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- Rapports du Secrétaire général 01
Report of the Secretary-General on the situation of Western Sahara S/2018/889
Report of the Secretary-General on the situation of Western Sahara S/2018/889
- Bulletins d’information 01
- AHLC & Socioeconomic reports
USG Rosemary A. DiCarlo's Remarks at the Meeting of the AHLC
Remarks at the Meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC)
Under-Secretary-General Rosemary A. DiCarlo
New York, 27 September 2018
Foreign Minister Soreide,
Prime Minister Hamdallah,
Minister Hanegbi,
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
We are grateful to Norway for convening and chairing this forum.
Last year and again in March, this forum noted the deeply worrying trends in the occupied Palestinian territory and the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian and socio-economic situation. Since then, the situation has worsened.
The situation on the ground cannot be divorced from the broader context: Israel’s continued military occupation and settlement activity; Hamas’ continuing hold on Gaza, its militant activity, including rocket attacks and tunnel construction; uncertainties about the future of the peace process and the two-state solution; unilateral actions that undermine peace efforts; political divisions between Gaza and the Palestinian Authority; and turmoil in the wider region.
The importance of the parties coming together with the international community to engage in meaningful dialogue at this critical time cannot be overstated.
The Secretary-General has expressed concern about the violence during the recent demonstrations in Gaza. He deeply regrets the loss of lives. He is also concerned about the dangerous military escalation in Gaza and southern Israel and calls on all sides to exercise maximum restraint, cease all provocations and attacks, and use lethal force only as a last resort.
The situation was also discussed by the Envoys of the Middle East Quartet, as reflected in their statement yesterday. We are grateful for the support of the US, Russia and EU, and are committed to pursuing our efforts to prevent further escalation, empower the legitimate Palestinian authorities in Gaza, and address all humanitarian needs.
Over the past two months, United Nations Special Coordinator Office for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) and Egypt have engaged in diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring calm and returning to the 2014 ceasefire arrangements. I commend these efforts. For the de-escalation to hold, all sides must continue their engagement and do their part.
The Secretary-General has stressed that a negotiated two-state solution remains the only viable way to end the conflict and meet the legitimate aspirations and security needs of both Israelis and Palestinians.
The Secretary-General has repeatedly called on all parties to refrain from unilateral actions that jeopardize prospects for peace and progress.
Continued Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is an impediment to the two-state solution. It is illegal under international law and needs to stop. The return of the Palestinian Government to Gaza is critical not only to help meet Gaza’s humanitarian needs and advance its development objectives, but also the goals of self-determination and statehood.
State-building remains a cornerstone of our efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability. International donors and the parties themselves should meaningfully engage with this critical endeavour. The Palestinian Authority must continue implementing the National Policy Agenda. Progress on the state-building agenda depends on an end to settlement construction, violence, and the revitalization of the Palestinian economy. Concrete steps to prevent territorial fragmentation and increase Palestinian access to Area C must be prioritized.
Excellencies,
An unprecedented reduction in donor funding has brought into question the will and the ability of the international community to effectively respond to the increasing needs on the ground. As a result, this reduction in humanitarian and development assistance to Palestine, will leave a large gap of unmet needs. The impact of funding shortfalls on the economy and humanitarian situation, on the work of UNRWA, other UN Agencies and NGO’s, has and will be significant.
To help mitigate these effects, the UNSCO’s report has highlighted a number of the most critical humanitarian interventions required to support Gaza’s failing energy, water and health networks. The United Nations has also established a Project Management Unit in Gaza to work with Palestinian and Israeli authorities to facilitate the smooth implementation of urgent projects.
We are also supporting the parties to conclude a timely and critical review of the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism, to improve its functionality, transparency and predictability. I would also like to acknowledge UNDP and the World Bank for taking on the challenge of job creation in Gaza, particularly their efforts to prioritize women and youth.
These steps will help advance a number of critical interventions for Gaza. The international community should offer as much support as possible. I welcome the recent announcements of contributions by several Member States and urge additional new funding including for UNRWA.
Excellencies,
The international community has invested extensive resources for years in Palestine’s statehood. Now is not the time to give up. The parties must also realize that donor support will not continue indefinitely without a meaningful political horizon and without resolving the split between Gaza and the West Bank.
We should not lose sight of our central objective: fostering a climate conducive to meaningful negotiations that will end the conflict once and for all. This must be the foundation of all our efforts.
The UN remains committed to support peace efforts leading to a negotiated two-state solution.
I thank you for your continued engagement and support and wish you the best in your deliberations.
- AHLC & Socioeconomic reports
- Middle East Quartet
Middle East Quartet Envoys’ Joint Press Statement
Middle East Quartet Envoys’ Joint Press Statement
New York, 26 September 2018
The Envoys of the Middle East Quartet from the Russian Federation, the United States, the European Union and the United Nations met on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss the prospects for peace negotiations and the situation on the ground, in particular in Gaza.
The envoys expressed their deep concern over the continued escalation in Gaza.
The Middle East Envoys expressed support for the United Nations’ efforts to prevent further escalation, empower the legitimate Palestinian authorities in Gaza and address all humanitarian needs, including through the AHLC.
The Envoys welcomed Susanna Terstal as the new EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process and thanked Fernando Gentilini for his dedication, service and cooperation.
- Secretary-General Reports and Security Council Resolutions [revise]
- AHLC & Socioeconomic reports
UN Report calls for urgent steps to prevent violent confrontation in Gaza, support for the return of the legitimate Palestinian Government and humanitarian assistance
Press Release
UN Report calls for urgent steps to prevent violent confrontation in Gaza, support for the return of the legitimate Palestinian Government and humanitarian assistance
Tuesday, 25 September 2018, Jerusalem – As the situation on the ground in Gaza is on the brink of collapse, a United Nations report has called for urgent steps to prevent violent confrontation in Gaza, support for the return of the legitimate Palestinian Government and humanitarian assistance. This includes easing of Israeli movement and access restrictions, de-escalating tensions and urgent humanitarian and economic interventions to address Gaza’s failing basic services and devastated economy.
Several urgent humanitarian and economic measures need to be prioritized to improve the electricity situation, support water and sewage treatment and bolster the health networks alongside a concerted effort to inject badly needed cash into the economy through employment generation and other schemes. “If we are unable to move forward on this basic package of interventions, the ability of the UN and the international community to engage in supporting Egyptian efforts to return the Palestinian Government to Gaza as well as de-escalate tensions and push for a removal of the Israeli closures, will be severely limited,” the report said.
The report, issued by the office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process for the upcoming bi-meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) in New York on 27 September, notes a further deterioration over the past six months of the overall humanitarian and economic situation in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), particularly in Gaza, with an unemployment rate of over 53%, a breakdown in service delivery, and violence and tensions increasing. The situation is compounded by UNRWA’s unprecedented funding crisis and a reduction in funding to Palestinian humanitarian and development programs, it added.
The report stresses that Hamas’ continued control of Gaza and its militant activity as well as Israel’s continuing closure regime contribute to an overwhelming feeling of isolation and hopelessness. This is further exacerbated by internal Palestinian divisions and lack of progress on reconciliation.
“Any humanitarian solution to Gaza’s problems can only be temporary. What is needed is lifting the movement and access restrictions in line with UNSC 1860 and a political breakthrough in restoring intra-Palestinian unity under a single, legitimate national authority. The UN will continue to work with all sides to avoid escalation, support intra-Palestinian reconciliation and address all humanitarian issues in coordination with our partners.” said Nickolay Mladenov, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process.
To this end, the UN has enhanced its presence on the ground in Gaza to facilitate smooth implementation of projects, in coordination with the Palestinian Authority and international stakeholders. Furthermore, the report also highlights the ongoing work between the UN, Israeli and Palestinian authorities to review and improve the transparency and accountability of the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM).
With regard to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the report noted that the situation remained very tense. While the Palestinian Government continues to implement its National Policy Agenda, it is doing so in an environment characterized by continuing military occupation, territorial fragmentation, lack of jurisdiction, limited access to natural resources, and dwindling financial support. Its potential is stunted by the continued inability to access Area C and East Jerusalem, while Israeli settlement expansion and demolitions has continued unabated. Moreover, violent incidents between Palestinians and Israeli security forces and civilians continued on an almost daily basis.
The report reiterated the importance of finalizing agreements between Israel and the PA like the Red Sea-Dead Sea Memorandum and the Power Purchasing Agreement. However, it also notes that the amount of progress that can be achieved is dependent on commensurate political measures including an end to settlement construction and efforts to increase Palestinian control over more of the West Bank and to expand its economy in a meaningful way. The report calls for concrete steps to reduce the territorial fragmentation and increase access to Area C at a minimum.
In conclusion, the report notes that the recommendations to advance the two-state solution as outlined in the 2016 Quartet report, remain valid. “While the recommendations have largely gone unheeded, it remains clear that only a negotiated two-state outcome can achieve an enduring peace that meets Israeli security needs and Palestinian aspirations for statehood and sovereignty.”
Note to Editors: The Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) serves as the principal policy-level coordination mechanism for development assistance to the oPt. The AHLC is chaired by Norway and co-sponsored by the EU and the US. In addition, the United Nations participates together with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The AHLC seeks to promote dialogue between donors, the Palestinian Authority and the Government of Israel. The full report to the AHLC prepared by the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process is attached to this release and includes an executive summary of its main conclusions.