The UN said Thursday that no steps had been taken by Israel to stop the building of illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, Anadolu reports.
At a Security Council meeting, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov briefed council members on the current status of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Mladenov closing statement starts with: "the expansion of Israeli settlements is illegal and undermines possibility of 2SS. Particularly alarming are legal and administration steps undertaken that consolidate occupation."
— Kristin McCarthy (@krstnmccrthy) September 20, 2018
He said:
“All settlement activities are a violation of international law.”
Around 2,800 housing units in the occupied territories of the West Bank were approved by the Israeli government, according to Mladenov.
In UN Security Council, briefing on the Middle East, @UKUN_NewYork lists new funding commitments to Gaza, notes that such support is essential to promote a negotiated peace process that can deliver long-term freedom from violence, a viable two-state solution.
— GlobalActionPW (@GlobalActionPW) September 20, 2018
Meanwhile, 117 Palestinian homes were either demolished or seized by Israel in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, resulting in 145 Palestinians being displaced.
Mladenov gave the example of the Bedouin village of Khan al-Ahmar, which was seized by Israel and declared a “closed military zone”.
He said the Israeli government justified this action by citing the absence of Israeli building permits, something very difficult for Palestinians to obtain.
Clear European position on Khan Al-Ahmar endorsed unanimously by present and upcoming EU states members of the UN Security Council
EU members press stakeout on Khan al-Ahmar – France, Kingdom of the… https://t.co/yyszCgyYti
— Firas Abu Asal (@firas_abu_asal) September 20, 2018
He went further to discuss the broader situation in the conflict, calling for all actions that would endanger the lives of both Palestinians and Israelis to stop.
He also called on Israel to transition towards greater civil authority in improving economic conditions for Palestinians, including access to water, housing, and energy.
The apartheid state acts with impunity under protection of USA.
"UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov condemned on Sunday that Israel's demolition of Palestinian village of Khan al-Ahmar a violation of… https://t.co/lj8SQ1uHz9
— David Forde (@Forde4Stretton) September 20, 2018
Mladenov also urged all sides to support the humanitarian situation in Gaza, which he said could “explode any minute”.
Many member states also spoke on the need for Israel to halt settlement activities and support a two-state solution.
All "two-state solution" plans are predicated on preserving Israel as a "Jewish state" by physically and politically segregating the Palestinian population because Israel considers them a "demographic threat" to Israeli-Jewish dominance. https://t.co/D2HeJ6gtHl
— Electronic Intifada (@intifada) September 21, 2018
UK Ambassador Karen Pierce said:
“The UK remains committed to achieving a two-state solution, leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as a shared capital.”
USUN : Ambassador Nikki Haley will lead the UN Security Council's monthly briefing on the situation in the Middle East today at 3:00pm EDT. It's crucial to address the many issues facing the region instead of unfairly targeting Israel. Watch → … https://t.co/PzfNesxAvc) pic.twitter.com/6dcr3cQHrX
— Weld Bessid,Olah (@Nkttwebtv) September 20, 2018
The US, however, opposed the statements, calling them unfair.
US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said:
“This Middle East debate has been excessively and unfairly focused on Israel.”
(MEMO, PC, Social Media)
