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NICKOLAY MLADENOV

SPECIAL COORDINATOR FOR THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS

BRIEFING TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

27 August 2019

Mr. President,

Members of the Security Council,

I am afraid that I must begin this month’s briefing to the Council by focusing on the rising specter of violence in the West Bank and Gaza and the threat of a regional escalation. Both are happening against the backdrop of the complete political deadlock of the Middle East Peace Process and the lack of any perspective to revive it.

On numerous occasions the Secretary-General and I have warned that the lack of a political horizon towards resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of the two-state solution, unilateral moves on the ground, including settlement construction and expansion, terror attacks and a multitude of other factors create an explosive mix.

An explosive mix that can only be resolved by leadership that is willing and capable of returning to the table for meaningful negotiations towards a sustainable and just peace.

A leadership that can stand up to extremists and radicals and uphold what we in the international community, the Security Council, the region have said so many times – that lasting peace can only be based on the idea that Israelis and Palestinians live side-by-side in peace, security and mutual recognition, as both peoples have a legitimate and historic right to their own statehood.

This can be achieved on the basis of relevant UN resolutions and mutual agreements. If we stray from this framework, we will see the inevitable radicalization. We cannot give up on the goal of a peaceful resolution to this conflict. The alternative is too horrible to fathom.

In the past month we have seen an increase of violent incidents, including settler-related violence, in the West Bank and continuing tensions in and around Gaza.

On August 8th, a 19-year old Israeli was murdered in the West Bank, stabbed close to the settlement of Migdal Oz. Two Palestinian suspects were later arrested by the ISF.

On the15th of August, two Palestinian teens stabbed and injured an Israeli police officer in Jerusalem’s Old City. One of the assailants was shot and killed.

The following day two Israeli teens were injured in a car ramming attack near the settlement of Elazar, south of Bethlehem. The 26-year-old driver was shot and killed by an off-duty Israeli policeman.

On the 23rd of August, an improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated near the settlement of Dolev, northwest of Ramallah, killing a 17-year-old Israeli girl and severely injuring her father and brother.

I unequivocally condemn all attacks on Palestinian and Israeli civilians. Such dangerous attacks serve only those who want escalation.

Violence and terrorism must be condemned by all. Their glorification by Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian factions is deplorable indeed.

In East Jerusalem, two months after the killing of a 21-year-old Palestinian in al-Issawiya, tensions remain high as ISF continues to carry out raids and arrests.

Overall in the past month in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, two Palestinians and two Israelis were killed and at least 102 Palestinians and seven Israelis have been injured.

Mr. President,

In response to the 23rd of August terrorist attack near the settlement of Dolev, the Israeli Government decided to submit to the High Planning Committee a plan for the establishment of a new neighborhood in Dolev with approximately 300 new housing units. This decision is part of a practice to expand settlements in the wake of attacks in the West Bank.

In addition, settlement expansion, demolitions, and seizures of Palestinian property have continued during the reporting period.

Citing the lack of Israeli-issued building permits, which are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain, Israeli authorities demolished or seized 22 structures in Area C, including 14 donor-funded aid structures and eleven structures in East Jerusalem. Among the demolished structures were four water cisterns serving two herding communities, which are already facing severe water shortages, in southern Hebron. According to OCHA, the demolitions have resulted in the displacement of 19 people, including six children, and affected the livelihoods of some 2,000 others.

I reiterate the statement by the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator that Israel’s policy of destroying Palestinian property is not compatible with its obligations under international humanitarian law.

On the 5th and 6th of August, Israel’s High Planning Committee advanced plans for some 2,400 housing units in Area C settlements, with 800 units reaching the final stage of approval. Some 200 units in East Jerusalem were also advanced during the reporting period. Further, the Security Cabinet had discussed on 30th of July the advancement of another 6,000 housing units and in a rare step, unanimously approved granting construction permits for 715 housing units for Palestinians in Area C.

The expansion of settlements has no legal effect and constitutes a blatant violation of international law. By advancing the effective annexation of the West Bank, it undermines the chances for establishing a Palestinian state based on relevant UN resolutions, as part of a negotiated two-state solution.

Mr. President,

Despite the relative calm over the past two months, the situation in Gaza remains very fragile as violent incidents continue.

During the reporting period, some eleven rockets and mortars were launched from Gaza towards Israel. Most were intercepted– two landed in the Israeli town of Sderot on 17 and 25 August, causing material damage. In response just yesterday Israel decided to temporarily reduce the fuel transfer to Gaza by half. This unfortunate decision has already resulted in a reduction of energy supply to the Strip.

On several occasions during the reporting period, some 15 Palestinian militants from Gaza breached or attempted to breach the perimeter fence, triggering retaliatory fire or airstrikes by the IDF, in which nine militants were killed.

The weekly protests at the perimeter fence continued. Some individuals engaged in violent activities. The IDF responded mostly with riot dispersal means, however live ammunition was also used. One Palestinian was killed and 545 were injured, including over 150 children.

Although fewer incendiary kites, balloons and other devices have been launched from Gaza compared to the last reporting period, at least eleven incendiary fires were reported.

Israel must calibrate its use of force and use lethal force only as a last resort, and only in response to imminent threats of death or serious injury.

Hamas must prevent the indiscriminate launching of rockets and mortars towards Israel. It must ensure that protests at the fence remain peaceful and prevent provocations.

I would like to also reiterate that the fate of two Israeli civilians and the bodies of two IDF soldiers missing in Gaza remain an important humanitarian concern for all of us.

Mr. President,

I am afraid that I also have to raise the alarm on the deteriorating situation in the health sector in Gaza, particularly the lack of resources, including medical supplies. According to WHO, in July, 254 items (or 49 per cent) of essential medications and 225 items (or 26 per cent) of medical disposables were reported to be at less than one-month supply at Gaza’s Central Drug Store.

On the 20th August, Deputy Special Coordinator McGoldrick visited a hospital in Gaza and met with a group of women beneficiaries of projects supported by the UN Humanitarian Fund. He heard about the large number of health issues that Palestinian women are facing as a result of the humanitarian crisis. Doctors highlighted the scarcity of cancer drugs in Gaza and the unpredictable referral system for treatment outside Gaza as serious challenges. The UN is committed to working with all parties, including donors, to prevent a health crisis in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, access to drinking water has improved with the completion of a new desalination plant which will serve up to 200,000 people. I would like to express my appreciation to the State of Kuwait for generously funding this project through the Islamic Development Bank.

The past month also saw an increase in the number of permits given to Palestinian businessmen and laborers from Gaza.

While these efforts are not enough to fundamentally change the harsh realities of life in Gaza, they serve to lessen the impact of the ongoing humanitarian and economic crises.

The past month also saw serious movement and access constraints continue on national staff from UN agencies and international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) in Gaza. These restrictions affect nearly all our national staff who are unable to leave Gaza for practically any purpose.

Israel must significantly improve the movement and access of goods and people to and from Gaza as a step towards lifting of the closures, in line with Security Council resolution 1860 (2009).

Mr. President,

This year, the Muslim Eid al-Adha and the Jewish commemoration of Tisha B’Av coincided on 10 August, this led to tensions at Jerusalem’s Holy Sites. Israeli authorities allowed Jewish visitors to access al-Haram al-Sharif / Temple Mount on that day under police protection. In the days before the holiday, Muslim religious leaders had urged worshippers to come en masse to al-Aqsa Mosque for Eid prayers. In clashes between police forces and worshippers that took place before and during the entry of Jewish visitors into the compound, 29 Palestinians were injured, including the Chairman and members of the Islamic Waqf Council. According to media reports the ISF also sustained four injuries.

I reiterate the call for the status quo at the Holy Sites to be upheld in line with the special and historic role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan as custodian of the Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

Mr. President,

Following the demolitions of Palestinian homes in Areas A, B and C of the West Bank on the East Jerusalem side of the barrier, which Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo briefed the Council on last month, President Abbas stated on the 25th of July that the Palestinian leadership would suspend compliance with agreements signed with Israel and start putting in place mechanisms to implement this decision.

For the sixth consecutive month, the Palestinian Government has refused to receive Israel’s transfer of tax revenues less than the full amount owed to it.

On 22 August, however, following months of consultations, Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) agreed for the PA to receive approximately USD 568 million in reimbursed taxes levied by Israel on fuel.

This is an important measure that will temporarily relieve the PA’s financial situation. Disagreement on the bulk of the tax revenue transfers, however, remains. In this context I reiterate my call on both sides to continue their engagement in a constructive manner and comply with the Paris Protocol on Economic Relations.

Mr. President,

Turning briefly to other developments in the region, on the 25th of August, media reported that two unmanned aerial vehicles had crashed in the southern suburbs of Beirut. On 26 August, also according to media reports, a military base of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command (PFLP-GC) in the Bekaa Valley along the Lebanese-Syrian border was targeted in an air raid. President Aoun and constitutional leaders in Lebanon have referred to the drone incident as an assault on Lebanon’s sovereignty and a blatant violation of resolution 1701 (2006). The United Nations takes note of these statements, as well as of the ongoing investigation into the incident by the Lebanese authorities.

The United Nations reiterates its appeal to all concerned to cease violations of resolution 1701 (2006) and to fully implement its provisions. The United Nations calls on the parties to exercise maximum restraint both in action and rhetoric.

Madam President,

In closing, I would like to repeat, as I said at the beginning of this briefing, that tangible steps can, and must, be taken to reverse the negative trajectory of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict urgently in order to counter the rising specter of violence and the threat of a regional escalation.

The United Nations remains committed to supporting Palestinians and Israelis to resolve the conflict based on international law, relevant UN resolutions and prior agreements, and realizing the vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.

Thank you.

ROSEMARY A. DICARLO

UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR POLITICAL AND PEACEBUILDING AFFAIRS

BRIEFING TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

23 July 2019

Thank you Mr. President,

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to be locked in a dangerous paralysis that is fueling extremism and exacerbating tensions in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Тhere is a growing risk of more unilateral actions and the loss of hope that peace can be achieved through negotiations.

This outcome is not inevitable. We need to support creating an environment conducive to advancing peace and paving the way for negotiations on all final status issues, including Jerusalem. In order to get there, we need leadership, political will, and a determination to make tangible progress, despite the difficulties.

We must work together to bring Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table in order to resolve the conflict on the basis of international law, relevant UN resolutions and previous agreements.

Mr. President,

Without the prospect of viable negotiations on the horizon, facts on the ground continue to undermine the possibility of achieving a two-State solution.

In June, the District Court in Jerusalem ruled that four houses in the Alei Zahav settlement could be retroactively regularized under Israeli law, despite having been built on private Palestinian land. This decision is the first implementation in practice of the so-called “market regularization” principle, according to which up to 2,000 housing units in settlements could be legalized.

Further, on 8 July, the Jerusalem District Planning Committee approved for deposit a plan for the addition of 48 housing units in the Gilo settlement in East Jerusalem.

I reiterate that settlements remain a substantial obstacle to peace and are a violation of international law.

Mr. President,

Demolitions and seizures of Palestinian-owned structures by Israeli authorities also continued. 66 structures were demolished or seized, mostly on the grounds of lack of Israeli-issued building permits, which are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain. This practice must stop.

According to OCHA, this resulted in the displacement of 90 Palestinians, including 58 children.

On 11 June, Israel’s High Court dismissed a petition by the Palestinian residents of the Wadi Hummus/Sur Bahir neighbourhood of East Jerusalem, giving them until 18 July 2019 to demolish nine buildings due to their proximity to the separation barrier. The structures were demolished by Israeli authorities on 22 July, resulting in the displacement of 24 Palestinians, including 14 children. As Deputy Special Coordinator McGoldrick stated yesterday, Israel’s policy of destroying Palestinian property is not compatible with its obligations under international humanitarian law and contributes to the risk of forcible transfer facing many Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

On 27 June, six Palestinian-owned structures in the Bethlehem community of Zatara al Kurshan were demolished, displacing some 46 people.

On 10 July, a Palestinian family was evicted from a property in the Silwan neighbourhood of East Jerusalem. This was done after the Court ruled in favour of an Israeli organization, which had obtained ownership of the majority of the property.

Mr. President,

Members of the Security Council,

The past month has again seen a reduction of violence in Gaza, while protests at the perimeter fence have continued. One Palestinian was killed by Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and another 736 were injured, including 234 children and 39 women.

There were also fewer launchings of incendiary balloons and kites by Hamas and other Palestinian militants from Gaza. Despite this, some 130 fires were started by some 100 devices in Israel during the reporting period.

Similarly, there has been a reduction in the number of rockets launched by militants towards Israel since the last dangerous escalation in May. Two rockets were fired during the reporting period, causing no injuries or damage.

The launching of rockets and mortars towards Israeli civilian populations is prohibited by international humanitarian law – Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad must cease this practice immediately.

Sadly, the reporting period also saw continued violent incidents in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

On 27 June, a 21-year-old Palestinian was shot and killed by an Israeli policeman after he allegedly shot fireworks towards Israeli forces during clashes in East Jerusalem. Clashes ensued in the area for several days, during which 88 Palestinians were injured.

On 12 July, a 9-year old Palestinian boy was shot and severely injured during clashes with ISF in the West Bank village of Kafr Qaddum. I call on Israel to promptly launch a thorough investigation and reiterate that children’s lives and rights must come ahead of any other consideration. They must be protected from all forms of violence.

In addition, Israeli security forces injured 154 Palestinians, including 14 children, in clashes that erupted across the West Bank.

On 6 July, a vehicle driven by a Palestinian reportedly rammed into a group of IDF personnel near the entrance of Hizma village, north of Jerusalem, injuring five soldiers.

Settler-related violence also continued. According to OCHA, six Palestinians were injured in six attacks by Israelis. At the same time, two Israelis were injured by stones thrown by Palestinians.

I condemn all attacks on Palestinian and Israeli civilians alike and call on all sides to refrain from violence. All perpetrators must be held accountable for their acts.

Mr. President,

Allow me to return to the situation in Gaza.

The UN continues to work closely with Egypt to mediate and de-escalate tensions. While our joint efforts are beginning to bear fruit, I remain deeply concerned by the humanitarian, economic and political situation there.

The shortage of medicines, equipment and personnel continue to impede the ability of health providers to meet the needs of patients, including those severely injured during the weekly protests at the perimeter fence.

Since the last round of UN and Egyptian-led mediation, the Gaza fishing zone has been expanded from 10 to 15 nautical miles. Israel has also returned 44 confiscated fishing boats to the Gaza Strip and eased some of the conditions for travel of Gaza-based businessmen.

I welcome these developments and urge the continuation and expansion of such actions.

Mr. President,

In line with agreed understandings, the UN is accelerating the implementation of the September 2018 and April 2019 Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee packages, which include interventions that have already started to improve the situation in Gaza.

In this context, the UN’s efforts on job creation through UNDP and UNRWA, have thus far created some 9,000 job opportunities including around 3,000 for women. UN Women has also initiated a smaller programme targeting some 250 vulnerable women in Gaza. A recent assessment of the programme revealed that 91% of the beneficiaries had not earned any income prior to this programme. About 83% of the women said that the opportunities improved their livelihoods, 71% said their interhousehold tension has decreased due to the availability of income, and 55% of them reported that the earned income allowed them to participate in decision making at a household level.

The current calm must be sustained in order to gradually introduce longer-term interventions that will support Gaza’s sustainable development. I take this opportunity to thank the Member States that have contributed to date and strongly urge others to support these vital efforts, particularly in the areas of job creation, healthcare, water and sanitation, and energy.

Yet, the root of Gaza’s problems remains political. I call on all Palestinian factions to take concrete steps to ensure the reunification of Gaza and the West Bank under a single, democratic, and legitimate national government. Gaza is, and must remain, an integral part of a future Palestinian state as part of the two-State solution.

Mr. President,

Discussions aimed at resolving the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) financial crisis are ongoing, but no solution has yet been found. For the fifth consecutive month, the Palestinian Government has refused to receive Israel’s partial transfer of tax revenues owed to it. Despite the PA’s announced austerity measures and the support package committed by Qatar, the PA remains under tremendous strain and may soon reach the breaking point.

The economy is increasingly showing signs of decline, with a noticeable reduction of purchasing power contributing to an overall reduction in economic activities.

I call on both sides to engage in a constructive manner to ensure compliance with the Paris Protocol on Economic Relations.

In the meantime, it is critical to adopt temporary measures to address the PA’s fiscal crisis and I encourage Israel and the Palestinian Authority to work together to find such solutions.

The recent decision by the League of Arab States to support with up to USD 100 million per month the Palestinian Authority should provide a welcome respite until a viable solution is found.

The recent Memoranda of Understanding between the Government of the Palestinian Authority and Jordan, in the areas of energy, health and transportation are also welcome.

During the reporting period we have seen additional international support for Palestine’s economic development. I note the 3rd High-Level Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development, under the co-chairpersonship of Japan and Palestine.

I also note the “Peace to Prosperity” economic workshop that took place in Bahrain on 25-26 June, which was attended by government officials, business leaders, representatives of international organizations and religious leaders, among others.

Humanitarian and economic support for the Palestinian population is crucial to creating an environment conducive to viable negotiation. Such measures should be followed by a comprehensive peace agreement that addresses all final status issues.

Mr. President,

In closing, I would like to emphasize the severity of the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the urgent need for tangible steps to reverse the negative trajectory.

The circumstances will hardly ever be ideal for advancing peace. But let us do our utmost with conviction, hope and creativity to support the creation of those circumstances. The United Nations remains committed to supporting Palestinians and Israelis in their efforts to end the conflict and to realizing the vision of two States, living side by side in peace and security.

Thank you.

Let me start with the very worrying situation in and around the Idlib de-escalation area. Regrettably the fighting continues, with reports of: airstrikes, shelling, rockets and mortar attacks, all too often involving the indiscriminate use of force. Civilians continue to be killed and hundreds of thousands have been displaced. Front-lines have not shifted – at least not significantly. Security Council-designated terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is a significant presence within the de-escalation area. Its attacks must cease. But all due protection must be afforded to the up to 3 million civilians in Idlib, many of whom fled there from earlier fighting – and to civilians in the surrounding areas too.

NICKOLAY MLADENOV

SPECIAL COORDINATOR FOR THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS

BRIEFING TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 2334 (2016)

20 June 2019

Mr. President,

Members of the Security Council,

Today I will devote my regular briefing on the situation in the Middle East to presenting, on behalf of the Secretary-General, the tenth report on the implementation of Security Council resolution 2334 (2016), which covers the period between 25 March and 10 June 2019.

Let me reiterate that developments during this reporting period cannot be divorced from the broader context: Israel’s continued military occupation of Palestinian territory and settlement activity; Hamas’ continuing hold over Gaza and its militant activity; the persistent threat of war; unilateral actions that undermine peace efforts and severe challenges to the fiscal viability of the Palestinian Authority. All these developments collectively erode the prospects of a two-state solution.

I would like to also highlight, from the beginning, that UNRWA continues to face significant financial challenges. It is now operating on the basis of a projected shortfall of USD 211 million on its USD 1.2 billion budget for the year and is facing serious cash flow issues. This could impact operations, including UNRWA’s ability to maintain food assistance to over 1 million Palestine refugees in Gaza. I note that UNRWA’s annual Pledging Conference will take place on 25 June here in New York and call upon Member States to continue their support.

Mr. President,

Security Council resolution 2334 (2016) calls on Israel to “immediately and completely cease all settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem” and to “fully respect all of its legal obligations in this regard”. No steps have been taken to this effect during the reporting period.

During this period, Israeli authorities advanced, approved or tendered nearly 6,000 housing units in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. This constitutes the largest settlement advancement in two years and includes plans for some 4,450 units in Area C settlements, of which at least 200 have reached the final stage of approval.

These plans include 700 units in Efrat and 600 units in Ma’ale Adumim, two large settlements in strategic locations that hamper the possibility for a contiguous Palestinian state and North-South, East-West connectivity. Another of the plans would retroactively regularize, under Israeli law, the illegal outpost of Haresha by incorporating it into the existing Talmon settlement.

Tenders were also announced for some 950 housing units in Area C settlements and for 550 units in East Jerusalem.

About 20 per cent of all the plans advanced or tendered are in settlements in outlying locations deep inside the West Bank.

In addition, on 3 June, Israel’s National Infrastructure Committee rejected a series of objections against a controversial plan to construct a cable car between West Jerusalem and the Old City and submitted the plan for government approval. This plan has raised concerns among Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem and Israeli NGOs that it seeks to deepen Israeli control over the area.

Mr. President,

Demolitions and seizures of Palestinian-owned structures by Israeli authorities also continued across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, during the reporting period. Citing the absence of Israeli-issued building permits, 92 Palestinian-owned structures were demolished or seized, resulting in the displacement of 104 people. As the Middle East Quartet already highlighted in its 2016 report, these permits are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain. Demolitions in East Jerusalem also peaked in April, reaching 58, more than any other single month since OCHA started monitoring in 2009.

The situation in Wadi Yasul area, in the Silwan neighborhood of East Jerusalem, is also of concern. Eleven people, including seven children and two women, were displaced on 30 April, after their homes were demolished. Some 50 legal cases concerning other homes and structures in this area are pending in Israeli courts.

Punitive demolitions also continued during the reporting period with Israeli authorities demolishing four homes belonging to families of Palestinian perpetrators of various attacks. As a result, three families comprising 13 people, including six children, have been displaced.

In addition, the Israeli army continues to conduct military training exercises in areas designated by the Israeli army as firing zones in the Jordan Valley of the West Bank. As a result, around 184 Palestinians, 80 percent of whom are women and children, from the Tell al-Khashaba, Lifjim and Humsa al-Baqai’a communities were forced to temporarily evacuate their homes on eleven occasions, including during Ramadan. On 22 May, the Israeli High Court of Justice rejected a petition against the recurrent displacement of these communities.

Mr. President,

Security Council resolution 2334 (2016) also “calls for immediate steps to prevent all acts of violence against civilians. including all acts of terror, as well as all acts of provocation and destruction”. However, the reporting period saw a very dangerous escalation of violence in Gaza, and continued violence in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

Last month, I reported to the Council that over the course of 48 hours, on 4 and 5 May, Gaza saw the worst escalation since 2014, with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad launching over 700 projectiles towards Israel.

In Israel, several houses, two kindergartens, a school and a hospital were directly hit by rockets fired from Gaza. In these incidents, 4 Israelis were killed and 200 injured.

In Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that it hit over 300 militant targets. Twenty-one residential buildings were hit by Israeli airstrikes, one of which was a residential building in northern Gaza. Twenty-seven Palestinians, including two children were killed and 150 injured.

On 30 March, 50,000 Palestinians demonstrated, largely peacefully, marking the anniversary of the “Great March of Return” and even though violence at the Gaza perimeter fence has declined, some nine Palestinians, including three children, were killed by Israeli fire during the demonstrations in the reporting period.

Incendiary kites, balloons and other devices also continued to be launched from Gaza, starting fires in southern Israel. At least 70 fires were reported, resulting in the burning of over 30 hectares of land during this period.

The reporting period also saw continued violence in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Four Palestinians, including one child, were killed by Israeli Security Forces (ISF), including during demonstrations, clashes and various security operations. Two Israelis were injured by a Palestinian in a stabbing attack.

On 27 March, a 17-year-old Palestinian medic was shot by ISF near al-Duheisha refugee camp in Bethlehem, dying of his wounds later. On 24 April, following the arrest, tying and blindfolding of a 15-year-old Palestinian boy for allegations of stone-throwing, IDF soldiers shot him twice in his lower body as he attempted to escape while still blindfolded.

On 31 May, in a stabbing attack, a Palestinian severely injured an Israeli civilian and a child in the Old City of Jerusalem. The perpetrator was shot dead by the ISF. Later on the same day a 16-year old boy was killed and a 21-year old man was injured by ISF as they attempted to cross the separation barrier between West Bank and Jerusalem near Bethlehem.

The situation at the holy sites, Mr. President, also remained tense during the reporting period. For the first time in decades, Israel’s Jerusalem Day commemoration coincided with the final days of Ramadan. Israeli authorities had announced that Jews would not be allowed to visit the compound towards the end of Ramadan in keeping with practice, but later declared that limited visits would be permitted based on the circumstances on the ground. Against this backdrop, on 2 June, clashes erupted between Israeli police forces and Palestinians inside the compound.

Settler-related violence also continued during the reporting period. According to OCHA, one Palestinian was killed, 32 were injured and 41 incidents of damage to property by settlers were reported.

On 17 May, on two separate occasions, Israelis were filmed torching Palestinian lands in Nablus, and the ISF later confirmed that one of the perpetrators was an off-duty IDF soldier, who has since been suspended, pending a police investigation.

In the same period, OCHA reported that seven Israelis were injured and 22 incidents of damage to property by Palestinians have been reported.

Mr. President,

During the reporting period, there were some developments regarding ongoing cases before Israeli authorities, pertaining to the perpetrators of acts of violence. On 14 May, the Israeli minor accused of killing Aisha al-Rabi, the Palestinian mother of eight, in 2018 was released on bail to house arrest with electronic monitoring. Prosecutors also reached a plea bargain with the Israeli suspected of conspiring to carry out the 2015 arson attack that killed the Dawabsheh family. According to the deal, the suspect, who was a minor at the time of the attack, will plead guilty to conspiracy to arson out of racist motives, as well as for other hate crimes. His trial over the remaining charge of membership in a terrorist organization will proceed.

Meanwhile, on 15 May, the Israeli Military Criminal Investigation Unit closed its investigation into the killing of a double amputee at the Gaza fence demonstrations in December 2017, concluding that there was no evidence that the man was killed by direct Israeli army fire.

Several Palestinians were also prosecuted for involvement in attacks on Israelis, including one indicted for planning under Hamas’ instructions a suicide car bombing on Israel’s election day and two other men for planning a shooting attack at Tel Aviv’s beach.

Mr. President,

Security Council resolution 2334 (2016) calls upon the parties “to refrain from provocative actions, incitement, and inflammatory rhetoric.” Unfortunately, such actions continued during the reporting period.

On 15 May, a senior Hamas official addressed a rally in Gaza and warned Israelis that the “day of your slaughter, extermination and annihilation is near” and called on them to leave and search for a place “in Europe…or in hell, or in the sea.” The official Hamas television channel also repeatedly continued to glorify perpetrators of terror attacks against Israelis, and broadcast songs with graphic lyrics encouraging viewers to blow up Jews. Fatah’s official social media pages also continued to glorify perpetrators of terrorist attacks.

Israeli officials also continued to make highly provocative statements. An outgoing Member of Knesset confronted families of Palestinian prisoners and threatened to “eliminate” them and “bury [them] with pigs.” Another politician called on the Prime Minister to allow hunger striking Palestinian prisoners to die, while many boasted about the damage Israel was causing in strikes in Gaza in response to rocket attacks.

Mr. President,

Resolution 2334 (2016) reiterated calls by the Middle East Quartet for “affirmative steps to be taken immediately to reverse negative trends on the ground that are imperiling the two-State solution.” Some positive developments were witnessed during the reporting period, most notably with regard to addressing the critical humanitarian and socio-economic needs in Gaza, but they were significantly overshadowed by the negative trends.

The international community has continued its efforts to address the dire situation in Gaza. The Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) met in Brussels on 30 April and reiterated its support for the implementation of a package of urgent humanitarian and economic interventions in Gaza by the United Nations.

On 7 May, the State of Qatar announced its continued provision of financial assistance to the Palestinian people including a pledge of USD 480 million, of which USD 180 million is intended for humanitarian assistance to Gaza, some of it to be implemented by the United Nations, USD 250 million as loans for the Palestinian Government, and USD 50 million as grants for projects in the West Bank. This commitment has made a very positive impact on efforts to de-escalate the situation in Gaza.

However, what remains is the necessity to find a sustainable and comprehensive solution, that addresses the dire economic and humanitarian conditions and establishes the conditions for a lasting peace.

In this regard, the UN has enough funding to extend the fuel programme that will provide electricity to Gaza until the end of the year. In parallel to this effort, we are actively working on more sustainable solutions to the energy sector.

The UN is also advancing on the creation of dignified jobs for Gaza’s men and women. The ongoing temporary employment programmes, which UNDP and UNRWA have started with Swiss and Qatari funds, are already making a critical difference to people’s lives. So far, more than 7,500 people have been employed in temporary jobs, with at least 2,500 more likely to follow soon. The program we hope, will continue to expand.

Nevertheless, as I said, negative trends continue to overshadow positive developments.

In Gaza, despite the intensified efforts, the humanitarian, security and political situation remains deeply worrying, as the Egyptian brokered October (2017) intra-Palestinian agreement, including the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza, remains unimplemented.

The situation in Gaza was also worsened by the temporary closures of the Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings and a series of reductions in the fishing zone introduced by Israel as tensions continued to fluctuate. Seized fishing vessels have yet to be returned to their owners by the IDF.

The reporting period also saw serious movement and access constraints being placed on national staff from UN agencies and international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) in Gaza by Israel. Some 250 personnel, including 149 UN staff and 103 INGO staff, are prohibited from obtaining Israeli-issued permits for travel from Gaza to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem for a period of 12 months. These numbers reflect a significant increase from 2017, when only 40 UN staff faced a similar prohibition.

The reporting period also saw no resolution of the Palestinian Authority’s financial crisis, following Israel’s decision to withhold part of the clearance revenues of the Palestinian Authority. This was followed by the Palestinian leadership’s refusal to accept any transfers from Israel less than the full amounts owed to it. The fiscal crisis and related austerity measures are severely impacting the Palestinian economy with the outlook for the private sector remaining very bleak.

Mr. President,

Security Council resolution 2334 (2016) called on Member States “to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied in 1967.” We are not aware of any such steps taken during the reporting period.

The resolution also called upon “all parties to continue, inter alia, to exert collective efforts to launch credible negotiations.” No credible efforts have been made in this direction either.

Mr. President,

In closing, I would like to share some broad observations concerning the implementation of the provisions of resolution 2334 (2016) during the reporting period.

1. The expansion of Israeli settlements has no legal effect and constitutes a flagrant violation of international law, as stated in Security Council resolution 2334 (2016). It must cease immediately and completely. Settlement expansion in occupied East Jerusalem, which further undermines the viability of the two-state solution with Jerusalem as the future capital of both Israel and Palestine, is particularly concerning. During the Israeli election campaign, statements were made by some politicians expressing support for the unilateral annexation of all or parts of the West Bank. Such a prospect would be devastating to the potential of reviving negotiations, regional peace, and to the very essence of the two-state solution.

1. The persistent threat of demolitions and displacement of Palestinians in Area C, East Jerusalem and Hebron’s H2 area is also of concern. Only 13 per cent of East Jerusalem is designated for new Palestinian residential construction; an estimated one third of housing units in East Jerusalem are built without a permit; and an estimated 13,000 demolition orders issued against Palestinian-owned structures in Area C since 1988 are still outstanding.

1. Demolitions and displacement in Area C and East Jerusalem affect women and girls in particular. Women have to shoulder additional daily responsibilities for ensuring their own survival and that of their families in unfamiliar circumstances. A 2018 report by UN-Women in Palestine has shown that the burden of family responsibility, coupled with the anguish and trauma of sudden loss, takes a huge toll on the women’s health and wellbeing.

1. Israel has declared some 18 per cent of the West Bank as firing zones for military training, where civilian presence is prohibited by military order during training exercises. There are 38 Palestinian herding communities with a population of over 6,200 located within these areas who are impacted by a range of measures, including evacuations. There are also eleven Israeli outposts located either partially or completely in the designated firing zones, which have not been subjected to similar evacuations. The practice of evacuating Palestinian communities located in these areas should cease.

1. The situation in Gaza continues to be perilous, with the persistent threat of another major escalation and the continued suffering of the population. It is tragic and unacceptable that people continue to be killed and injured unnecessarily during demonstrations, by indiscriminate rocket attacks or by other hostile acts. The launching of rockets and mortars towards Israeli civilian populations is prohibited by international humanitarian law and Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad must cease this practice immediately. Consistently with international human rights standards, Israeli security forces have the responsibility to exercise restraint and should only use lethal force against demonstrators when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life.

1. I unequivocally condemn all attacks on Palestinian and Israeli civilians, call on all to refrain from violence and on leaders to clearly condemn such acts when they occur, as called for by resolution 2334 (2016). All perpetrators must be held accountable for their crimes.

1. The situation of the Palestinian population and human rights defenders in the H2 area of Hebron following the withdrawal of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH) remains worrying. UN staff and the diplomatic community have also been harassed and intimidated since TIPH’s departure. Humanitarian actors and human rights defenders must be allowed to carry out their activities freely and safely and to ensure that any attacks are thoroughly, impartially and independently investigated and the perpetrators held accountable.

1. I am deeply concerned about developments relating to the clearance of revenues of the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian Government is facing a very serious financial crisis which, unless resolved, risks triggering a series of dangerous developments that will be difficult to mitigate and contain, including the potential collapse of the Authority and undermining of 25 years of investment by the international community in supporting a two-state solution under the Oslo process. I echo the call by Palestinian PM Mohammed Shtayyeh upon Israel to restore the revenue transfers in full and call on both sides to engage in a constructive manner to ensure compliance with the Paris Protocol on Economic Relations.

1. I remain deeply concerned, Mr. President, by the deteriorating humanitarian and economic situation in Gaza. Funding received to date has enabled the temporary increase in energy supply in Gaza. However, sustainable solutions for the energy crisis must be advanced without delay. At the same time, while acknowledging its legitimate security concerns, Israel must continue to ease the restrictions on the movement of goods and people to and from Gaza, with the goal of ultimately lifting them. It is crucial to ensure that the current calm be sustained in order to gradually introduce longer-term projects that will support Gaza’s development.

1. I reiterate my call on all Palestinian factions to actively engage with Egypt on reconciliation. Despite the challenges, it is critical that these efforts continue. The United Nations remains steadfast in its support to Egypt’s efforts in this regard, and I call on all Palestinian factions to take concrete steps to ensure the reunification of Gaza and the West Bank under a single, democratic, and legitimate national government. Gaza is, and must remain, an integral part of a future Palestinian state as part of the two-State solution.

1. I take note of the upcoming workshop convened by the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain, to discuss the potential for economic investments and initiatives that would be made possible by a future Palestinian-Israeli peace agreement and a solution to the final status issues. Humanitarian and economic support for the population is crucial to creating an environment conducive to viable negotiations. However, I must emphasize that the conflict cannot be resolved through economic measures alone. Such steps can only be complementary to a legitimate political process that ends the occupation and addresses all final status issues in accordance with relevant UN resolutions.

Mr. President,

In closing, let me reiterate that I remain deeply concerned by the state of our collective efforts and the weakening of the international consensus to achieve an end to the occupation and the realization of a negotiated two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the 1967 lines, international law, relevant UN resolutions and previous agreements.

In the absence of any progress to resolve all final status issues, creating conditions for the parties to return to meaningful bilateral negotiations remains critical. Yet we must be clear. On its own, no amount of humanitarian or economic support will resolve the conflict. It requires political solutions. In Gaza, our efforts are continuing to try to de-escalate the situation and provide a semblance of hope to the population, but Gaza’s future will rest on the ability of its leaders to summon the political will to devise concrete and sustainable solutions to this crisis. At the same time, the West Bank continues to simmer as it faces a range of challenges that threaten to upend decades of Palestinian and international efforts to support a Palestinian state.

Thank you.

NICKOLAY MLADENOV

SPECIAL COORDINATOR FOR THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS

BRIEFING TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL

ON THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

22 May 2019

Madam President,

Members of the Security Council,

Just a few short weeks ago we teetered on the precipice of another devastating conflict, as we witnessed the most intense fighting between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants from Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza since 2014.

The United Nations worked intensively with Egypt and all sides to calm the situation, but Israeli and Palestinian lives were - tragically – lost. My sincere condolences go out to the families and friends of all who have been killed, and I wish a speedy recovery to the injured.

While the situation has now stabilized, it remains very tense. One thing is clear, these dangerous cycles of escalation and de-escalation are not sustainable in the future.

Madam President,

On 3 May, thousands of Palestinians participated in the weekly demonstrations at the Gaza perimeter fence. Incendiary balloons were launched, stones and pipe bombs were thrown at Israeli soldiers, who responded with live fire, rubber bullets and tear gas, killing two Palestinians and injuring 49.

Later that day, a sniper reportedly from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad fired across the fence, injuring two Israeli soldiers. In response to the sniper attack, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched several tank shells and the Air Force targeted military sites in Gaza, killing two Palestinian militants and injuring two civilians. This was the beginning of the most serious escalation since 2014.

Over the course of the following 48 hours, 650 rockets were fired from Gaza. While some 240 projectiles were intercepted by the Iron Dome system, several houses, two kindergartens, a school and a hospital in Israel were directly hit. Four Israeli civilians were killed and over 200 were injured, according to the IDF.

During the same period, the IDF reported that it hit over 300 Palestinian militant targets in Gaza, including a senior Hamas official, who was targeted and killed by an airstrike. According to sources in Gaza 25 Palestinians were killed and over 150 were injured.

After intense efforts by the United Nations and Egypt, as of the early morning of 6 May a cessation of hostilities was established, ending the escalation.

I take this opportunity to once again urge all sides to use this period to reduce tensions, solidify the fragile calm and commit to implementing the understandings that have been established in the past few months.

Madam President,

Sniper fire from Gaza has been a constant threat that has, on at least four occasions over the past year, pushed both sides closer to confrontation. This latest incident followed a pattern that has been well established – the closer we get to consolidating an understanding that would relieve the pressure on people in Gaza and reduce the risk of rocket fire towards Israel, an incident like the last one would appear and undermine our careful and painstaking efforts.

Despite this, UN and Egyptian teams will continue to work intensely with all sides in order to use the window of opportunity to provide assistance to the people of Gaza and further reduce the risk of conflict.

Sustained calm is also crucial to supporting Egyptian-led efforts to advance intra-Palestinian reconciliation that should enable the return of a unified, legitimate Palestinian Government to the Gaza Strip.

I take this opportunity to welcome Israel’s decision to lift the ban on accessing the fishing zone and expanding the zone to 15 nautical miles in some places, to reopen the Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings as normal on 12 May and other steps that have been taken in the past few days. I also welcome the renewed commitment by the Palestinian government in Ramallah to engage constructively on addressing the situation in Gaza.

I also want to reiterate the call by the Secretary-General who condemned in the strongest terms the launching of rockets from Gaza into Israel, particularly the targeting of civilian population centres and also call on the Israel to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from using lethal force against protesters, except as a last resort.

Madam President,

Turning briefly to the humanitarian situation, Deputy Special Coordinator Jamie McGoldrick has warned that health providers in Gaza are struggling to treat the high numbers of injuries sustained during the weekly demonstrations. Many of the wounded require complex surgeries, not currently available there. Yet access to treatment outside of Gaza continues to be challenging as the lack of consistency in the approval process is having very serious and negative implications on people.

The international community has continued its efforts to address the dreadful situation in Gaza. The Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) met in Brussels on 30 April and reiterated its support for implementation of a package of urgent humanitarian and economic interventions in Gaza by the United Nations. Between October 2018 and April 2019, some USD 112 million were mobilized enabling a significant increase in electricity supply through the Gaza Power Plant, the creation of thousands of temporary jobs in Gaza, and the delivery of essential medical supplies and other support for the struggling health sector.

Fuel deliveries for the Power Plant have been extended and we are moving forward on other more sustainable efforts for the energy sector as I speak, and focusing on renewable energy. On 13 May, I visited the second largest hospital in Gaza where a landmark World Health Organization-developed solar power plant will cover a substantial part of the energy needs of that hospital.

I appreciate the financial support provided by Japan and many others for these critical projects and urge other donors to further increase their support for our joint efforts to improve the situation on the ground.

To date, the most significant contribution remains that of the State of Qatar. On behalf of the Secretary-General, I would like to express our sincere appreciation to the assistance provided by Qatar, without which the situation in Gaza would have been untenable. On 6 May, His Highness the Emir announced an assistance package for the Palestinian people of some USD 480 million, USD 180 million of which is for Gaza, USD 250 million as loans for the Palestinian Government and USD 50 million as grants for projects in the West Bank. In relation to Gaza, some of this funding will allow the UN to provide fuel for electricity until the end of the year, expand temporary employment programmes and focus on permanent job creation.

Madam President,

While Gaza continues to command significant attention, the situation in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is of growing concern to all of us.

The prolonged absence of a political horizon to resolve the broader conflict has coincided with a steady deterioration of the living conditions of Palestinians. This, coupled with violence, settlement expansion, demolitions of Palestinian property, and the persistent threat of further economic decline, are creating an explosive mix that could have serious security implications.

During the reporting period 24 Palestinians were injured by Israeli forces, including 9 children during demonstrations, clashes, security operations and other incidents in the West Bank.

According to OCHA, four Palestinians were injured or had their property damaged by settlers, while one Palestinian attack against Israeli civilians in the West Bank was recorded resulting in one injury and damage to a vehicle.

I unequivocally condemn all attacks on Palestinian and Israeli civilians and call on all sides to refrain from violence. All perpetrators must be held accountable for their crimes.

Madam President,

Allow me to reiterate that settlements are illegal under international law and remain a substantial obstacle to peace.

During the reporting period, Israeli authorities demolished or seized 40 structures, displacing 31 people, overwhelmingly on the grounds of a lack of Israeli-issued building permits, which are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain.

On 29 April, 31 structures were demolished in East Jerusalem, the highest single day total monitored by OCHA since 2009. On 3 May, a joint statement by the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and UNRWA called for “an immediate halt to the Israeli authorities’ destruction of Palestinian-owned property in East Jerusalem.”

On the following day four structures were demolished in Silwan, displacing eleven Palestinians. According to OCHA, five people were seriously injured when Israeli forces reportedly beat, used stun grenades and sponge-covered bullets to push residents away as they tried to retrieve belongings prior to the demolitions.

Also in a worrying move, Israel’s High Court of Justice (HCJ) upheld a new Israeli military order, which accelerates the demolition process for new structures built without permits in Area C of the West Bank.

Madam President,

Regrettably, the reporting period saw no resolution to the Palestinian Authority’s financial crisis. For the third consecutive month, the Palestinian Government has refused to receive Israel’s transfer of any tax revenues less than the full amount owed to it. I am concerned that, despite the PA’s announced austerity measures and the support package committed by Qatar, the latter’s survival remains at risk.

In March, I briefed the Council that the crisis would have a substantial impact on the Palestinian economy with reduced purchasing power and weakened growth. The first signs of this negative trend are already beginning to show.

A long-term resolution of the financial crisis is urgently required. Its continuation threatens to further destabilize an already volatile situation. Both parties should implement their bilateral agreements and avoid taking unilateral actions that undermine the stability of the Palestinian Authority.

Against this backdrop, an UNSCO team recently visited al-Fawwar Palestinian refugee camp, where the residents endure harsh living conditions, and UNRWA’s ability to deliver essential services is hampered by its own financial crisis. High Commissioner Krähenbühl, who will also be briefing the Council today, will speak more on the severity of the current challenges facing Palestine refugees.

Madam President,

On a positive note, with the advent of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Muslims from the occupied West Bank were able to pray at the al-Aqsa Mosque during this holy month. I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome the relative calm at the holy site and urge continued respect for the status quo and relevant agreements.

Madam President,

Turning very briefly to the region, the situation on the Golan is calm. However, the potential for heightened tension between the parties to the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement remains.

On 1 May, UNDOF observed some Israel soldiers, had been laying razor concertina wire in the area between the Israeli technical fence and an UNDOF position, had crossed the ceasefire line. During this activity, the Syrian Arab Armed Forces soldiers deployed close to that location to monitor their activities. UNDOF liaised with both sides to deescalate the situation.

In Lebanon, the Cabinet started reviewing the draft 2019 State budget on 30 April, as some protests over reported austerity measures continued. At stake in the ongoing budget discussions is meeting commitments from the 2018 CEDRE conference on economic development and reform, which include the need to reduce Lebanon’s deficit.

Madam President, Members of the Security Council,

In closing, I would like to return to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The recent escalation in Gaza has once again demonstrated the urgency of solidifying and expanding the existing understandings on the ground.

We must ask ourselves, how many more years will Palestinians in Gaza be forced to live on pittance from the international community, under the control of Hamas, and suffer from Israeli closures?

How many more years will Israelis be forced to run for shelters as rockets launched by Palestinian militants in Gaza rain down indiscriminately from above?

The United Nations and its partners have - yet again – tried to mitigate the impact of the crisis in Gaza, but these efforts will ultimately fail unless there is progress on resolving the Palestinian divide, on lifting the closures and on charting a course towards the two-State solution based on long-standing international parameters, including relevant UN resolutions and previous agreements.

There are no shortcuts to sustainable peace.

I also take note of the invitation by the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain to convene government, civil society, and business leaders to discuss the potential for economic investments and initiatives that would be made possible by a future Palestinian-Israeli peace agreement and a solution to the final status issues.

Humanitarian and economic support is very important for people, and it is also critical as for creating an environment conducive for viable negotiations. However, the solution to the conflict remains fundamentally political.

Thank you.

I have spent the last eight weeks shuttling between the Syrian Government and opposition and consulting key players. I am doing everything I can to move forward on rebuilding trust and confidence, opening the door to a political process, in Geneva, between the Syrian government and the opposition -a process that can begin to build a new future for all Syrians - women and men - and between Syria and the international community. After eight years of conflict, this process will be long and difficult – but I think it is possible to move forward step by step. To this end, I have been seeking to advance the five priorities I outlined to this Council in February. These are grounded in a comprehensive approach to my mandate in Security Council resolution 2254.

Mr. President,

I would like to express condolences for the attacks at the synagogue in San Diego and at the church in Burkina Faso, as well as the previous attacks against religious sites in New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Our sympathy is with the families of the victims. We condemn terrorism in all its manifestations.

I would also like to pay tribute, on behalf of the entire UN family, to Major General Francis Vib-Sanziri, the UNDOF Head of Mission and Force Commander, who passed away suddenly on 19 April. His leadership, dedication and enthusiasm were invaluable in commanding UNDOF under difficult circumstances. He will be remembered for his exemplary career in the service of UN peacekeeping.

We meet today as the United Nations continues to advance efforts to address the continued humanitarian, economic and political crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Yet the continuing absence of a political solution to the broader conflict undermines and compounds our efforts.

Under the pressure of violence, settlement expansion, unilateral measures, intra-Palestinian divisions and deepening mutual mistrust, the prospects for a just and lasting peace remains ever more elusive.

Hopes for the realization of a two-state solution continue to be replaced by the rising fears of future annexation. The possibility of establishing a viable and contiguous Palestinian state continues to be eroded by facts on the ground.

The United Nations has repeatedly warned that the conflict cannot be managed in perpetuity. The status quo will only lead to further deterioration of the situation, radicalization on all sides, more suffering and conflict.

Mr. President,

Before addressing recent developments on the ground, I would like to congratulate Prime Minister Shtayyeh on the formation of a new Palestinian government. I wish him every success and urge all Palestinian factions and political leaders to work together, in good faith, to unify Gaza and the West Bank under a single, legitimate Palestinian government.

I also want to congratulate the Israeli people for their democratic general election on 9 April. On 17 April President Rivlin asked Prime Minister Netanyahu to form a new government. We stand ready to continue working with the new government when it is formed.

Mr. President,

The prolonged absence of a political solution to the conflict has coincided with the steady deterioration of the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

During the reporting period, Israeli authorities advanced at least 2,100 housing units in Area C settlements and issued tenders for some 950 additional units. One of the plans advanced would retroactively regularize, under Israeli law, the illegal outpost of Haresha by incorporating it into the existing Talmon settlement.

Settlements have no legal effect and constitute a violation of international law.

Demolitions and seizures of Palestinian-owned structures also continued across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Israeli authorities demolished or seized 37 structures, displacing 49 people, mostly on the grounds of lacking Israeli-issued building permits, which are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain.

In addition, on 31 March, the Israeli District Court rejected three appeals challenging demolition orders submitted by Palestinian residents of the Silwan neighborhood of East Jerusalem.

The situation at Jerusalem’s Holy Sites has remained relatively calm in the past month. I would like to take the opportunity of the overlapping holidays of Judaism, Christianity and Islam to wish peace and prosperity for the people of Palestine and the people of Israel, but also to urge sustained calm, particularly in the Holy Sites, which can only be achieved by respecting the status quo and relevant agreements.

Mr. President,

Regrettably, the cycle of violence continues.

On 30 March, Palestinians in Gaza marked the first anniversary of the “Great March of Return” protests, which was commemorated by 50,000 Palestinians demonstrating at the perimeter fence. While the vast majority of protesters remained peaceful, a small number ignored the calls for restraint and engaged in acts of violence against Israel and attempted to breach the fence.

During the reporting period, 7 Palestinians, including 4 children, were killed in Gaza by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and 1,316 were injured.

I reiterate the previous calls by the UN that children should never be the target of violence nor should they be put at risk of violence or encouraged to participate in violence. I also reiterate the call on Israel that lethal force should only be used in response to an imminent threat of death or serious injury and as a last resort.

During the reporting period, Palestinian militants fired 30 rockets and mortars from Gaza towards Israel. The indiscriminate launching of rockets and mortars towards the Israeli civilian populations is prohibited by international humanitarian law and must immediately cease. Several incendiary balloons were also launched from Gaza into Southern Israel. This must stop. Hamas must also ensure that protests remain peaceful and prevent provocations near the fence, including attempts to breach it.

Meanwhile in the West Bank, three Palestinians were shot and killed by Israeli forces, and 63 were injured, including 18 children.

On 27 March, a 17-year old Palestinian paramedic was shot by the ISF near al-Duheisha Refugee Camp in Bethlehem, and later died of his wounds. The shooting occurred during clashes following two ISF arrest operations in the camp earlier that day.

Settler-related violence also continued during the reporting period. According to OCHA one Palestinian was killed, and 19 were injured or had their property damaged by others. On 3 April, two Israeli civilians opened fire in Nablus, injuring two Palestinians, including a 23-year-old man who died later in hospital.

On 24 April, following the arrest, tying and blindfolding of a 15-year-old Palestinian boy for allegations of stone-throwing, IDF soldiers shot him twice in his lower body as he attempted to escape while still blindfolded. The IDF stated it was responding to "massive stone throwing" and one of the “the rioters” was shot as he tried to flee after being arrested.

In the same period, OCHA recorded 14 Palestinian attacks against Israeli settlers and other Israeli civilians in the West Bank, where Palestinians threw stones at vehicles traveling on roads near Bethlehem, Hebron and Ramallah. One injury and damage to 13 vehicles were reported.

Mr. President,

The reporting period also saw a worsening Palestinian financial crisis. Despite the austerity measures announced and the recent pledges of support by Arab States, the risk of a financial collapse of the Palestinian Authority is growing.

A sustainable resolution of the PA’s funding crisis is urgently required. Both parties should address the causes of the crisis through dialogue, implement their bilateral agreements and avoid taking unilateral actions that undermine stability and security for both Palestinians and Israelis alike.

I urge the members of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) to use its meeting tomorrow in Brussels to work with Israel and the Palestinian Authority to resolve this crisis that threatens the viability of the Palestinian Authority.

Mr. President,

I would like to turn to the ongoing humanitarian and economic crisis in Gaza and begin by highlighting the plight of women. 70% of all women in Gaza today are unemployed. As a result, female-headed households are more likely to face poverty and food insecurity. Moreover, we know that poverty and lack of economic opportunities are key drivers behind violence against women in Gaza. The United Nations continues to provide assistance to Palestinian women and girls across a broad range of areas but much more needs to be done to ensure that their needs are addressed.

The United Nations is also making important progress on the implementation of a package of urgent humanitarian and economic interventions in order to stabilize the situation in Gaza, prevent an escalation, lift the closures, and support Egyptian-led reconciliation efforts.

Over the past year, nearly USD 110 million for fuel, health, water, sanitation and temporary employment programmes has been raised. The UN and its partners have mobilized nearly USD 45 million that will allow for the creation of approximately 20,000 temporary jobs in 2019.

Since September, approximately USD 4.6 million in support to the Humanitarian Response Plan has contributed to the delivery of essential drugs and the performance of some 9,500 emergency surgeries.

I welcome Qatar’s extension of funding for the UN to procure and deliver fuel to the Gaza Power Plant until June.

In a positive development, on 1 April, Israel extended some areas of the Gaza fishing zone up to 15 nautical miles. I welcome this decision and strongly urge that the rest of the fishing zone, which remains limited to 6 to 12 nautical miles, also be expanded.

As we have repeatedly stated , at its core the crisis in Gaza is political. Significant progress on the lifting of the closures and advancing intra-Palestinian reconciliation remain essential.

I reiterate my call on all Palestinian factions to engage in earnest with Egypt on reconciliation efforts. I also take this opportunity to thank Member States that have supported the implementation of the AHLC projects to date and urge others to contribute to this important effort, including through critical financial support to the Programme Management Unit, as well as for the Humanitarian Response Plan.

Mr. President,

Turning to the situation in the region, Lebanon remains stable, with continued commitment of political actors to dialogue leading to Parliamentary approval of its long-awaited plan to reform the electricity sector. Discussions continue on the 2019 budget, as proposed public sector pay cuts spark protests. Significantly, Minister of Defense Elias Bou Saab and Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Commander General Joseph Aoun visited UNIFIL and southern Lebanon on 24 April, with Minister Bou Saab stating that the Lebanese Armed Forces would increase troop deployment in southern Lebanon.

The situation in southern Lebanon and along the Blue Line remained calm. On 2 April, UNIFIL chaired a regular Tripartite meeting attended by senior delegations from the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

On 17 April, a UNIFIL team of technical experts assessed the tunnel located south of the Blue Line near the Israeli town of Zarit, the discovery of which had been announced by the IDF on 13 January. UNIFIL concluded that the tunnel crossed the Blue Line and thereby constituted a violation of resolution 1701. The following day, the UNIFIL Force Commander informed the Commander of Lebanese Armed Forces and Minister of Defence Elias Bou Saab, of UNIFIL’s findings and requested urgent follow-up.

UNIFIL has now confirmed the existence of five tunnels, three of which it has confirmed cross the Blue Line and constitute a violation of resolution 1701.

Turning to the Golan, on 25 March, US President Donald Trump signed an official proclamation recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the occupied Syrian Golan. As previously noted by the Secretary-General, the UN position on the Golan is clear: it is reflected in the relevant UN resolutions, notably Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 497 (1981).

The ceasefire between Israel and Syria has been maintained with relative calm and low levels of military activity in the areas of separation and limitation on the Bravo side.

UNDOF continued to observe and hear a relatively low level of small arms firing in the areas of separation and limitation on the Bravo side. UNDOF assessed that the firing was due to training activities conducted by Syrian security forces. Also, UNDOF continued to observe the presence of Syrian Arab Armed Forces in different locations in the area of separation, including in the vicinity of UN positions.

Yesterday, UNDOF assisted by the ICRC facilitated the transfer of two Syrian men who had been detained in Israel for a number of years. Also, the remains of an IDF soldier, missing since 1982, were repatriated from Syria to Israel after being located with the assistance of Russian forces.

Regarding the conflict in Syria, the Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, continues his efforts to find a negotiated political solution. He is working with all sides and is making steady progress on launching a credible, balanced and inclusive constitutional committee as a door opener to a wider political process, which embraces the full implementation of all elements of resolution 2254. He will brief the Council on these efforts tomorrow.

Mr. President,

As we mobilize in each crisis to address the critical needs of the Palestinian population, be it in Gaza or the West Bank, we shall not lose sight of the core political issue, namely the prospect of two peaceful and secure states living side by side in harmony. This imperative compels us all to work with the parties, bring them back to the negotiation table and urge them to avoid unilateral actions that undermine the prospect for peace. We should also create an environment conducive to a return to meaningful negotiations. However, only determined action by the parties themselves can salvage the two-state solution.

Otherwise, Palestinians and Israelis will continue to live their lives knowing only conflict, mistrust and fear, rather than the infinite possibilities that would come with a just and lasting peace.

Finally, I would like to thank EcoPeace for joining us for today’s debate. Their commendable efforts to promote Israeli-Palestinian-Jordanian collaboration around shared environmental challenges are exemplary. I welcome the ongoing commitment by Member States to generously support and bring attention to such initiatives.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Mr. President,

Members of the Security Council,

Vice Foreign Minister of Indonesia,

On behalf of the Secretary-General, I will devote my regular briefing on the situation in the Middle East to presenting the ninth report on the implementation of Security Council resolution 2334 (2016), the report covers the period between 15 December 2018 and 15 March 2019. Before I provide an update on the developments related to the provisions of the resolution that have taken place following the submission of the written report of the Secretary-General to the Council, I would like to address the situation on the ground in the past 48 hours.

On 25 March, a rocket was launched from the Gaza Strip, directly hitting a house in central Israel. Seven family members were injured, including three children. Over the following 24 hours, at least 103 rockets and mortars were fired from Gaza towards Israel, some of which were intercepted by the Iron Dome system, while others caused material damage to a house in Sderot or hit uninhabited areas. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) conducted 42 strikes on various locations in Gaza, while some 16 shells were fired by the IDF and the Israeli navy towards the Gaza strip. According to local sources, seven Palestinians have been injured as a result of the strikes. Several buildings were destroyed, including Hamas offices and security buildings. As at 06:00 this morning local time, a fragile calm seems to have taken hold.

In the past ten days there have been two rockets attacks from Gaza, targeting the Tel Aviv area. They represent a very serious escalation. Since the early hours of yesterday, my team and I have been working intensely with Egypt and all concerned parties to ensure that the situation does not spiral out of control. As I have said many times in this Council, but I will repeat it here today again — nobody has an interest in a full military confrontation in Gaza.

A new conflict will be devastating for the Palestinian people, it will have consequences for Israelis, who live in the vicinity of the Gaza perimeter, and it is likely to have regional repercussions. This is why I ask you all today to join the United Nations in condemning the continued indiscriminate firing of rockets towards Israel. Such acts of provocation only dramatically increase the risk of escalation and ultimately damage our collective efforts to support the people of Gaza and intra-Palestinian reconciliation. We must also call on all sides to exercise maximum restraint as the situation remains extremely tense.

Mr. President,

Returning to the report under resolution 2334, I have to begin by saying that once again no steps have been taken by Israel to “immediately and completely cease all settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem” as called for by Security Council resolution 2334. Since the end of the reporting period the government has announced the construction of 840 new units in Ariel. This decision was presented as a response to an attack on 17 March.

Demolitions and seizures of Palestinian-owned structures also continued across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Since 15 March and additional seven Palestinian-owned structures were demolished or seized by the Israeli authorities. This has resulted in the displacement of nine people. A water cistern in Susiya, three structures belonging to communities in southern Hebron and an elementary school building under construction in the Shu’fat refugee camp in East Jerusalem are among the buildings demolished.

Mr. President,

Security Council resolution 2334 also “calls for immediate steps to prevent all acts of violence against civilians.” However, even the brief period since the submission of this report, as witnessed by recent events, has been characterized by escalating violence.

Beginning on 14 and 15 March, thousands of Palestinians in Gaza demonstrated under the slogan “we want to live.” They protested the dire socio-economic circumstances in Gaza and “the injustice due to the Palestinian division and the Hamas takeover of Gaza by force and violence”. Although the protests were generally non-violent, Hamas security personnel violently dispersed participants and many, including women, children, journalists and human rights activists, were beaten and hospitalized. Tens of homes were raided in search of demonstrators. Local human rights monitors reported that over a thousand people, including children, were arrested, with many reportedly beaten. The crackdown was condemned by all Palestinian factions.

Meanwhile, protests at the Gaza fence, which had subsided for a couple of days, also resumed. At least eleven incendiary devices were launched from Gaza towards Israel since 15 March only. In response, IDF shelled or conducted airstrikes against targets in Gaza on four occasions, causing no injuries. This of course does not include the rockets fired in the past 48 hours.

Mr. President,

Tensions in the occupied West Bank also continued. Four Palestinians were killed by Israeli security forces, in various security operations and other incidents, while two Israelis, including one soldier and one civilian, were killed by Palestinians.

On 17 March, a Palestinian stabbed an Israeli soldier near the Ariel settlement, took his rifle and shot him and an Israeli civilian, killing both and severely injuring another soldier. In the subsequent search operations, 15 homes were raided, a temporary security cordon was imposed on several villages and three of the suspect’s family members were arrested. Two days later, the suspect was killed by the ISF in the village of Abwein.

Another incident took place on 19 March, when Jewish worshippers, accompanied by Israeli security forces, entered Nablus on their way to visit Joseph’s Tomb — a monthly practice that is consistent with previous agreements between the parties. While the details of the ensuing clashes remain disputed, two Palestinians were killed by the ISF, and at least 27 others were injured.

In Bethlehem, on 20 March, a 26-year-old Palestinian was shot and killed by ISF and another was injured while driving near a partial military checkpoint under disputed circumstances. In Beit Sira village near Ramallah, a Palestinian man was similarly shot and injured near a checkpoint. Israeli authorities have launched investigations into both events.

On 24 March, two Israeli prison guards apparently were stabbed by Hamas inmates in Ktzi’ot Prison in southern Israel. Following this, twelve prisoners were reportedly injured in ensuing clashes between guards and inmates.

Mr. President,

Security Council resolution 2334 (2016) calls upon the parties “to refrain from provocative actions, incitement, and inflammatory rhetoric.” Unfortunately, such actions and rhetoric have continued. On 17 March, both Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad praised the attack near the settlement of Ariel, and called it a “heroic operation”, while Fatah social media pages praised the perpetrator as a “heroic martyr”. Israeli political leaders have continued to call for targeted assassinations of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad officials and for annexation of the West Bank.

Mr. President,

Resolution 2334 (2016) reiterated calls by the Middle East Quartet for “affirmative steps to be taken immediately to reverse negative trends on the ground that are imperiling the two-State solution.” No such steps have been taken during the reporting period.

Meanwhile, the situation at Jerusalem’s Holy Sites continues to be tense. On 17 March, the Jerusalem Magistrate Court reinstated for 60 days an order to close the building located at the Bab al-Rahma (Mercy Gate) in al-Haram al-Sharif / Temple Mount, which has been closed by the Israeli authorities since 2003 on security grounds. The Islamic Endowment (the Waqf) – echoed by the Palestinian and Jordanian Ministries of Foreign Affairs – maintains that Israeli courts lack jurisdiction over the holy site, which lies in the territory occupied in 1967, and warned against any changes to the historical and legal status quo.

Israel, however, considers the establishment of a mosque at the Mercy Gate area a violation of the status quo. As at 20 March, the Jerusalem Magistrate court order has not been executed. Daily prayers continue at the Mercy Gate area, while discussions between Israel and Jordan are ongoing.

Mr. President,

The past few days have not seen a resolution to the funding crisis created by Israel’s decision to withhold 6% from revenues it collects on behalf the PA, and the Palestinian leadership’s refusal

to accept any clearance transfers unless the full amount is reinstated. The Palestinian Government has begun implementing extremely severe austerity measures. The measures include a 50% salary cut for some 60 % of Palestinian Government employees, and overall ceiling on salary payments, cessation of promotions, appointments and bonuses, purchase of property and cars and a 20 percent reduction in operational expenses across the board including reduced expenses on travel and fuel. In addition, the PA plans to borrow from domestic banks between now and the month of July. This will have a substantial impact on the Palestinian economy resulting in reduced purchasing power and further reduction in the GDP growth both in West Bank and Gaza.

Mr. President,

In closing, I would like to reiterate some of the observations concerning the implementation of the provisions of resolution 2334.

The expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is continuing unabated. The advancement, approval or tender of more than 3,000 units in the occupied West Bank, reported in the written report you have received, is the largest batch since May 2018. This includes the latest announcement of over 800 units in Ariel. I reiterate that the establishment of settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, has no legal effect and constitutes a flagrant violation of international law, as stated in resolution 2334. It must cease immediately and completely.

The demolition and seizure of Palestinian structures also continues. The demolition of structures linked to vital water connections in Area C of the West Bank communities already suffering water shortages is particularly troubling. I am concerned by the continued pressures being placed on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Such policies must be reversed, and Israel should abide by its obligations under international law.

I am saddened by the persistent violence that continues to result in the tragic loss of Palestinian and Israeli lives. Recent incidents in the West Bank and Gaza highlight the mounting tensions across the occupied Palestinian territory and the risk of a broader escalation of the conflict. I call on the parties to reject violence and to work to reduce tensions. There is no justification for terror and I call on all to join the United Nations in condemning it unequivocally.

I am concerned that we may once again be facing another very dangerous escalation of violence in Gaza with potentially catastrophic consequences. The last two days have shown how precariously close we are to the brink of war once again. The indiscriminate launching of rockets and mortars against towns and villages violates international law and places civilian lives at great risk. The launching of incendiary and explosive devices towards Israel must also stop.

I remain gravely concerned by the number of deaths and injuries of Palestinians along the Gaza perimeter fence as well. Israeli security forces have the responsibility to exercise restraint and lethal force must be used only when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life.

I strongly condemn the campaign of arrests and violence inside Gaza against protesters, including women and children, in Gaza. The brutal beating of journalists, human rights workers and the raiding of homes is particularly alarming. The long-suffering people of Gaza have a right to protest without fear of reprisal and I call on all Member States to join the UN in condemning such actions.

As I have repeatedly emphasised, the situation in Gaza is untenable and the latest protests, further highlight the need for the return of a unified Palestinian Government to Gaza. I call on all Palestinian factions to engage in earnest with Egypt in order to implement the 2017 Cairo Agreement and end internal divisions. While the United Nations is continuing its efforts to de-escalate the situation, progress on the reconciliation track and the lifting of closures on Gaza remain essential. I encourage Member States to support these vital efforts.

The lack of resolution of the PA’s funding crisis threatens to further destabilize an already volatile situation. Both parties should continue to implement their bilateral agreements and avoid taking unilateral actions that undermine the two-state solution.

The situation in the Old City of Jerusalem, Mr. President, remains a serious concern. I urge all parties to work towards a de-escalation of tensions. I encourage Israel and Jordan to work together to uphold the status quo at the Holy Sites, noting the special and historic role of the Hashemite Kingdom as custodian of the Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

Lastly, I remain deeply concerned by the lack of progress towards the realization a two-state solution in line with relevant UN resolutions, long-standing international parameters and prior agreements. There is no viable alternative to the two-state solution. Given the interconnected nature of conflicts throughout the region and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict’s potential to fuel extremist narratives, creating the conditions for the parties to return to meaningful negotiations remains critical.

What is needed however first and foremost, is the necessary leadership and political will to take concrete steps in support of ending the occupation and realizing a lasting peace. Until that can be found, another generation of Israelis and Palestinians is destined to spend their lives searching in vain for an elusive peace.

Thank you.

I have taken up this task with all humility, and conscious of the profound grief and suffering of the Syrian people everywhere. I am conscious of the need to end this conflict for the sake of Syria, the region and the world. I know you all understand the scale and difficulty of my task. It is not for the lack of talent that my predecessors did not achieve more. And it will of course not be possible to satisfy every party on every issue.