
CHAIRMAN:  The result of the vote is as follows:  In favor, 91.  Against, seven.  Abstentions, 59.  Draft Resolution A/69/L.22 is adopted.
We now turn to Draft Resolution A/69/L.23, entitled Special Information Programme on the Question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat.  I now give the floor to the Representative of the Secretariat.
REPRESENTATIVE OF SECRETARIAT:  I should like to announce that since the submission of the Draft Resolution, and in addition to those delegations listed on the L document, the following countries have also become cosponsors of A/69/L.23: Belarus, Plurinational State of Bolivia, Brunei Darussalam, Guyana, Niger.  Thank you, Mr. President.
CHAIRMAN:  Thank you.  A recorded vote has been requested.  We shall now begin the voting process.  Those in favor of Draft Resolution A/69/L.23, please signify.  Those against?  Abstentions?
MALE SPEAKER:  The Assembly is now voting on Draft Resolution A/69/L.23, entitled Special Information Programme on the Question of Palestine of the Department of Public Information of the Secretariat.  Will all delegations kindly confirm that their votes are accurately reflected on the board?  The voting has been completed.  The machine is locked.
CHAIRMAN:  The result is as follows:  In favor, 147.  Against, seven.  Abstentions, nine.  Draft Resolution A/69/L.23 is adopted.
The Assembly will now take a decision on Draft Resolution A/69/L.24, entitled Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine.  I now give the floor to the Representative of the Secretariat.
REPRESENTATIVE OF SECRETARIAT:  I should like to announce that since the submission of the Draft Resolution, and in addition to those delegations listed on the L document, the following countries have also become cosponsors of A/69/L.24: Belarus, Plurinational State of Bolivia, Brunei Darussalam, Guyana, Kyrgyzstan and Niger.  Thank you, Mr. President.
CHAIRMAN:  Thank you.  A recorded vote has been requested.  We shall now begin the voting process.  Those in favor of Draft Resolution A/69/L.24 please signify.  Those against?  Abstentions?
MALE SPEAKER:  The Assembly is now voting on Draft Resolution A/69/L.24, entitled Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine.  Will all delegations kindly confirm that their votes are accurately reflected on the board?  The voting has been completed.  The machine is locked.
CHAIRMAN:  The result of the vote is as follows:  In favor, 148.  Against, six.  Abstentions, eight.  Draft Resolution A/69/L.24 is adopted.
Before giving the floor to the speakers in explanation of vote, may I remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to ten minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats?  I give the floor to the United States.
UNITED STATES:  Thank you.  Like everyone in this Assembly Hall, we are deeply concerned about the volatile situation in the Middle East.  The United States has made an enormous effort, especially over the last year and a half, to work with the parties in trying to pave the road toward achieving a negotiated final status agreement, allowing two states to live side by side in peace and security.
In this context, the United States remains profoundly troubled by the repetitive and disproportionate number of one-sided General Assembly resolutions condemning Israel, a total of 18 this year.  This grossly one-sided approach damages the prospects for peace by undermining trust between parties and damaging the kind of international support critical to achieving peace.
All parties to the conflict have direct responsibilities for ending it, and we are disappointed that UN members continually single out Israel without acknowledging the responsibilities and difficult steps that must be taken on all sides.  These unbalanced, one-sided resolutions set back our collective efforts to advance a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the Middle East, and they damage the institutional credibility of the United Nations.
Of these annual resolutions, which unfairly single out one country and consistently lack balance, three are particularly troubling to the United States -- the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories.
These resolutions renew mandates for UN bodies established decades ago, wasting valuable resources and reinforcing the perception of systematic UN bias against Israel.  All member states should evaluate the effectiveness of supporting and funding these bodies.
I do want to add that our continued opposition to the resolution on Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem and the occupied Golan, which will come up for a vote in this Assembly next month, should not be understood to mean that we support settlement activity.  On the contrary, we reject in the strongest terms Israeli settlements in territories occupied in 1967.  Settlements are illegitimate, and they damage Israel's security and the hopes for peace.
Continued settlement activity is contrary to Israel's stated goal of negotiating a permanent status agreement with the Palestinians and is inconsistent with Israel's international commitments.
During the past year, we have been deeply concerned by Israel's advancement of plans for thousands of additional housing units in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.  We have made clear that such action only draws condemnation from the international community, poisons the atmosphere not only with the Palestinians, but also with the very Arab governments with which the Israeli government says it wants to build relations, and undermines the prospect for a peaceful negotiated agreement with the Palestinians.
Both sides took unhelpful steps that undercut the most recent round of final status negotiations.  The scale and timing of Israel's settlement activities contributed significantly to the erosion of trust between the parties.  The United States is in full agreement about the urgent need to resolve the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians based on the two-state solution and an agreement that establishes a viable, independent and contiguous State of Palestine once and for all.
We've invested a tremendous amount of effort and resources in pursuit of this shared goal, and we firmly believe that the parties need to resolve the conflict through direct negotiations.  If the parties are willing and ready to take that step, we stand ready to support them and to continue our efforts to advance the cause of peace.
In closing, while the United States unequivocally rejects Israeli settlements in territories occupied in 1967, this does not justify the repetitive, disproportionate and one-sided General Assembly resolutions condemning Israel, which do not advance our collective efforts to advance a peaceful resolution to the conflict.  Thank you.
SINGAPORE:  Thank you, Mr. President.  I speak in explanation of vote after the adoption of Resolutions L.21 to L.24.  Singapore voted in favor of A/69/L.21 on the understanding that the reference in OP2 to, I quote, the achievement of the two-state solution on the basis of the pre-1967 borders, unquote should be interpreted in the same manner as set out in OP1 of A/69/L.24, namely, I quote, The two-state solution of Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders based on the pre-1967 borders, unquote.  Thank you, Mr. President.
CHAIRMAN:  Thank you.  We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote.  One representative has requested to exercise the right of reply.  May I remind members that statements in the exercise of right of reply are limited to ten minutes for the first intervention, and to five minutes for the second intervention, and should be made by delegations from their seats?  I call on the Representative of Israel.
ISRAEL:  Thank you, Mr. President.  I think that our intention was to speak after the vote, including the two other resolutions.  Thank you.
CHAIRMAN:  Okay.  We can do that.  The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of Agenda Item 36.
The General Assembly will now resume its consideration of Agenda Item 35, The Situation in the Middle East, to take action on Draft Resolutions A/69/L.25, entitled Jerusalem, and A/69/L.26, entitled The Syrian Golan.  Before the Assembly takes action on the resolutions one by one, members are reminded that they will have an opportunity to explain their vote on the two resolutions before and after action is taken on both resolutions.  We shall now proceed to consider Draft Resolutions A/69/L.25 and A/69/L.26.
The Assembly will now take a decision on Draft Resolutions A/69/L.25, entitled Jerusalem, and A/69/L.26, entitled The Syrian Golan.  We turn first to Draft Resolution A/69/L.25, entitled Jerusalem.  I now give the floor to the Representative of the Secretariat.
REPRESENTATIVE OF SECRETARIAT:  I should like to announce that since the submission of the Draft Resolution, and in addition to those delegations listed on the L document, the following countries have also become cosponsors of A/69/L.25: Plurinational State of Bolivia, Brunei Darussalam and Niger.  Thank you, Mr. President.
CHAIRMAN:  A recorded vote has been requested.  We shall now begin the voting process.  Those in favor of Draft Resolution A/69/L.25 please signify.  Those against?  Abstentions?
MALE SPEAKER:  The Assembly is now voting on Draft Resolution A/69/L.25, entitled Jerusalem.  Will all delegations kindly confirm that their votes are accurately reflected on the board?  The voting has been completed.  The machine is locked.
CHAIRMAN:  The result of the vote is as follows:  In favor, 144.  Against, six.  Abstentions, ten.  Draft Resolution A/69/L.25 is adopted.
We now turn to A/69/L.26, entitled The Syrian Golan.  I now give the floor to the Representative of the Secretariat.
REPRESENTATIVE OF SECRETARIAT:  I should like to announce that since the submission of the Draft Resolution, and in addition to those delegations listed on the L document, the following countries have also become cosponsors of A/69/L.26: Plurinational State of Bolivia, Brunei Darussalam and Niger.  Thank you, Mr. President.
CHAIRMAN:  Thank you.  A recorded vote has been requested.  We shall now begin the voting process.  Those in favor of Draft Resolution A/69/L.26 please signify.  Those against?  Abstentions?
MALE SPEAKER:  The Assembly is now voting on Draft Resolution A/69/L.26, entitled The Syrian Golan.  Will all delegations kindly confirm that their votes are accurately reflected on the board?  The voting has been completed.  The machine is locked.
CHAIRMAN:  The result of the vote is as follows:  In favor, 99.  Against, six.  Abstentions, 57.  Draft Resolution A/69/L.26 is adopted.
Before giving the floor to the speakers in explanation of vote, may I remind delegations that explanation of vote are limited to ten minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats?  I give the floor to Brazil.
BRAZIL:  Thank you, Mr. President.  I have the honor to speak on behalf of the delegations of Argentina and Brazil to explain our vote, as we have done in previous years, on the resolution on the Syrian Golan just adopted by the General Assembly.
Brazil and Argentina voted in favor of the resolution because we believe that its essential character is linked to the illegality of the acquisition of territory by force.  Article 2, Paragraph 4 of the Charter of the United Nations prohibits the use or threat of use of force against the territorial integrity of a state.
At the same time, I want to clarify the position of our delegations with respect to Paragraph 6 of the resolution.  Our vote does not prejudge the content of that paragraph, particularly the reference to, and I quote, the line of 4 June 1967, end of quote.
Brazil and Argentina believe that it's important to make progress in the search for a solution to the Syrian-Israeli track of the Middle East conflict so as to put an end to the occupation of the Golan Heights.  Therefore, on behalf of the governments of Brazil and Argentina, I once again stress the importance of resuming negotiations in order to find a definitive solution to the situation in the Syrian Golan in accordance with Resolution -- in accordance with Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 and the principle of land for peace.  Thank you.
CHAIRMAN:  We have heard the only speaker in explanation of vote.  I now give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic.
SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC:  Thank you very much, Mr. President.  We would like to express to you our deepest appreciation and gratitude for the adoption by the General Assembly once again, and continually since 1981, the Draft Resolution entitled The Syrian Golan and published in Document A/69/L.26, as well as the other draft resolutions under the item on the agenda entitled The Issue of the Middle East and the Question of Palestine.
Mr. President, the regular and constant support of the majority of the members of the United Nations for these resolutions clearly reflect their commitment to the resolution -- to the goals and ideals of the UN Charter and reflects their refusal of foreign occupation and their support for our full rights to recover our territories occupied by Israel since 5th June 1967.
It goes without saying that the vote in favor of these two resolutions by an absolute majority sends a clear message to Israel by the international community to Israel, the occupying power, and that is, the occupation, killing, the policy of expansion, aggression, racial discrimination, the building of settlements and the continuation of the status quo and the annexation of territories by force, all these practices are rejected and violate international treaties and standards, first and foremost the Charter of the United Nations, as well as the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949.
These practices lead only to denunciation and condemnation of all those who are committed to the upholding of international law.  Mr. President, I would like to reiterate the gratitude of my country, Syria, to all states who voted in favor of the draft resolution entitled The Syrian Golan, as well as those states who voted in favor of the draft resolution.  I would like to repeat that my country is ready to achieve a just and global peace on the basis of United Nations resolution and well-known international standards.
I also would like to reiterate the continued determination of Syria, its government and its people, its constant and unyielding determination to liberate all the territory occupied on June 5th, 1967.  We will rid the Golan from its settlers and settlements using all means guaranteed by international law, the principles of which bring us here together.  Thank you very much, Mr. President.
PALESTINE:  Thank you, Mr. President.  Mr. President, allow me at the beginning to express our gratitude to all those who have cosponsored our draft resolutions, the five of them, and those who have introduced them and to all the countries who have voted in favor.
We believe that this strong message from the General Assembly and from the great majority of member states is a very strong message in favor of justice, in favor of peace and in favor of the two-state solution.
In this connection, we harbor the highest respect for the judgment of all countries in exercising their sovereign right and making decisions to advance the cause of justice and peace.  We respect the decision of all countries, even those who have not voted in favor of these resolutions, and I believe those who disrespectfully attack countries, and one time even said to the General Assembly, you vote like sheep, have no respect for the spirit of multilateralism, for the spirit of democracy and for the spirit of the collective judgment of the international community.
We are delighted that we are in the camp of history, and we are in the camp of respect for international law and for respect of the decisions of the General Assembly.
Now, for those who think that these resolutions are not serving their narrow interest of how things should proceed in our region, we hope that they change their mind.  We believe that this strong message from the General Assembly is upholding international law.  We are in the business of upholding international law, and that is the essence of what the UN stands for, reflected in the Charter of the United Nations.
We are very happy that yet again this year a strong statement from the General Assembly in supporting all of our resolutions, the 16th, the 17th, the 18th of them, in which they address the minute details of the national rights of the Palestinian people, including our right to self-determination and the independence of our state.
We are fully committed to seeing the day of two states living in peace and tranquility next to each other, and that would require, if we want to fulfill the wish of all of you in which there is consensus on the two-state solution, for that to be accomplished, that one state which is occupying the land of the other one should withdraw from it to allow our state to be independent, and therefore to actualize the objective of all of us in two-state solution.
Those who say that the issue is not two states, in essence, they are not telling the truth.  The issue is in essence, it's the two-state solution, in essence, ending the occupation in order to allow for the accomplishment of that objective.  We are committed to it in spite of the tremendous pain that we are enduring, particularly in the Gaza Strip and in other parts of the Occupied Territories, especially in East Jerusalem.
In spite of the pain, we do not lose sight from the path of accomplishing the objective of the two-state solution, and with you, we will continue moving in that direction until we see, hopefully soon, the end of this occupation and the independence of our state, the State of Palestine, in all of the territory that Israel occupied on the 4th of June, 1967, with East Jerusalem as the capital of our state, and the just solution to the refugee question on the basis of 194.
We will continue to work with you.  You have inspired our people with this strong message that you have sent them today, and we together will be continuing to march in the direction of peace until we accomplish the objective of having two states living side by side in peace and security, the State of Palestine, viable, contiguous and democratic, alongside the State of Israel.  I thank you very much, Mr. President.
ISRAEL:  Thank you, Mr. President.  Mr. President, I would like to exercise the right of reply to certain statements that were made during this debate.  Israel is not what is wrong in the Middle East.  Israel is what is right in the Middle East.  So let's talk about the real problems in our region when we speak about the situation in the Middle East.
The Lebanese delegate stood in this Assembly yesterday and accused Israel of violating Security Council resolutions, this from a state that has allowed Hezbollah to take control of southern Lebanon and stockpile over 100,000 missiles and rockets in populated areas.  You don't need to work for the Interpol to make this discovery.  A senior Hezbollah official, Naim Qassem, boasted only two days ago that Hezbollah possesses Iranian-made missiles with pinpoint accuracy.  This is in blatant violation of Security Council Resolutions 1559, 1701, 1747 and 1929.
I think that we can agree that smuggling arms to terrorist organizations and violating Security Council arms embargoes is the real problem with the situation in the Middle East.
Mr. President, the delegate from Saudi Arabia used this forum to accuse my country of abusing human rights and violating freedom of religion, this from a kingdom that executes anyone who dares to import the Christian Bible, bans non-Muslims from entering entire cities and has beheaded 70 people so far only this year.  I think that we can agree that beheading people is the real problem in the Middle East.
Mr. President, the delegate from Pakistan arrogantly stood in this Assembly yesterday and stated what Israel must do.  Let's talk about what Pakistan also must do.  Pakistan must fight the radical Islamist factions in Pakistan, indeed in the Pakistani government.  Pakistan has become the world's foremost terrorist and jihadi educational institution.  I think that we can agree that churning out thousands of violent radical Islamists is the real problem with the situation in the Middle East.
Mr. President, earlier today the delegate from Qatar had a great deal to say about Gaza.  It seems they have conveniently forgotten that every rocket that flew out of Gaza and every terror tunnel could have had a sign that reads, Made possible by the Emir of Qatar.  I think that we can agree that state sponsors of terrorism are the real problem with the situation in the Middle East.
Mr. President, today the delegate from Libya delivered a series of accusations against Israel.  As I listened to him, I had to wonder, which one of the governments and groups that control Libyan territory does this delegate represent?  I think that we can agree that failed states are the real problem with the situation in the Middle East.
And finally, Mr. President, it is remarkable that the Syrian delegate believes once again that he has any standing to lecture others in this hall.  Syria has become an expert at blaming others for its problems.  The responsibility for the catastrophe for the humanitarian crisis taking place in the Syrian Arab Republic and the murder of 220,000 Syrians lies solely with the Syrian government.
Blaming Israel for the evacuation of UNDOF troops from the area of separation is nothing more than a revisionist history.  The truth of the matter is that the Syrian Army fled in the face of the advancing Nusra fighters, leaving the UNDOF troops unprotected and at risk.  Recognizing the danger, Israel opened its gates and provided UNDOF safe harbor.  I think that we can agree that Assad's brutal terror regime in Syria is the real problem with the situation in the Middle East.  Thank you, Mr. President.
IRAN:  thank you, Mr. Chairman.  I would like to reply to the reference just made by the Representative of the Israeli regime to my country.  In name of clarifying the real problems of the region, the Representative of the Israeli regime tried to divert attention from the real problem in this region, which is the criminal policies and abhorrent atrocities of this regime.
The illegal Israeli policies and practices against the Palestinian people, including, inter alia, the intensification of the illegal Israeli activities, widespread violence against Palestinians, the devastating blockade against the Gaza Strip, the illegal construction of the apartheid wall and the destructive impact of the socioeconomic condition of the Palestinians in Jerusalem, the incidents of the mass imprisonment and administrative detentions, the routine demolition of homes and the resulting displacement of Palestinians, all of which are just the tip of the iceberg, show that this regime is continuing and even intensifying its heinous crimes against oppressed, defenseless Palestinian people.
The real problem of this region is occupation.  Today my country voted in favor of all the resolutions under the Agenda Items 35 and 36 concerning the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East in order to show solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Iran continues to emphasize the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and believes that the resolution of the Palestinian crisis is achievable only if those rights are fully restored.
Due to lack of attention to the root causes of the problem, this conflict has remained unsolved for more than six decades.  A durable peace is only possible through the end of the occupation of the Palestinian territory by the Israeli regime and the return of all Palestinian refugees to their homeland.  Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC:  Thank you, Mr. President, for giving me the floor to respond to the claims made by the Representative of the Israeli occupation forces.  It is clear that the Representative of the occupation authorities, having listened to all these condemnations of Israeli policies of aggression, and having seen the great support to the draft resolutions we have just adopted could not find a way to get out of this awkward position other than leveling baseless accusations and false claims against member states of the United Nations that have not spared even countries that are considered supporters of the Israeli entity.
Mr. President, our statement and the statements by other member states in this hall today were not in the vein of lecturing, as the representative of the occupation authorities claims.  These statements cited facts that are included in various United Nations reports and documents, and what has been announced by officials of this organization.  If that representative does not understand these facts, then he would be in need of several lectures, not only one on international law and the United Nations Charter.
The representative of the Israeli occupation authorities should get out of his cocoon and see the facts of Israel's violations of international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions, including occupation and the annexation of other people's territories by force.
Mr. President, the Israeli occupation forces put forward the pretext of humanitarian assistance to justify providing assistance and treatment to terrorist member -- to members of terrorists groups near its borders.  However, it goes without saying that humanitarian considerations should not include terrorists of the Al Qaeda organization, and then return them, having been treated, to their areas of activity to continue their terrorist acts that threaten both civilians and the authorities.
Imagine, ladies and gentlemen, that a country would treat the injured of ... [?] [00:50:18] in its hospitals and then return them to Syria or Iraq to continue with their terrorist and criminal activities, then come to this hall and claim that it is providing humanitarian assistance on a purely humanitarian basis.  What Israel is doing in the separation area can only be called assistance to terrorists.
On this occasion, Mr. President, this Israeli support to terrorist groups in the separation area has been documented in recently Secretary-General reports on UNDOF that clearly indicated that Israel is treating the injured of these armed groups, and that UNDOF has noted that Israel delivered closed boxes to these groups across the separation region, area.  Thank you.
PAKISTAN:  Thank you, Mr. Chairman.  I'm also exercising our right of reply in response to the comments just made by the Representative of Israel.  Mr. President, Pakistan is at the forefront of fighting terrorism.  We are fighting violent extremism.  The remarks by Israel are therefore gratuitous.  It's an attempt to divert attention of the international community and this august body from the real issue that we are discussing today.
Mr. President, I think the Distinguished Representative of Israel forgot that what we are discussing today is the Middle East, not Pakistan.  Thank you.
ISRAEL:  Thank you, Mr. President, and I regret that I have to take the floor again.  I will be brief.  Mr. President, in response to the Iranian statement that we heard right now, well, I have to tell you that the statement by the Deputy Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Naim Qassem that I quoted right now was taken from Iranian media, and it is in line with other statements made earlier during the weekend by IRGC high-rank officials admitting that Iran transferred arms to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
So I have to say that it seems that the Iranian delegate simply cannot -- will not be able to hide the truth behind his rhetoric.  Iran is a fact.  Iran is destabilizing the Middle East.  Iran is illegally -- Iran illegally transfers arms to its proxy terror organizations in the Middle East, either Hamas, Hezbollah and many more.
I have to say -- I have to reply also to the Syrian delegate, who was speaking about UN Charter principles and international law.  I would just echo some of the numbers.  Again, we're speaking about 220,000 victims, murdered civilians by the Syrian regime.  We're speaking about 7.6 million IDPs, internally displaced persons.  We're speaking about 3.2 million refugees in Syria as a result of the Syrian atrocities, the Syrian government's atrocities, and 220,000 that actually still live in besieged areas in hunger by -- besieged by the Syrian armed forces, the regime armed forces.
So, please, do not preach me about -- and do not -- Well, again, the reference to the UN Charter principles and international humanitarian law as heard by the Syrian delegate is simply absurd.  Thank you.  Thank you very much.
BOLIVIA:  Thank you, Mr. President.  I'd like to take this opportunity to make it known that my delegation for the purposes of the record would like to say that we voted in favor of the people of Palestine in Resolutions A/69/L.21 and A/69/L.22.  You will see this formally reflected in the document that will be published.  Thank you, sir.
SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC:  Thank you, Mr. President, for giving me the floor once again.  It seems that the Representative of the occupation authorities, who would not refrain from repeating those fictional figures of his, he was disturbed, it seems, from my references to the United Nations Charter and the international humanitarian law.  And there is no wonder, since it seems that Israel has never heard of these principles and doctrines.  Otherwise, we wouldn't be here discussing Israeli practices in occupied Arab territories.
Mr. President, the Representative of the occupation authorities can only make false claims and fabrications, and he's only hiding a black record of crimes against humanity and crimes of war, weapons that -- and provide weapons that are used to kill Palestinians and Palestinians, to stand against the will of the international community and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, the policies of illegal settlements and aggression.  This is all that Israel can provide, and nothing else.  Thank you.
IRAN:  Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.  I'm taking the floor again in exercise of right of reply to the remarks made by the representative of the Israeli regime.  It is regrettable that a representative of a regime which is the main sponsor of state terrorism criticizes others who give moral support to freedom fighters and those who fight against foreign occupation of their homeland.
It is obvious that making baseless allegations against my country cannot justify or assist that regime in hiding its long list of crimes and atrocities, which include, but is not limited to, occupation, aggression, militarism, state terrorism and masterminding the assassination of innocent Iranian nuclear scientists and crimes against humanity. Thank you very much.
CHINA:  Thank you, Mr. President.  The Chinese delegation voted in favor of all the six draft resolutions adopted today.  However, for some technical reasons with regard to A/69/L.25, the Chinese vote was not accurately reflected.  We have already asked the Secretariat to correct that mistake, and the correct result will appear in the formal publication to be issued by the Secretariat.  Thank you.
CHAIRMAN:  We take note of the statement of the Representative of China.  The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of Agenda Item 35.  The meeting is adjourned.
[END]