3 December 2014 – Statement by Ambassador Ms. Feda Abdelhady-Nasser before the Ad Hoc Committee of the General Assembly for the Announcement of Voluntary Contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)

Mr. President,

On behalf of the delegation of the State of Palestine, I wish to begin by thanking the Deputy Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Ms. Margot Ellis, for her participation in today’s meeting and her briefing on the work of UNRWA over the past year.

 

The updates she has given on the Agency’s financial shortfalls and the instability of its operational environment as well as growing needs of the Palestine refugees due to the deterioration of conditions in all fields of operation attest to the ongoing need for strong donor support of UNRWA. At the same time, the many accomplishments of UNRWA in this past year despite these challenges attest to the very real impact of its humanitarian mission in the lives of more than 5 million Palestine refugees and the important role played by the donor community and the Host Countries in supporting UNRWA’s mission.  We reiterate our gratitude for this principled support for UNRWA’s mandate and for the longstanding compassion for the Palestine refugees, both of which have been clearly reaffirmed today. [Read more…]

17 November 2014 – Recent Israeli Brutality against Palestinian Children and Hanging of Palestinian Bus Driver

Excellency,

I regret that I must once again draw the international community’s attention to the critical situation in Occupied Palestine due to the persistent and escalation acts of violence and other violations being perpetrated by Israel, the occupying Power, and its settlers against the Palestinian people and their land, which has resulted in more killings, injuries and destruction in the days since my last letter to you.

The continued lack of accountability and culture of impunity that Israel has for too long enjoyed have resulted in a crisis situation in Palestine, as it could not be more apparent that Israel is reading the international inaction as a signal that it can proceed with its illegal occupation measures without consequence. This result is continued deterioration of the situation, rising tensions, and grave hardships for the Palestinian people languishing under this illegal, destructive occupation.  The volatility of this situation and its negative impact on both peoples and the region has been widely acknowledged, and yet the international community regrettably remains unable to generate the necessary political will to act. [Read more…]

12 November 2014 – Continued Israeli Provocations

Excellency,

Once again, we must draw the international community’s attention to the alarming situation resulting from ongoing illegal Israeli actions and provocations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, which continue to exacerbate the already-dangerous situation. These illegal Israeli actions are clearly intended to entrench the occupation, repress the Palestinian people into submission to this occupation, and to further undermine the Palestinian leadership, including by the continuation of a raging campaign of incitement directed at President Mahmoud Abbas by Israeli Ministers.  All together, these continued violations will only further destabilize the situation, with far-reaching negative consequences for both peoples and for the region.

We reiterate our unequivocal condemnation and rejection of Israel’s escalation of aggressions in Occupied East Jerusalem, in particular in and around Al-Aqsa Compound, which continue to be subjected to incursions and provocations by Israeli extremists, including settlers and government officials. The flagrant disrespect for this Holy Site and for Palestinian worshippers, marked by nearly daily incursions into the Compound as well as the denial of entry of Palestinian worshippers by Israeli occupying forces, along with repeated declarations amounting to blatant incitement must be taken seriously by the international community as they are stoking religious sensitivities and aggravating tensions, with the potential to spiral out of control. [Read more…]

12 November 2014 – بيان صحفي

بعث السفير الدكتور رياض منصور، المراقب الدائم لدولة فلسطين لدى الأمم المتحدة في نيويورك، رسائل متطابقة الى الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة ورئيس مجلس الأمن (استراليا) ورئيس الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة،  ادان فيها بشدة الاعمال غير الشرعية والاستفزازية التي تقوم بها إسرائيل، السلطة القائمة بالاحتلال، وخاصة التصعيد الاسرائيلي الخطير في القدس المحتلة والهجمات المتكررة ضد المقدسات في القدس الشرقية، لا سيما المسجد الأقصى، واعمال التحريض الإسرائيلية، بما في ذلك ضد القيادة الفلسطينية، وعلى رأسها الرئيس محمود عباس.  [Read more…]

6 November 2014 – Statement by Ms. Feda Abdelhady-Nasser, Ambassador, before the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (4th Committee), Agenda Item 51: Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories

Mr. Chair,

On behalf of the State of Palestine, I express our deep appreciation to the members of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories.  We thank Ambassador Palitha Kohona of Sri Lanka, Chair of the Committee, Ambassador Hussein Haniff of Malaysia and Ambassador Fode` Seck of Senegal for their efforts and for the report (A/69/355) submitted on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the Occupied Syrian Golan and the serious recommendations made therein.

We also thank the Secretary-General and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for the comprehensive reports prepared pursuant to the General Assembly resolutions regarding “Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan” (A/69/348) and “Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem” (A/69/347). These reports attest to a systematic pattern of human rights violations as a result of the illegal, oppressive and destructive policies and measures that continue to be carried out by Israel, the occupying Power. [Read more…]

5 November 2014 – Jerusalem: Continued Israeli Provocations and Illegal Settlements

Excellency,

I have been instructed to once again draw your urgent attention to the critical situation and dangerously rising tensions in Occupied East Jerusalem due to the continuation of illegal actions, consisting of provocations and incitement by Israel, the occupying Power, including in particular by right-wing Israeli government officials, extremist settlers and religious zealots, against the Palestinian people, their land and their holy places.  Provocations and incitement have intensified in both frequency and aggressiveness in the recent weeks and continue to aggravate religious sensitivities and the fragile and volatile situation on the ground, threatening to precipitate a religious conflict and to plunge the region into further instability and violence.

For the second time in a week, Israeli occupying forces sealed Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, preventing the entry of Palestinian worshippers.  This provocative action set off another round of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli extremists, who continue to agitate at this Holy Site. In what can only be seen as a clear attempt to stoke already-high tensions, early this morning, a group of Israeli extremists, protected by more than 300 Israeli occupying forces, stormed the compound firing stun grenades and rubber-coated bullets at Palestinian worshippers, causing serious injuries to at least 30 people, inflicting serious injuries on two of the worshippers.  Moreover, it was reported that Israeli extremists entered Al-Aqsa mosque with their shoes on in a shameful sign of disrespect and with the purpose to infuriate Palestinian worshippers while eyewitnesses at the scene reported that occupying forces threw books of the Holy Quran on the floor. [Read more…]

4 November 2014 – Statement by Rabii Hantouli on Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources

كلمة ربيع الحنتولي، المستشار أول، البعثة المراقبة الدائمة لدولة فلسطين لدى الأمم المتحدة، أمام اللجنة الإقتصادية والمالية (اللجنة الثانية) حول البند 60 ” السيادة الدائمة للشعب الفلسطيني في الأرض الفلسطينية المحتلة، بما فيها القدس الشرقية، وللسكان العرب في الجولان السوري المحتل على مواردهم الطبيعية”،  الدورة 69 للجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة، نيويورك،            4 نوفمبر/ تشرين الثاني 2014.

السيد الرئيس،

أود في البداية أن أتقدم بإسم فلسطين بالتهنئة الصادقة لكم على توليكم رئاسة هذه اللجنة، وكذلك إلى أعضاء المكتب الموقرين، كما أتقدم بالشكر إلى السكرتارية على عملها الدؤوب. وِاسمحو لي أيضا أن أشكر السيدة ريما خلف، الأمينة التنفيذية للجنة الإقتصادية والإجتماعية لغربي آسيا (الإسكوا)، على تقديمها لتقرير الأمين العام المعد من قبل الإسكوا والمعنون “الإنعكاسات الإقتصادية والإجتماعية للإحتلال الإسرائيلي على الأحوال المعيشية للشعب الفلسطيني في الأرض الفلسطينية المحتلة، بما فيها القدس الشرقية، وللسكان العرب في الجولان السوري المحتل”، والوارد في الوثيقة رقم  A/69/81-E/2014/13.

السيد الرئيس، [Read more…]

30 October 2014 – Closure of Al-Haram Al-Sharif and Killings in East Jerusalem

Excellency,

The Security Council emergency session that was convened yesterday to address the crisis in Occupied East Jerusalem underscored the unanimous international concerns and condemnations regarding the provocations and incitement by Israel, the occupying Power, and its extremist settlers at holy sites in the City, as well as the illegality of Israeli settlement activities and all other measures aimed at altering the demography, character and status of the City.

All were in agreement about the gravity and the many dangers of the continuation of this illegal situation. And, all were in agreement about the urgent need to immediately diffuse tensions and to avert any further aggravation of religious sensitivities by ensuring respect for Holy Sites, with particular focus on Al-Haram Al-Sharif, home to Al-Aqsa Mosque, which continues to be targeted by Israeli provocation and incitement, and the need to uphold the historic status quo in this regard. [Read more…]

29 October 2014 – Statement by Ambassador Dr. Riyad Mansour before the United Nations Security Council Emergency Meeting on the Situation in Occupied East Jerusalem

Mme. President,

I thank you for your swift response to our urgent appeal and to the formal request by Jordan, the Arab representative on the Security Council, to convene this emergency meeting to address the critical situation in Occupied East Jerusalem, which clearly has bearing on the crisis situation in the rest of Palestine as well as in the region and far beyond.

Mme. President,

Jerusalem, the Holy City for the three monotheistic religions, was and remains the key to peace.  The City is the heart of Palestine and has historically been the religious, political, social, economic and cultural center for the Palestinian people for centuries.  And, Jerusalem, a theater for both conflict and peace, has always maintained an Arab and Islamic identity, and it will remain so.

Yet, Jerusalem is under siege, as Israel, the occupying Power, continues the reckless attempts to change its character, falsify its history, alter its demography, and negate Palestinian rights and connection to Jerusalem.  Israeli provocations and incitement, particularly at Al-Haram Al-Sharif, home to the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque and Qubbat Al-Sakhra (Dome of the Rock), are further inflaming this volatile situation, aggravating religious sentiments, deepening mistrust, and threatening to ignite yet another cycle of violence, including instigation of religious conflict. Such illegal Israeli actions are severely exacerbating the conflict and obstructing a peaceful solution, with grave implications.

We have thus been instructed by President Mahmoud Abbas to bring this crisis situation to the urgent attention of the Security Council, in full recognition of its Charter duty for the maintenance of international peace and security. [Read more…]

27 October 2014 – Israeli Provocations and Settlements Occupied East Jerusalem

Excellency,

I write to urgently draw your attention, yet again, to the dangerously escalating tensions in Occupied East Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Palestine.  The illegal policies and the constant provocations and incitement by Israel, the occupying Power, and its settlers and other extremists against the Palestinian people, their land and their holy places are exacerbating already-high tensions, risking further turmoil and destabilization of the extremely fragile situation on the ground, as reflected in the growing number of protests and clashes, particularly in Occupied East Jerusalem.

In grave breach of international law and in total contempt of the repeated international demands for cessation, Israel, the occupying Power, continues its illegal settlement campaign, which is clearly aimed at entrenching its illegitimate control over the Palestinian land it has belligerently occupied since 1967 and systematically destroying the two-State solution. This relentless colonization campaign has been most flagrant in Occupied East Jerusalem, with continued seizure of Palestinian properties, violent attacks on Palestinian civilians, demolition of Palestinian homes, forced displacement of Palestinian residents of the City, and provocative declarations regarding the construction of settlements. [Read more…]