Excellency,

The Palestinian people living in the Occupied State of Palestine, including East Jerusalem, have begun yet another year under Israel’s belligerent military occupation and the prospects to end Israel’s illegal occupation and decades-long injustice remain as bleak as ever. This year the holiday season along with the first couple days of the new year were significantly subdued, with spirits dampened by a new wave of violence directed at the Palestinian people by Israeli occupying forces, which was sparked by a decision on 6 December 2017 by the current administration of the United States of America recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

In fact, in the wake of the US Administration’s decision mentioned above, violations by Israel have only intensified, as the occupying Power clearly felt emboldened to carry out its illegal practices and measures with complete impunity.  Over the past few weeks, killings, injuries, imprisonment of Palestinian civilians and attacks against the occupied Gaza Strip have continued unabated.  Just yesterday, a seventeen-year-old child was killed after being shot in the chest by Israeli occupying forces in the village of Tuqu, south of Bethlehem.  This latest death marks the 16^th Palestinian killed by Israeli occupying forces since the US Administration’s decision on 6^th of December and comes only days after, Musab Firas Al-Tamimi, also age 17, from the village of Deir Nitham was killed after being shot in the neck by Israeli occupying forces. [Read more…]

Excellency,

I write to you with urgency appealing for efforts to uphold the longstanding international consensus regarding Jerusalem, as enshrined in numerous Security Council and General Assembly resolutions. Considering recent decisions in violation of international law and those relevant resolutions – and in effective complicity with the grave breaches being perpetrated by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem – the international community must remain resolute in reaffirming the validity of the relevant resolutions and in demanding their full respect.

In this regard, and in light of the extremely regrettable decision announced by the President of Guatemala regarding the decision to move his country’s embassy to Israel to the City of Jerusalem, we call on all States to address this matter without delay, to reject this provocative, unlawful decision, and to act swiftly to uphold the integrity and authority of United Nations resolutions. [Read more…]

Excellency,

I write to you with urgency, in follow-up of the letter conveyed to Your Excellency, on 3 December 2017, from H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, appealing for efforts to avert a decision by the current administration of the United States of America recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in contravention of Security Council resolutions and the longstanding international consensus in this regard.

In light of the extremely regrettable decision announced today by the American President, we call on the Security Council to address this critical matter without delay and to act swiftly to uphold its responsibilities and the integrity and authority of its resolutions.

The international community must reaffirm its clear, legal position on the status of Jerusalem, affirm its rejection of all violations of that status by whomever and whenever, and demand that this decision be rescinded. The Security Council’s relevant resolutions remain valid and must be implemented.

We recall the Council’s numerous resolutions regarding Jerusalem, including, inter alia, resolutions 476 (1980) and 478 (1980). We recall, in particular, the Council’s reaffirmations regarding the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force; its recognition of the specific status of Jerusalem and the need for protection of the Holy Sites in the City; and its clear determination that “all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, which purport to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal validity and constitute a flagrant violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War”. [Read more…]

Israel’s constant provocative declarations and advancement of plans to construct and expand Israeli settlements throughout the Occupied State of Palestine, including East Jerusalem, in direct and grave contravention of international law and United Nations Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2334 (2016), and in blatant defiance of the international community, continue to heighten tensions and to undermine any efforts to salvage the two-State solution on the 1967 lines and the prospects for peace.

In this connection, yesterday, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office issued a press release announcing its plans to construct 3,736 more settlement units throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. According to the Israeli human rights organization, Peace Now, Israel’s latest plans include the building of at least 2,413 settlement units in different stages, including in the heart of Al-Khalil (Hebron) and in the settlement of “Beit El” near Ramallah. Moreover, Peace Now reports that Israel announced the final approval of the new settlements of “Amihai” and “Migron”, as well as a new site for 30 so-called “temporary structures” on the Palestinian lands of Al-Khadr village intended as a new settlement for the Israeli settlers of “Nativ Ha’avot”. [Read more…]

Excellency,

I regret to inform of continued heightened tensions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, due to the illegal and repressive practices being carried out by Israel, the occupying Power, against the Palestinian people under its brutal occupation. In complete defiance of the unequivocal calls by the international community to de-escalate the situation in Occupied East Jerusalem, Israel continues its aggressions against the Palestinian civilian population, including worshippers and peaceful demonstrators and against holy sites in the City, particularly Al-Haram Al-Sharif, which houses Al-Aqsa Mosque.

As we have repeatedly appealed, we continue to call on the international community, particularly the Security Council, to work diligently to stem the dangerous deterioration to avert further bloodshed and instability, to ensure respect for the relevant resolutions, including with regard to the status of Occupied East Jerusalem as occupied territory and the prohibition of all acts aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the City, and to ensure respect for the historic status quo at Al-Haram Al-Sharif. [Read more…]

Excellency,

I write to alert you to the critical situation in the Occupied State of Palestine, including East Jerusalem, due to Israel’s relentless provocations and illegal actions against the Palestinian people.  The occupying Power continues daily to commit grave violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, which are exacerbating the humanitarian, social, economic, political and security situation on the ground.  As a result, the hardships faced by the Palestinian civilian population continue to mount and any real possibility and hope to achieve peace based on the two-State solution on the 1967 borders are vanishing. [Read more…]

Excellency,

Throughout this month, countries, civil society and individuals around the world have joined in solidarity with the Palestinian people as they solemnly marked fifty years of Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip since 1967. As we reflect on this somber anniversary and the devastating impact of this brutal foreign occupation on the Palestinian people and their land, it is beyond regrettable that a political horizon to end this grave, massive injustice remains absent as Israel, the occupying Power, shows no indication or intention to halt its illegal policies and practices, and on the contrary only persists with its entrenchment of the occupation and its subjugation of the Palestinian civilian population. [Read more…]