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23 July 2019 – Statement by H.E. Dr. Riyad Mansour, Minister, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, before the United Nations Security Council, “The Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestine Question”

23 July 2019 by

Mr. President,

We thank the Peruvian Presidency for convening this important meeting and for your able leadership of the Security Council’s agenda.

We also thank Under-Secretary-General Rosemary Di Carlo for her briefing on the situation, one that regrettably worsens every day that action to ensure justice is delayed and that a political horizon for a peaceful solution remains obstructed.

Mr. President,

We have come to this chamber time after time, appealing to, calling on and imploring on the Security Council to act – to alleviate the human suffering, to salvage peace prospects and to contribute to making that peace a reality. We remain convinced that such action – in line with international law, the Council’s resolutions and its Charter responsibility for international peace and security  – is the only way to bring an end to this grave injustice.

Respect for the law and human rights and establishment of justice are the only way forward. Those who would tell us otherwise are setting us up for decades more of suffering and insecurity for all – Palestinians, Israelis and the entire region.

After more than 52 years of Israel’s illegal occupation of our land, its gross, violent denial of our people’s rights and their constant dispossession and displacement, it is past high-time to redress this situation, justly and permanently. This is a blatant situation of belligerent, colonial foreign occupation – attested to by any measure of the law and by this Council, the General Assembly, the International Court of Justice, countless regional and global organizations, academia, and the international community in nearly its entirety – and it must be brought to an end. [Read more…]

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Statement by H.E. Dr. Riyad Mansour, Minister, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, before the United Nations Security Council, Quarterly Open Debate “The Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestine Question”, 29 April 2019

29 April 2019 by

Mr. President,

I thank the German and French Presidencies of the Security Council for their skillful joint leadership over these past two months.

I also thank Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, for her briefing and able guidance of the Department. We also recognize the ongoing efforts of UN Special Coordinator Nikolay Mladenov and his team, as well as the vital role and support of UNRWA and the efforts of OCHA, UNICEF, UNDP and all UN Agencies on the ground, at this critical time.

Mr. President,

We meet at a moment of great uncertainty and volatility. The situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, is rapidly declining, despair is rising and a peace horizon is being nullified by an occupying Power that insists on imposing its illegal agenda at any cost.

The outlook has become even grimmer after an Israeli election further entrenching the extreme right that has come to rule Israel as a racist, apartheid State under Prime Minister Netanyahu. The absolute support given to Israel by a Permanent Member of this Council has only emboldened its flouting of the law, further fueling its human rights violations against our people and colonization of our land. [Read more…]

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15 March 2019 – Israeli Airstrikes on the Gaza Strip

15 March 2019 by

Excellency,

I write once again in the span of days to draw the international community’s urgent attention to the continually rising tensions and deterioration of the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as Israel, the occupying Power, persists with its aggressions, provocations and illegal policies and practices against the Palestinian people.

In the predawn (Palestine time) hours of today, Israeli warplanes carried out approximately 100 airstrikes against the Gaza Strip, terrorizing the besieged Palestinian civilian population and causing injury to at least four Palestinians. The Palestinian leadership condemns this Israeli military aggression in the strongest terms. [Read more…]

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12 March 2019 – Escalation in Occupied East Jerusalem

12 March 2019 by

Excellency,

I write to draw the international community’s urgent attention to destabilizing developments in Occupied East Jerusalem. Acts of aggression and incitement against both civilian worshippers and holy sites continue to be perpetrated by Israel, the occupying Power, in a reckless manner.

Amidst already-heightened tensions, such illegal and provocative actions threaten to spiral out of control with dangerous consequences. Immediate efforts are required to de-escalate the situation in order to protect civilian lives and the sanctity of holy sites in Occupied East Jerusalem, including Al-Haram Al-Sharif, which houses the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock.

Israel’s decision today to seal all gates to the compound, as well as to the entirety of the Old City of Jerusalem itself, has seriously inflamed tensions that have already been exacerbated by the occupying Power’s earlier attempts to force the closure of the Bab al-Rahma gate and prayer area, which had been recently reopened by the Waqf. Prior to sealing off Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound, Israeli occupying forces attacked Palestinian worshippers, including men and women who had been praying inside the Dome of the Rock, and also assaulted several Waqf personnel, before forcibly removing all worshippers from the compound. The Palestine Red Crescent has reported that at least four civilians have been taken to the hospital due to injuries sustained. [Read more…]

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Statement by H.E. Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine, Delivered Before the United Nations Security Council on 20 February 2018

20 February 2018 by

Excellency Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, President of the Security Council,

Excellency Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations,

Excellencies Members of the Security Council,

Seventy years have passed since Palestine’s Nakba, from which 6 million Palestine refugees continue to suffer from the cruelty of exile and loss of human security. They continue to wander the world after the loss of their peaceful and stable lives in their homeland. They are part of the 13 million Palestinians, whose country has not yet been recognized as full Member State of the United Nations, despite the numerous resolutions reaffirming their right to self-determination and statehood on their national land.

We are the descendants of the Canaanites that lived in the land of Palestine 5,000 years ago and continuously remained there to this day. Our great people remain rooted in their land. The Palestinian people built their own cities and homeland and made contributions to humanity and civilization witnessed by the world. They established institutions, schools, hospitals, cultural organizations, theaters, libraries, newspapers, publishing houses, economic organizations, businesses and banks, with wide regional and international influence.

All of this existed before and after the Balfour Declaration issued by the British Government in 1917, a declaration by which those who did not own, giving to those who had no right. The British Government bears responsibility for the catastrophic consequences inflicted on the Palestinian people as a result.

Since then, and although our people remain under occupation, they continued their journey in building and developing their country with the establishment of their National Authority in 1994. Our national institutions are recognized by international organizations for their merit and work, which is based on the rule of law, accountability and transparency, and empowerment of women and youth in an environment of tolerance, coexistence of civilizations and non-discrimination. Moreover, we continue to strive to unite our people and land and to ensure one authority, one law, and one gun, and are determined to convene parliamentary and presidential elections. [Read more…]

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Statement by H.E. Ambassador Dr. Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, before United Nations Security Council, Vote on the Draft Resolution on the Status of Jerusalem, 18 December 2017

18 December 2017 by

I thank you, Mr. President, and express our appreciation to Japan, in its capacity as Security Council President, for convening this important meeting.

We are grateful to you and all the Security Council members who have recognized the urgency of this matter and the need for serious follow-up and action in light of the recent provocative decision announced by the United States of America, contrary to the relevant United Nations resolutions regarding the Holy City of Jerusalem and in total disrespect of the longstanding legal, political and historic status of the City.

We are grateful to the Arab Republic of Egypt for its efforts in leading this process in the Security Council and for its submission of the draft resolution.

Mr. President,

The total rejection of this decision and the international consensus on Jerusalem are beyond clear. The message has been unequivocal: all Security Council’s resolutions concerning the status of the Holy City of Jerusalem and the rest of the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967 are legally binding and must be respected, without question and without exception. This includes the Council’s last legislation in this regard, resolution 2334 (2016), which constitutes a roadmap for all those who want to achieve peace in the region.

This has been powerfully reaffirmed in the statements made on the 8th of December in this chamber; in the principled statements by governments, organizations, civil society around the world; in the declarations of the Arab Ministerial Council, held in Cairo on 9 December, and the Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), held in Istanbul on 13 December; and today in the overwhelming support of Council members for the draft resolution just voted upon. [Read more…]

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Statement by H.E. Dr. Riyad Mansour, Ambassador, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, United Nations Security Council, The Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestine Question, 8 December 2017

08 December 2017 by

Mr. President,

I thank Japan, in its capacity as Security Council President, for its leadership and its convening of this emergency meeting.  I also express our gratitude to the eight members of the Council – Egypt, Bolivia, France, Italy, Senegal, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Uruguay – that requested this meeting as a matter of urgency following recent alarming developments regarding Jerusalem. We also thank Special Representative and Special Coordinator Nikolay Mladenov for his briefing to the Council and thank the Secretary-General for his statement in this regard.

Mr. President,

We come before the Security Council today with a sense of urgency and foreboding. We urge the Council to act swiftly to uphold its Charter duties and the integrity and authority of its resolutions in light of the violations and provocations against Jerusalem’s legal, political and historic status and the rights and legitimate national aspirations of the Palestinian people.

The extremely regrettable announcement, on 6 December, by United States President Donald Trump, declaring America’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and its decision to move its embassy to the City, in direct contravention of Security Council resolutions and the longstanding international consensus on Jerusalem, has heightened tensions and risks complete destabilization of this volatile situation, with far-reaching consequences. [Read more…]

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Statement by Ambassador Riyad Mansour at the United Nations Security Council, Open Debate on “Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict”, 19 January 2016, New York:

19 January 2016 by

Mr. President,

We congratulate Uruguay on its membership to the Security Council and presidency this month and for convening this important debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.

Mr. President,

We meet at a critical moment witnessing the immense suffering of millions of civilians in conflicts around the world, particularly in the Middle East, where civilians are bearing the highest toll of armed conflict in all forms, including foreign occupation. As noted in various reports, deliberate targeting and indiscriminate attacks on civilians characterize many of today’s conflicts, resulting in vast civilian casualties, displacement and suffering, and direct attacks on humanitarian personnel and facilities and access restrictions impair the ability to help and protect those in most need.  This toll has compelled the largest movement of refugees since World War II with grave humanitarian, social, economic, psychological and security consequences for the children, women and men whose fate it is to become a refugee, as well as consequences for the countries in conflict, receiving countries and the international community as a whole. [Read more…]

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كلمة السفير الدكتور رياض منصور، المراقب الدائم لدولة فلسطين لدى الأمم المتحدة في نيويورك، أمام مجلس الأمن في جلسته الطارئة حول الحالة في الشرق الأوسط، بما في ذلك قضية فلسطين: 16 أكتوبر 2015

16 October 2015 by

السيد الرئيس

أود في بداية كلمتي أن أهنئ البلد الصديق أسبانيا على توليه رئاسة مجلس الأمن لهذا الشهر معرباً عن تقديري لكم على قيادتكم وكفاءتكم في القيام بهذه المهمة على أحسن وجه. كما أتوجه لكم بالشكر على إستجابتكم السريعة في عقد هذه الجلسة الطارئة للمجلس. كما أعرب عن شكرنا وتقديرنا للبلد الصديق الإتحاد الروسي على رئاسته القديرة لمجلس الأمن في الشهر المنصرم. وأتوجه بالشكر والتقدير للسيد مساعد الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة للشؤون السياسية على إحاطته

السيد الرئيس

نأتي إليكم اليوم طالبين تدخلكم العاجل لوقف هذا العدوان الغاشم الذي يتعرض له شعبنا الفلسطيني الأعزل وما تتعرض له مقدساتنا من إنتهاكات جسيمة من قبل الإحتلال العسكري الإسرائيلي والمستوطنين الإسرائيليين والمتطرفين. لقد وثقنا تفاصيل هذا العدوان الهمجي الشرس من خلال خمسة رسائل قمنا بإرسالها إليكم في العشرة الأيام الماضية والذي راح ضحيته منذ بداية هذا الشهر أكثر من 35 شهيداً، من بينهم عدد كبير من الأطفال وأكثر من 1500 جريح بالرصاص الحي والمطاطي ووسائل أخرى، غالبيتهم من القاصرين الذين لاتتجاوز أعمارهم الـ18 عاماً. ولقد شاهدنا جميعاً عبر الفضائيات ووسائل التواصل الإجتماعي الإعدامات الميدانية التي تقوم بها قوات الإحتلال الإسرائيلي للمدنيين الفلسطينيين وإعتقالها لأعداد كبيرة منهم لا لسبب سوى مشاركتهم في مسيرات إحتجاجية ضد الإحتلال الإسرائيلي وممارساته الوحشية وغير القانونية وسعيهم من أجل إنهاء هذا الإحتلال [Read more…]

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Statement by Ambassador Feda Abdelhady Nasser before the United Nations Security Council, Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestine Question, 21 April 2015

22 April 2015 by

Mr. President,

Allow me, on behalf of the delegation of the State of Palestine, to thank H.E. Mr. Nasser Judeh, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, for chairing this important meeting of the Security Council. We congratulate Jordan on its Presidency, with full appreciation for the Jordanian delegation’s efforts to address the many critical issues on the Security Council’s agenda, including its principled, unwavering support for the just cause of Palestine.

At this time, we also express our appreciation to the delegation of France for its skilled leadership of the Security Council in the month of March.

We thank H.E. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, for his briefing and his unrelenting calls and efforts for peace, humanity and justice. We congratulate his new Special Representative and Special Coordinator, Mr. Nikolay Mladenov, on his appointment, wishing him success and affirming our readiness to cooperate with his efforts.  We also reaffirm deep appreciation to Mr. Robert Serry for his years of service. We recognize his efforts in support of the Palestinian people and Government through many critical periods during his tenure, including three brutal Israeli wars against Gaza, and his constant efforts to advance solutions to emergent problems and promote peace, including his impassioned entreaties to the Council to act to bring an end to this devastating conflict, which remains a threat to international peace and security. [Read more…]

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