A/74/PV.38 General Assembly

At the outset, I would like to express my thanks and appreciation to the Secretary-General, and through him to all the staff of the United Nations, for the importance they attach to the question of Palestine and the Arab-Israeli conflict as a whole and for his efforts towards achieving a just and comprehensive peace to restore the rights and strengthen security and stability in the Middle East and the world. My delegation would also like to express Tunisia’s appreciation for the tireless efforts of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights and their work to mobilize international support for the rights of the Palestinian people and raise the awareness of the international community of the urgent need for the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian question. I would like to particularly thank Ambassador Cheikh Niang, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Senegal, for his valuable work in his capacity as Chair of the Committee. In that regard, we commend draft resolutions A/74/L.14, A/74/L.15, А/74/L.16 and А/74/L.17, which are before us today, and confirm our support for all of them. Support for the Palestinian question is one of the pillars of Tunisia’s foreign policy. We reiterate our President’s message on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people regarding our ongoing commitment to the important and just Palestinian cause and our solidarity with the struggling Palestinian people and their heroic actions to reverse the historical injustice that they have suffered for many decades, restore their legitimate, imprescriptible rights, including their inalienable rights, and establish an independent State of Palestine, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. Tunisia also calls on all people of conscience throughout the world and those who support peace to work seriously towards achieving a lasting, just, genuine and comprehensive peace that would end the aggressive practices of the occupying Power and its racist, inhumane and systematic aggressions against the innocent Palestinian people so that they may enjoy freedom, independence and dignity like other peoples. Tunisia will always uphold its pledge to promote its principled position in support of the Palestinian cause in all regional and international forums, as well as all to support international efforts to lay the groundwork for a just peace that would fully restore the rights of the legitimate owners and, ultimately, achieve lasting peace and security for humankind. Given the ongoing Israeli practices and resolutions that seek to impose a fait accompli policy and change the historical and legal status of Jerusalem and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory, we call on the international community and countries of the region to fully shoulder their responsibility and compel the occupying Power to respect international legitimacy and put an end to settlement activities and its flagrant violations of international law, the terms of reference of the peace process and all Israel’s efforts to thwart all serious efforts for a just settlement of the question of Palestinian, leading to instability and tension in the region. Tunisia reiterates its deep concern regarding the indifference of the occupying Power to the humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian people. In that context, we reiterate today our call to the donors to continue their economic and financial support to the Palestinian National Authority. We emphasize the urgent need to continue and increase international financial support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in order to enable it continue its humanitarian role by providing basic and fundamental services to ensure full respect for the dignity of refugees.

At the outset, allow me to express our profound appreciation to the Chair of the Special Committee for his introduction of draft resolutions A/74/L.14, A/74/L.15, А/74/L.16 and А/74/L.17 and to the Vice-Chair for presenting the annual report of the Committee (A/74/35). It is our fervent belief that the agenda item on the question of Palestine and the four draft resolutions that have been put before us today are important and remain relevant as part of our effort to achieve a just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The international community must not wait for another 50 years of occupation, filled with the tragic grievances and suffering of the Palestinian people. As we all know, in the past year alone, the Palestinians have endured an unprecedented situation, caused by various arbitrary and unilateral measures by the occupying Power. These include the closure of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron, the withholding of Palestinian tax revenues and provocations at the Al Haram Al-Sharif, to name just a few. More upsetting is the continued expansion of illegal settlements and demolition of Palestinian homes, all of which continue to diminish the prospects for the two-State solution. With such measures, a gradual, inhumane and de facto annexation is unfolding before our eyes. The negative impact of Israeli settlements and settlers’ violence on the economic and social rights of Palestinians, as well as on the environment, is apparent. Furthermore, we are witnesses to the deterioration of the human rights and humanitarian situation of the Palestinians in Gaza on account of the numerous and perpetual violations of the occupying Power. Against that backdrop, allow me to underline the following points. First, we need to be reminded of the true nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As reiterated in the report of the Committee, this is not a conflict between two equal parties over a disputed territory. It is a conflict between an occupying State, which imposes colonization policies in the territory of another State, under oppressive, inhumane and discriminatory conditions. As a result, the response cannot be simply a matter of promoting a just and peaceful resolution between two parties on a level playing field. Most importantly, it is about safeguarding and preserving the rights and territories of the people under occupation. The question of Palestine must therefore remain one of the priorities of the United Nations. With that in mind, let me make my second point, on the need to ensure that multilateralism is at the heart of any peace initiative. Indonesia would like to reiterate its call that multilateralism should be our guiding principle to bring lasting peace and security to the region. We need to reinvigorate the spirit of multilateralism, based on the rule of law and the Charter of the United Nations. All parties, including those trying to mediate the conflict, must ensure respect for international law and the principle of multilateralism. Finally, the internationally agreed parameters pertaining to the Palestine issue must be fully respected. That includes the final-status issues concerning the borders, settlements, refugees and the subject of Jerusalem. With regard to the holy city, we must uphold and respect the historic status quo of the holy sites in Jerusalem. It is the shared responsibility of the international community to preserve the legal, demographic, historical and multi-religious character and status of the city. As the report of the Committee clearly points out, any unilateral decision by Member States to recognize the holy city of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is null and void and in violation of Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 476 (1980) and 478 (1980). Indonesia calls on the international community to respect and protect the holy city and its status. To conclude, Indonesia recommits to the two-State solution, consistent with relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2334 (2016), and in accordance with the Quartet road map, the Arab Peace Initiative and the principle of land for peace. Indonesia will continue to support the Palestinian people until their inalienable rights are fulfilled.

Efforts to bring about a lasting settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have come to a standstill. Only a negotiated two-State solution can provide lasting peace, security and prosperity for both peoples. The security situation in and around Gaza remains fragile and unstable. Norway is deeply concerned about the recurring flare-ups of violence and the high number of lives lost. All parties have an obligation to protect civilians and refrain from actions that could reignite the conflict. We commend the efforts and good work of Egypt and the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process to prevent the situation from escalating. We encourage all parties to abstain from unilateral actions that obstruct a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Norway’s position on the Israeli settlements and the annexation of occupied territories remains firm. They are in contravention of international law. All actions taken towards further settlement expansion and annexations, as well as house demolitions, including in East Jerusalem, are unacceptable and will undermine the possibility of achieving a negotiated two-State solution. It is incumbent upon Fatah, Hamas and other Palestinian factions to commit to reconciliation and to once again reunifying Palestine under one legitimate political authority. We regret to note that the Palestinian Authority is not providing the needed medical supplies to Gaza. In New York on 26 September, Norway chaired a ministerial meeting of the international donor group to Palestine, the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians (AHLC). The meeting affirmed the broad international support for a negotiated two-State solution as the basis for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The AHLC members called for immediate steps to remedy the dire financial situation of the Palestinian Authority. In that respect, we welcome the arrangements reached between the two parties on financial issues following the AHLC meeting. We encourage Israel and the Palestinian Authority to extend their dialogue with a view to finding durable solutions to other outstanding economic issues. When the AHLC reconvenes in Brussels in the spring of 2020, we must ensure that the dialogue has resulted in tangible progress on the ground. As underlined by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, facilitating trade and opening up Area C in the West Bank for Palestinian use are preconditions for a more sustainable Palestinian economy. In September, the AHLC members also urged donors to step up humanitarian and other support for Gaza. There is an urgent need for improved access to clean water and energy, job creation and increased movement of people and goods in and out of Gaza. We welcome the recent calls for general elections in Palestine. We encourage all parties to act constructively in facilitating and holding free and fair elections across Palestine, including in East Jerusalem and Gaza. Norway stands ready to offer support. The need for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) remains greater than ever, both as a service provider for the most vulnerable people and as a stabilizing element in the region. Norway remains a reliable partner of UNRWA. We are committed to continuing our financial and political support to the Agency until there is a political solution to the refugee issue. We urge all donors to continue supporting UNRWA, especially when the organization is facing financial and political challenges. As a consistent partner, Norway has a long-standing commitment to working for peace and security in the Middle East. Supporting the conditions for a just and lasting peace for the Palestinian and Israeli peoples will remain a key priority of our foreign policy.

At the outset, I would like to thank the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and its Chair, Mr. Cheikh Niang, for the Committee’s valuable and tireless efforts to support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and for overseeing a number of executive programmes to allow the Palestinian people to enjoy their rights and establish an independent State, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. The Kingdom of Morocco, whose King Mohammed VI presides over the Al-Quds Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, is following with great concern the illegal Israeli practices in the occupied Palestine territory, especially attempts to change the legitimate and historical status of Jerusalem, the ongoing settlement activities that compromise the rights of the Palestinian people and repeated attacks against Al-Aqsa mosque. Such practices conflate the Palestinian cause with the labyrinths of conflicts, including sectarian and ideological ones, undermining the prospects for achieving lasting peace in the region. A few days ago, the international community commemorated the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, on the occasion of which His Majesty King Mohammed VI expressed his solidarity with the brotherly Palestinian people in a letter sent to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. His Majesty the King of Morocco reaffirmed his country’s long-standing position and continued support for the Palestinian people in order to restore their legitimate and just rights to establish their own independent State within the borders of 4 June 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with relevant resolutions of international legitimacy. In his letter of solidarity, His Majesty the King of Morocco stated that “[a]ny attempt to relaunch the peace process can be achieved only once there is an end to the settlement policy in the occupied Palestinian territory”. In that context, we reiterate our call on the Security Council and the international community to act swiftly to preserve the legal and historical status of the occupied Palestinian territory and to implement Security Council resolution 2334 (2016), which calls for an end to settlement activities and states that settlements are illegal. The Kingdom of Morocco believes that East Jerusalem is an integral part of the Palestinian territory occupied in 1967 and is the capital of the State of Palestine. East Jerusalem is therefore one of the final-status issues that must be addressed through negotiations between the Israeli and Palestinian sides. It is also the heart of the conflict in the Middle East and is central to achieving any political solution between the two parties. We, as Chair of the Al-Quds Committee, have consistently called for the preservation of the unity of Al-Quds Al-Sharif, its sanctity and religious dimensions, and its special status as a city of peace. In our appeal concerning Al-Quds, signed in the presence of His Holiness Pope Francis during his visit to the Kingdom of Morocco on 30 March, we stressed the importance of preserving the status of that holy city as a symbol of humankind’s common heritage, peaceful coexistence and the three monotheistic religions and as a centre for dialogue and mutual respect. We also believe that unilateral measures against Al-Quds Al-Sharif undermine its status, its symbolism and its legitimate religious and cultural dimensions and are null and void, have no legal impact and contravene the relevant Security Council resolutions 476 (1980) 478 (1980). His Majesty the King also stated, “More than 2 million Palestinians are suffering collective punishment in Gaza as a result of the blockade that has been imposed on them for 12 years, undermining their standards of living and health and the provision of basic services. The blockade must be lifted because its continuation in that part of Palestinian territory will increase instability and frustration and despair.” Achieving peace and security in the Middle East is contingent on a just solution for the question of Palestine, which will be achieved only through the revival of negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis. The international community must therefore use innovative resolve to bring the two parties back to dialogue in order implement the two-State solution based on the borders of 4 June 1967, with East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine. Those negotiations must be based on proper foundations and good faith, in accordance with a specified time frame that restores trust between the parties, laying the foundations for a viable Palestinian State living side by side with Israel in peace and security, in line with the resolutions of international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative. We also appreciate efforts to achieve lasting peace and security in the Middle East.

South Africa joins others at this meeting in thanking the President for his able leadership of the General Assembly. Last Wednesday, we gathered in the Trusteeship Council Chamber to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People 42 years after this organ established the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. It is South Africa’s hope that the commemoration, as well as the work of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, will galvanize global action towards ending the occupation of Palestine. South Africa urges the global community to act purposefully towards a just and peaceful end of the occupation, in line with international law. We are concerned by the actions of the Government of Israel, which seek to exclude the final-status issues, thereby disregarding Security Council resolutions on the Middle East peace process. A just ending of the occupation must address the disputes regarding the borders for a viable two-State solution, the return of all Palestinian refugees and the status of East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian State, as well as the halting of all illegal settlements. South Africa remains concerned and condemns the continued illegal settlement expansion by Israel, in contravention of international law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949. The illegal settlement expansion has also been called by the Security Council a flagrant violation of international law with no legal validity. The ongoing Israeli settlement activity in the occupied territories is therefore a fundamental obstacle to a return to negotiations and a grave threat to the very existence of a future Palestinian State. This encroachment on a future Palestinian State further undermines the security of both Palestine and Israel, sowing long-term animosity and hatred among the people and making the idea of two independent States living side by side in peace ever more elusive. South Africa calls for the effective and immediate implementation of resolution 2334 (2016), in particular the Security Council’s demand that Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and that it fully respect all of its legal obligations in that regard. We reiterate our position that there can be no military solution to the conflict and that peaceful negotiation is the only means of ensuring lasting peace, security and stability. In that regard, South Africa once again calls on all parties to negotiate in good faith in order to reach a permanent and just solution. South Africa is deeply concerned at the recent activities in Gaza that have led to increased tensions, the killing of more than 30 Palestinians and injuries to hundreds of Palestinians and Israelis. Such actions have perpetuated the dire security and humanitarian situation in the area. We welcome last week’s ceasefire announcement, brokered by the United Nations and Egypt. In that regard, we call for a cessation of violent attacks against both sides and for all sides to resume negotiations. South Africa is also concerned at the continued human rights violations in the occupied territories and again reiterate that such violations only contribute to the fostering hatred between the people of Palestine and of Israel. South Africa expresses its deep concern regarding the budgetary shortfall that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) presently faces. We therefore continue to appeal to the international community to continue to increase its support and humanitarian assistance to UNRWA, which seeks to restore the dignity of the Palestinian people by improving their living conditions through the provision of emergency relief, health and social services and decent housing and access to education. For its part, South Africa remains committed to its financial contribution to UNRWA in order to assist the Agency to effectively carry out its mandate in addressing the plight of Palestine refugees. The conflict between Palestinians and Israelis is a source of wider regional tension, undermining peace, economic development, sociopolitical progression and security throughout the entire Middle East region. Peace will remain elusive in the region if the question of Palestine is not resolved. Finally, South Africa believes that ending the occupation is in the interest of both Israel and Palestine, and we call on both parties to take concrete steps to that end.

Allow me to read out the statement made by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Iraq, Mr. Barham Salih, before the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, which we commemorated in the United Nations Headquarters. “On this International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, on behalf of the Iraqi people we reiterate our solidarity with that brotherly people and affirm our tireless commitment to continuing to raise international awareness of the historical importance of this annual celebration, which coincides with the General Assembly’s adoption in 1947 of resolution 181 (II). That resolution, on the partition of Palestine, recognizes the peculiar responsibility of the United Nations for the oppression and damage that have now been sustained by the Palestinian people for nearly 72 years. It also constitutes legal recognition of the just cause of the Palestinian people and the commitment of the international community to the necessary restoration of their legitimate rights, in accordance with the resolutions of the General Assembly and as the culmination of their just struggle to pursue self-determination and the need to end the Israeli occupation of their territory and homeland. “On this International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, the Republic of Iraq reiterates its firm position that a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian question is possible only through the establishment of a fullfledged independent Palestinian State within the borders of 4 June 1967, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, in accordance the resolutions of international legitimacy. We urge action to be taken to implement the provisions of international agreements, the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international humanitarian law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention. We also reject any step that runs counter to international law in relation to Jerusalem. We call on the States of the world that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine to do so as soon as possible. We call for support for the aspirations of our brother Palestinian people to exercise their legitimate rights, which would greatly enhance and consolidate security, stability and peace in the Middle East. “The Republic of Iraq expresses its strong condemnation of all Israeli aggressions against the Palestinian territory and its unwavering support for the Palestinian Government and solidarity with the Palestinian people. We also call on all our Palestinian brethren to pursue efforts for democratic dialogue and consensus in order to achieve constructive reconciliation and consolidate Palestinian national unity as a shield for defending their legitimate rights.”

Following the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People last week (see A/AC.183/PV.398), today we join the international community in reaffirming once again our unwavering commitment to the inalienable rights of the people of Palestine to self-determination and our principled position in favour of establishing the State of Palestine on the basis of the two-State solution and the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. We reiterate our support for the draft resolutions to be considered at this session. The Palestine question has been one of the most regrettable and long-standing crises of human history. It remains one of the root causes of the many other crises in the Middle East and also in other parts of the world. Yet a peaceful, just and viable political solution to the issue continues to elude the international community. Rather, we are at a time when the cause of Palestine is experiencing unprecedented existential challenges, particularly due to the absence of any serious political and legal actions by the international community to end Israel’s illegal, decades-long foreign occupation in the occupied Palestinian territory. My delegation strongly condemns the persistent and systematic violations of international law and norms in the occupied Palestinian territory, killing of innocent Palestinians, including children, escalating military offensives and all other provocative actions by Israel, the occupying Power. The expansion of Israeli settlements is changing the demography of the occupied territory. The illegal Israeli blockade is making the already volatile situation more perilous, thereby exacerbating the humanitarian catastrophe. More and more Palestinian civilians are being made homeless and forced to live under inhuman conditions. Ongoing assaults on Islamic and Christian holy places, particularly the Al-Aqsa Mosque, constitute the most blatant manifestations of the injustice committed against the Palestinian people. We are deeply concerned by the ongoing deteriorating socioeconomic situation of the Palestinian people, particularly the challenges faced by them in realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Israeli occupation has been contributing directly to prolonged poverty, unemployment, declining industrialization and slow development in the occupied Palestinian territory. The achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals will fail miserably if our Palestinian brothers and sisters continue to languish in their political, social, economic and cultural hardship. The international community must deliver on its commitment to leave no one behind by giving due attention to the legitimate rights and needs of the Palestinians. We are concerned that the programmes of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which over the years have been providing essential humanitarian services to the refugees, are facing a serious budgetary shortfall. We urge the international community to come forward in a collective show of generosity to ensure enhanced, predictable and sustainable funding for UNRWA. Israel’s continued acts of aggression have given rise to an egregious culture of impunity, which undermines the viability of the State of Palestine. Under such circumstances, the international community must fulfil its responsibility to ensure accountability for all Israeli violations, upholding the rule of international law and providing protection for the Palestinian people in the occupied territory. The international community should continue to apply all international legal mechanisms to end the occupation. Bangladesh believes that the timely implementation of the relevant United Nations resolutions, the road map, the Arab Peace Initiative and the efforts made by the Quartet is of paramount importance to achieving a lasting peace for the people and the State of Palestine and in the Middle East. We reaffirm our support for the accession of the State of Palestine to the international organizations and treaties and reiterate our call for its admission as a full member of the United Nations. During the war of liberation in 1971, our people had to endure the worst form of genocide. That inspires us to stand by oppressed people throughout the world. That is why our Constitution enshrines our nation’s unequivocal support for oppressed peoples throughout the world waging a just struggle. That also underpins our adherence to the fundamentals of a rulesand value-based international order. Driven by our constitutional and moral obligations, we did not hesitate to respond to the call of distressed humanity and opened our doors to host 1.2 million of Rohingyas fleeing atrocity crimes in Myanmar. These painful experiences only embolden our resolve to stand firmly by our Palestinian brothers and sisters in their just struggle for self-determination, peace, stability and justice. I would like to conclude by quoting from the message delivered by our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People: “We urge all concerned to be pragmatic in their approach and walk together, hand in hand, for the establishment of an independent homeland for the Palestinian people where they can live in peace and in dignity side by side with their neighbours.”

We have heard the last speaker in the debate on this item. The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 35.

I now give the floor to the representative of Egypt to introduce draft resolution A/74/L.9.

At the outset, on behalf of Egypt, I would like to express my gratitude for the convening of this meeting under agenda item 34, “The situation in the Middle East”, to consider draft resolution A/74/L.9, entitled “The Syrian Golan”, presented to the General Assembly annually by the representative of Egypt. The Arab region has faced a number of crises over the past few years, undermining its security and stability and increasing the suffering of its people. The crises prevailing in the region have led to increasing suffering as a result of the Israeli occupation of Arab territories since the war of 5 June 1967. If we all hope to see improved security and stability in the near future through the settlement of such crises, particularly in the brotherly country of Syria, we must remember that the Middle East region will have no security, stability and lasting peace without the liberation of the Arab territories of Palestine and the Syrian Golan that have been occupied in 1967. The international community must adopt a serious position with regard to the decades-long occupation of the Syrian Golan. No progress has been made in implementing the resolutions of international legitimacy, particularly General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, or in ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, all of which stress the illegality of the annexation of the territories of other States by force and the non-recognition of any change to the borders of 4 June 1967 due to the Israeli occupation. Egypt remains convinced that the settlement of the crises in the Middle East can be achieved only on the basis of international law and by implementing the resolutions of international legitimacy, particularly United Nations resolutions. In the context of its commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter, Egypt has annually endeavoured to put forward a draft resolution on the Syrian Golan to the General Assembly to reaffirm the commitment of the international community to the inadmissibility of the occupation of other territories by force and to reaffirm the resolutions of international legitimacy, particularly Security Council resolution 497 (1981) and all other relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions. This year’s draft resolution on the Syrian Golan has kept last year’s wording, except for a technical update. It reaffirms Security Council resolution 497 (1981) and the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, including the inadmissibility of the annexation of territories by force. It also reaffirms the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 1949, to the occupied Syrian Golan, In addition, the draft resolution confirms the illegality of Israel’s settlement construction and other activities in the occupied Syrian Golan and that the ongoing Israeli occupation of the Syrian Golan is impeding comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region. It calls on Israel to resume peace talks with a view to withdrawing from the occupied Syrian Golan to the borders of 4 June 1967, in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions. Egypt hopes that all Member States, in particular those which belong to the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, the Group of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, will support the draft resolution, as they did last year, so that we can all reaffirm the importance of our commitment to international law, the inadmissibility of annexing the territories of others by force and the need to respect the United Nations Charter. Egypt aspires to peace and stability in the Middle East so that future generations can enjoy the fruits of security and comprehensive development and the region can turn the page on the current crises. Egypt sees no other way to achieve that than by respecting the resolutions of international legitimacy, international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

First of all, I would like to express my thanks to the Permanent Representative of Egypt for introducing draft resolution A/74/L.9, on the Syrian Golan. I also thank all the sponsors and Member States that will vote in favour of it. The General Assembly has had the situation in the Middle East on its agenda every year since its twentyfifth session in 1970. Every session, the Assembly urges Israel to end its occupation of Arab territories, stressing that any measure taken by Israel to impose its laws, sovereignty and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan is null and void, illegal and without effect. The Assembly’s position has been in full harmony with that of the Security Council when it unanimously adopted resolution 497 (1981). We have recently seen a number of unilateral actions and provocations. The perpetrators of those acts are trying to exploit the international community’s inability to implement its own resolutions on ending the Israeli occupation in order to distort the facts, shirk their legal commitments and bypass the terms of reference with the aim of perpetuating the Israeli occupation. Examples of that include the United States Administration recognizing occupied Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, its recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan and its attempt, only a few days ago, to legitimize colonization. In that context, the Government of my country would like to reiterate its strongest condemnation of the decisions of the United States Administration, which constitute flagrant violations of international law, the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant United Nations resolutions. We consider the decisions to be unilateral actions by a party that has neither the status nor the political, legal or moral competence to decide the fate of the peoples of the world or to dispose of territories that it does not possess and that are, in this case, an integral part of the territories of the Syrian Arab Republic and occupied Palestine. The blind support of a number of Governments of United Nations Member States has encouraged the Israeli occupying Power to continue violating international law and the provisions of the Charter. Israel has continued to carry out aggressions and attacks on the territories of the Syrian Arab Republic and other neighbouring countries. It has pursued its attempts to change the history of the occupied Syrian Golan, to loot the territory’s antiquities and wealth and to alter its demographics by confiscating the lands of Syrian citizens residing there, with the aim of expanding illegitimate settlements and engaging in new occupation projects. It forces our people living in the Golan to register their land with the Israeli Administration — land which they inherited from their fathers and grandfathers before them — and threatens to confiscate the land if they oppose the policy. It has also organized what it falsely called local elections. All of those actions constitute serious violations of international law and international humanitarian law, to which some parties apply flagrant double standards and hypocrisy. In addition, Israel, the occupying Power, continues to implement its policy of repression, racial discrimination, arbitrary detention and terrorism against Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan. It conducts so-called trials that are in fact mock trials. One such example is that of Sidqi Suleiman Al-Maqt, who has been arbitrarily detained for exposing Israel’s cooperation with terrorist organizations, including the Al-Nusra Front, in the buffer zone in the occupied Syrian Golan. We call on the international community to act immediately to free that prisoner and all other prisoners held in Israeli prisons. Naturally, the Israeli occupation would never have taken place and could never have continued, posing grave danger to the region and its peace and security, without the support and assistance of some powerful Governments that are Members of the United Nations. They provide a lifeline to the Israeli occupation by supporting it politically, militarily, economically and financially and by covering up its crimes in international forums, thereby making them direct accomplices in all the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against our States, our peoples, justice and the law. We call on the United Nations to immediately take all measures to implement its resolutions designed to end the Israeli occupation of occupied Arab territories. We reiterate the affirmation of our sovereign right over the occupied Syrian Golan within the borders of 4 June 1967. That right is not subject to negotiation or compromise and will never be time-bound. We will never waive our right to recover our occupied territory by all means permissible under the Charter, the principles of international law and United Nations resolutions. Syria once again recalls its consistent principled position in support of the Palestinian people in their struggle to achieve self-determination, to establish their independent State on their entire national territory, with Jerusalem as its capital, and to guarantee the right of return of refugees in keeping with resolution 194 (III). We reiterate our request to grant full membership to the State of Palestine. In conclusion, I call on all States to support draft resolution A/74/L.9, entitled “The Syrian Golan” and other resolutions on Palestine.

The Maldives would like to express its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his report (A/74/333) on this agenda item and his continuing efforts towards achieving peace and stability in the Middle East. The Maldives remains deeply concerned about the precarious situation in the Middle East. Millions of people continue to suffer, living their lives amid conflict, terrorist attacks and other forms of violence. The international community must do better. Peace in the Middle East is crucial to enabling the people of the region to achieve their fundamental rights, stability and progress, as well as for the world. The question of Palestine is one of the longeststanding issues before the General Assembly. It has remained unresolved for seven long decades, owing to a lack of effective action on the part of the international community. The Government of the Maldives is greatly concerned about the latest developments in Palestine. The ongoing conflict continues to result in human rights violations and humanitarian crises. Palestinian people are being killed by live ammunition during non-violent demonstrations, and many others are suffering life-altering injuries. Waking up to the sound of bullets and not knowing if their loved ones will make it home alive is a grim reality for the people of Palestine. That is unacceptable. Such acts of brutality also affect the unborn, as mothers and fathers struggle with traumatic stress. As the international community, we cannot ignore the plight of people living in such dire conditions. We must ensure the protection of the people of Palestine. The plight of the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination will always remain a priority for the Maldives. Our position on Israel’s settlements and related activities in the occupied Palestinian territory remains unchanged. We reaffirm Security Council resolution 2334 (2016), which states that all settlement activities violate international law. We further remind Member States of Security Council resolutions 476 (1980) and 478 (1980), which declared that actions by Israel to change the status of the holy city of Jerusalem are in contravention of international law. We call on our fellow Member States, as responsible members of the international community, to respect the decisions of the Security Council, bearing in mind the implications for peace, security and stability. The continuation of those illegal acts erodes the viability of a two-State solution and the prospects for lasting peace. The Maldives reaffirms its unwavering support for a two-State solution. We stand with Palestine in its quest to establish its own State alongside Israel, on the basis of the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. We urge Israel to respect international law so that the people of Palestine can enjoy meaningful and lasting peace and live in dignity. The Maldives also remains greatly concerned about the ongoing conflicts in Yemen and Syria. In Yemen, the world’s worst humanitarian crisis continues to unfold amid a brutal conflict that has now been raging for almost five years. Eighty per cent of the Yemeni population, some 24 million people, are now dependent on aid to survive, while 12 million are on the brink of starvation. By the end of this year, the combined death toll from fighting and disease in Yemen is expected to reach 230,000. In Syria, meanwhile, the ongoing civil war continues to result in violence against civilians, human rights violations and the displacement of millions of people both inside and outside Syria’s borders. The international community simply must do better. Longlasting and stable political solutions to those conflicts must be pursued with greater urgency. That is the only way to ensure peace in the Middle East and a stable international order with security and prosperity for all. The Government and the people of the Maldives will always support a peaceful and lasting solution to the question of Palestine through a negotiated political settlement, as well as for other conflicts in the Middle East. We call on all parties to prioritize all efforts to restore stability in the region through peaceful means.

The region of the Middle East and North Africa is the cradle of our civilization and has always been a focus of the international community. This part of the world, which has important historical, civilizational, cultural and socioeconomic significance and impressive natural and human resources, has long attracted interest that has unfortunately not always been altruistic. First through colonial policies and now very recently through reckless external interference in the internal affairs of countries of the region designed to achieve regime change, the conditions have been created for a growing explosive potential in the Middle East and North Africa that has been detonated by numerous conflicts in various parts of the region. Russia has advocated and will continue to do so for political and negotiated solutions to the crises in the region. That quest should be conducted by the parties concerned themselves, with impartial international assistance under the auspices of the United Nations, and without the imposition of artificial solutions, deadlines or unrealistic conditions. That kind of process has enabled significant progress to be made in Syria. Thanks to the collective work of the participants in the Astana format, de-escalation and stabilization have been achieved in most of Syria. On 30 October, in accordance with the outcomes of the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi, the Constitutional Committee began its work. We will continue to assist Mr. Geir Pedersen, the Special Envoy of the Secretary- General for Syria, in his contacts with all the parties involved in the Syrian settlement so that the Syrians’ concerted work can be conducted without external interference in a professional and practical atmosphere. In order to definitively achieve peace in Syria, efforts are needed to rebuild the country’s war-torn economy. It is unacceptable and inhumane to continue to indefinitely impose new political conditions. We support a ceasefire in Libya — except for counterterrorism operations, of course — and a resumption of the negotiation process between all of Libya’s political forces, based on the previous understandings reached in Skhirat, Paris, Palermo and Abu Dhabi. We are ready to join realistic initiatives that can support the work of Special Representative Ghassan Salamé. We are in contact with all Libya’s stakeholders and are encouraging them to abandon armed confrontation and resolve their differences at the negotiating table. We remain hopeful that thanks to the hard work of Martin Griffiths, the Special Envoy of the Secretary General, we will soon be able to make progress on a settlement in Yemen. We welcomed the signing on 5 November in Riyadh of an agreement between the legitimate Yemeni authorities and the Southern Transitional Council in southern Yemen. It will be important to continue the efforts to bring together the conflicting Yemeni parties to discuss the parameters for a comprehensive settlement. We support the need for normalizing the situation in Iraq and Lebanon as soon as possible through a broad national dialogue. Establishing calm in those countries is essential for the entire region. Reducing tension in the region would also help to ease the artificially heightened tensions involving Iran. Creating blocs against one State of the region will not bring peace to the Middle East. We believe that the countries of the Middle East and North Africa must themselves work together to develop the parameters for collectively ensuring regional security. To do that, we must begin a dialogue. In that regard, we have proposed a concept for security in the Persian Gulf to the countries of the region. Unity among the Arab countries, primarily within the framework of the League of Arab States, with a view to developing a common vision for solving the core problems in the region and safeguarding the international law that underpins the modern world order, is essential to making progress in restoring stability in the Middle East and North Africa. Regardless of the issues we may be discussing, the key problem in the region remains the settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Shifting our focus from that onto other, sometimes artificial problems, skews our vision and makes us short-sighted. Genuine peace in the Middle East will not happen without a resolution of the Palestine issue. The only way to achieve a just solution to the Palestine problem is on the basis of the relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, the Madrid principles and the Arab Peace Initiative, which provide for the creation of an independent, sovereign and territorially contiguous Palestinian State within the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital. We share the concerns of the majority of Member States about the systematic unilateral steps being taken with regard to Palestine, which are eroding the prospects for the delineation of a historic Palestine as it was envisaged in resolution 181 (II), of 29 November 1947. Eliminating the very notion of a two-State solution from the customary international approach to this would lead to a conceptual revision of the foundations of a Middle East peace settlement and of the many years of the international community’s work on it. We disagree profoundly with the recent decision of the United States that it no longer considers Israel’s construction of settlements a violation of international law, with its excuse being that in this way it is recognizing what it calls the real situation on the ground, just as we disagree with its recognition of Israel’s sovereignty over the Syrian Golan. In the circumstances, it will be important for the representatives of the international community who are constructively disposed to support the generally accepted foundations for a settlement in the Middle East. We would like to coordinate activities with influential international players and the United Nations with the aim of returning to a collective approach to the quest for a solution. We very much appreciate the activities of the United Nations entities in the region, particularly the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which is helping to stabilize the situation. In that connection, we consider the efforts to discredit UNRWA and cut its funding short-sighted. The hope that the Palestinian refugee problem will disappear if UNRWA disappears is naive and dangerous. We hope that the change in UNRWA’s leadership will not affect the activities of the Agency, which for decades has shown itself to be essential and effective. Russia is contributing actively to strengthening stability and security in the Middle East and North Africa and working to bring to bear the potential of its ties to all the key players in the region. We urge for a collective effort based on agreed approaches in the interests of resolving its acute situations of conflict.

We have heard the last speaker in the debate on this item. I would like to inform members that we will take action on draft resolution A/74/L.9 after doing so on draft resolutions A/74/L.14, A/74/L.15, A/74/L.16 and A/74/L.17, submitted under agenda item 35. The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 34.

Before the Assembly takes action on the draft resolutions, one by one, members are reminded that they will have an opportunity to explain their vote on all four draft resolutions either before or after action is taken on all of them. We shall now proceed to consider draft resolutions A/74/L.14, A/74/L.15, A/74/L.16 and A/74/L.17. Before giving the floor to speakers in explanation of position or vote before the voting, I would like to remind delegations that explanations should be limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

My delegation has asked for the floor regarding the draft resolutions under agenda items 34 and 35, the Palestinian package. That group of redundant texts promotes a simplistic vision of the world according to which the Palestinians have all the virtues and Israel has all the vices. That vision absolutely ignores the fact that there are two perspectives on this complex issue — that of the Palestinians, of course, but also that of Israel. Israel’s concerns deserve to be heard too, and I will give a few examples in that regard. Two of those draft resolutions, A/74/L.14 and A/74/L.16, renew the mandates of two United Nations bodies, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights. The sole purpose of those bodies is to systematically promote anti-Israel bias in the United Nations and beyond. The existence of United Nations bodies that use United Nations resources to fund propaganda against a Member State is unparalleled and outrageous. The overall part of the United Nations budget allocated to the work of those two bodies amounts to more than $2.5 million for 2020. That does not include the cost of the additional United Nations resources used to support the ongoing work of those bodies. Many would agree with us that this is a blatant misuse of valuable United Nations resources that could certainly be put to more constructive use. It is our long-standing position that this group of resolutions only damage the prospects for peace and security in the Middle East. They entrench the Palestinian leadership in its maximalist agenda and its intransigence and reinforce the sentiment in Israel that the General Assembly is unable to play a constructive role in resolving this conflict. Lastly, they serve as an alibi for the worst regimes in the world, such as those in Tehran and Damascus, which never miss an opportunity to play the role of the defender of the rights of the Palestinians while continuing to slaughter their own populations. For those reasons and many more, we will vote against these draft resolutions, and we call on all delegations to do the same.

Brazil would like to reiterate its support for a peaceful, negotiated solution to the conflict that will see Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace and security. After decades of conflict, Brazil encourages all the parties involved to work for a constructive political environment conducive to a return to meaningful negotiations. That will require engaging in new and creative diplomatic efforts with an open mind in order to achieve a just and comprehensive settlement. Brazil welcomes the efforts of this year’s facilitators to streamline their draft proposals and to reduce the number of draft resolutions currently under consideration in both the General Assembly and its Second, Third and Fourth Committees. Nevertheless, there is a need for improvement with a view to achieving texts that are more balanced and less biased, especially with regard to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Division for Palestinian Rights. We regret that human resources have been devoted to bodies that have been used to promote one-sided narratives and biased views against one of the parties to the conflict without making any real contribution to a just, lasting, comprehensive and peaceful settlement. Brazil also wishes to reiterate the importance of the city of Jerusalem to the three main monotheistic religions. With regard to terminology, we especially want to recall the need to duly reflect that significance when referring to the Temple Mount or Haram Al-Sharif. Finally, Brazil reiterates its view that respect for international law, international humanitarian law and international human rights law is the cornerstone of peace and security in the region for all parties concerned.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote before the voting. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolutions A/74/L.14, A/74/L.15, A/74/L.16 and A/74/L.17. We first turn to draft resolution A/74/L.14, entitled “Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People”. I now give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I should like to announce that, since the submission of the draft resolution, and in addition to those delegations listed in the document, the following countries have also become sponsors of A/74/L.14: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Egypt, the Gambia, Guinea, Iraq, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Nicaragua, Oman, Somalia, South Africa, the State of Palestine, the Sudan, Tunisia, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Viet Nam.

A recorded vote has been requested.

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/74/L.15, entitled “Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine”. I now give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I should like to announce that, since the submission of the draft resolution, and in addition to those delegations listed in the document, the following countries have also become sponsors of A/74/L.15: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Brunei Darussalam, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Egypt, the Gambia, Guinea, Iraq, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Nicaragua, Oman, Somalia, South Africa, the State of Palestine, the Sudan, Tunisia, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Viet Nam.

A recorded vote has been requested.

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/74/L.16, entitled “Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat”. I now give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I should like to announce that, since the submission of the draft resolution, and in addition to those delegations listed in the document, the following countries have also become sponsors of A/74/L.16: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Egypt, the Gambia, Guinea, Iraq, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Nicaragua, Oman, Somalia, South Africa, the State of Palestine, the Sudan, Tunisia, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Viet Nam.

A recorded vote has been requested.

We turn next to draft resolution A/74/L.17, entitled “Special information programme on the question of Palestine of the Department of Global Communications of the Secretariat”. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I would like to announce that since the submission of draft resolution A/74/L.17, and in addition to those delegations listed in the document, the following countries have become sponsors of the draft resolution: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Brunei Darussalam, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Egypt, the Gambia, Guinea, Iraq, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Nicaragua, Oman, Somalia, South Africa, the Sudan, Tunisia, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Observer State of Palestine.

A recorded vote has been requested.

Before giving the floor for explanations of vote after the voting, I would like to remind delegations that explanations are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. I give the floor to the representative of Singapore.

I am speaking in explanation of our vote after the adoption of resolutions 74/10, 74/11, 74/12 and 74/13. Singapore voted in favour of resolution 74/10, entitled “Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People”, on the understanding that the reference in operative paragraph 2 to the “achievement ... of the two-State solution on the basis of the pre-1967 borders” should be interpreted in the same manner as set out in operative paragraph 1 of resolution 74/11, entitled “Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine”, which reads “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”.

We have heard the only speaker in explanation of vote after the voting. A delegation has asked to speak in exercise of the right of reply. I would like to remind members that statements in right of reply are limited to 10 minutes for the first intervention and five minutes for the second, and should be made by delegations from their seats. I now give the floor to the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

As usual, today the representative of the Israeli regime made unfounded claims contradicting the situation on the ground and against a number of countries, including Iran. I have no intention of dignifying his claims with an answer. His fallacies are used as tools to divert attention from the expansionist policies and brutalities of his regime. As my delegation stated earlier, this is another type of WMD in the hands of the Israeli regime — weapons of mass deception. Is it not very ironic that a regime that is famous for its atrocities, apartheid policies and war crimes, which are well documented in various United Nations organs and agencies, that is non-compliant with many United Nations resolutions and has occupied the lands of other peoples for many decades can allow itself to complain about condemnation of its actions? Against that backdrop of the 71 shameful years of its history, the officials of the Israeli regime should not speak about their intentions for the type of settlement they intend to arrive at with the Palestinian people, which can be boiled down to a mere few words — occupation, brutality, massacre and flagrant violation of the norms of humankind. It goes without saying that the Israeli regime has a long history of opportunistic policies misleading others and diverting attention from its inhumane and savage actions against innocent Palestinians and other nations in the Middle East. Israel, the last apartheid regime and the only one in the world that openly practices racism and has recently legalized it, seeks to ride a wave towards international legitimacy. We cannot ignore the fact that Israel’s occupations and racism are at the heart of all the conflicts in the Middle East. The repulsive Israeli occupation, which has brought so much suffering, caused so many crises and created so much instability and anger throughout the region, continues to be the primary spoiler of peace and stability in the region. The irony is that in his statement the Israeli representative complained that the condemnations of Israel’s 71 years of brutality against Palestinian people are discriminatory and unjust.

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 35.

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/74/L.9, entitled “The Syrian Golan”. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I would like to announce that since the submission of the draft resolution, and in addition to those delegations listed in document A/74/L.9, the following countries have also become sponsors of the draft resolution: Algeria, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco, Nicaragua, Oman, Senegal, Somalia, the Sudan, Tunisia and the State of Palestine.

A recorded vote has been requested. [Subsequently, the delegation of the Republic of Moldova informed the Secretariat that it had intended to abstain.]

Before giving the floor for explanations of vote, I would like to remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

Argentina would like to make the following explanation of vote on resolution 74/14, on the Syrian Golan, just adopted by the General Assembly. Argentina voted in favour of the resolution because we believe that its essential nature is linked to the unlawful acquisition of territory by force. Paragraph 4 of Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations prohibits the use or threat of use of force against the territory or territorial integrity of a State. At the same time, I want to clarify Argentina’s position on paragraph 6 of the resolution. Our vote is without prejudice to the content of that paragraph, specifically the reference to “the line of 4 June 1967”. In Argentina’s view, it is important to make progress on a solution to the Syrian-Israeli conflict in the Middle East with a view to ending the occupation of the Golan Heights. The Government of Argentina therefore once again reaffirms the importance of resuming negotiations to find a definitive solution to the situation in the Syrian Golan in accordance with Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973) and the principle of land for peace.

The United States once again opposed the five resolutions voted on today, which are entirely biased against Israel. These are in addition to the 10 other draft resolutions before the General Assembly this year that criticize Israel. Let me reiterate that this one-sided approach only undermines trust among Israelis, Palestinians and the international community and fails to create the kind of positive environment critical to achieving peace. We are deeply disappointed that despite support for reform, Member States continue to disproportionately single out Israel year after year through these types of resolution. It is regrettable that the United Nations, an institution founded on the idea that all nations should be treated equally, should be so often used by Member States to treat one particular State, Israel, unequally. Furthermore, several of the resolutions presented here today support United Nations bodies, such as the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, whose primary purpose, unbelievably, is to target Israel. These bodies cost the United Nations $6 million annually but bring us no closer to a peaceful solution to the conflict. They rather promote our culture of bias against Israel as demonstrated by the anti-Israeli tone in the events, publications and rhetoric produced by the bodies, and, even more concerning, consume scarce United Nations resources that could be better devoted to other priorities. These resolutions are quick to condemn all manner of Israeli actions but say almost nothing about terrorist attacks against innocent civilians. That is particularly apparent when we see Israel blamed for the situation in Gaza while none of these resolutions even mentions the name of Hamas or any armed groups in Gaza. As we have made clear at all levels of our Government, the United States remains firmly and consistently committed to achieving a comprehensive and lasting peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Resolutions like those introduced here today only distract from that process. One-sided resolutions do not help advance peace. The cause of peace will be served only when the bias promoted in these resolutions against Israel ends. The United States will continue to oppose every effort to delegitimize Israel and we thank the other Member States that joined us by voting against these resolutions today.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote after the voting. The observer of the observer State of Palestine has asked for the floor to make a statement.

On behalf of the State of Palestine and our delegation to the United Nations, I would like to express our gratitude to all the countries that voted in favour of the resolutions just adopted. This very strong demonstration of support for upholding international law and the position of the international community in finding a solution to this conflict is greatly appreciated. I believe that upholding international law as reflected in these resolutions is the essence of the work of the General Assembly. We debate, we discuss and we respect international law, and then, in a democratic way, we decide the content of these resolutions. I believe that this is a contribution by the international community to finding a solution to this conflict. We thank all the States Members of the United Nations for doing so. We also thank all those countries that introduced or sponsored the draft resolutions. Earlier this morning, we heard a speaker who said that the General Assembly decided how to deal with this conflict in 1947, through its adoption of resolution 181 (II). Following the same principle, if we respected the wishes of the General Assembly in 1947, we have to respect the wishes of the General Assembly in 1948, 1949, 2018 and 2019. We cannot be selective in our rationale: if the General Assembly votes in a way that I like, then the General Assembly is fair and balanced and respects international law, but when the General Assembly votes differently than I like, then it is biased, targets one country and acts unjustly. To go so far as to describe the General Assembly as morally bankrupt is disrespectful to all of us and to the United Nations itself. The United Nations is a collective body in which we peacefully debate and discuss how to resolve conflicts and find solutions to conflicts, as we were asked to do in accordance with the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter. We have to respect this wish. All States Members of the United Nations in this Hall who voted overwhelmingly in favour of today’s resolutions do not represent a group of people who not know what they are doing. They consult with their countries and with their Governments and they receive authorization and instructions to vote the way they do. We have to respect these wishes whether people vote in favour of the State of Palestine or not. We have to stop using double standards in dealing with the wishes of the United Nations. The membership of the General Assembly today is four times larger than it was in 1947, at the early stages of the establishment of United Nations. We are more democratic. More countries from all corners of the globe are represented in the General Assembly. Therefore, the wishes that were respected in welcoming one Member State into the Organization in 1947 — to its liking — should be no less respected than the wishes of 193 countries and two Observer States — one of which is the State of Palestine — to see us become the 194th Member State, in accordance with resolution 181 (II), which called for two States. One State came into being; the other is struggling for its independence. If the General Assembly makes a decision that is not to a country’s liking, subsequent to which the country concerned says that the General Assembly is irrelevant and biased and is targeting one country, we have to say that it does not work that way. We have a collective responsibility to defend multilateralism, the General Assembly and the United Nations, and honour and respect the wishes of the General Assembly conveyed in its resolutions in accordance with our obligations to under the Charter. Accordingly, we in Palestine say that we are ready and willing to implement the wishes of the General Assembly and the Security Council in their many resolutions on dealing with our conflict. Why is that one-sided? Why is that targeting Israel? Does it make sense that Israel has to be brought back into the fold and respect — as it claimed it respected resolution 181 (II) in 1947 — the wishes of the international community reflected in the relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions? We challenge anyone, including the representative of the State of Israel: we are ready and willing to implement the relevant United Nations resolutions on the question of Palestine and the conflict in the Middle East and, on the basis of these resolutions, which are part of international law, to find a solution to this tragedy and conflict for the betterment of the Palestinian people, the people of Israel and all countries in the Middle East. I say once again to all colleagues present in the General Assembly Hall today — the Parliament of the world — that we thank them very much for their demonstration of strong support for justice for the Palestinian people and a solution, based on two States within the 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as the capital of our State, with both States living side by side in peace and security — the parameters constituting the basis for what is known as the two-State solution. We are committed to that solution, and we hope that the other side — which, despite the fact that things do not work that way, is insisting on not going that route but trying to impose its wishes on all of us — will do the same. Our wish has been demonstrated through these resolutions and should be respected and implemented.

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 34.