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Two weeks ago, I visited Damascus to continue my discussion with the Syrian government on advancing the political process to implement resolution 2254. As I did so, conditions on the ground were pointing in worrying directions.

TOR WENNESLAND

SPECIAL COORDINATOR FOR THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS

BRIEFING TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST, REPORTING ON UNSCR 2334 (2016)

19 December 2022

Madam President,

Members of the Security Council,

I devote my regular briefing on the situation in the Middle East to the twenty-fourth report on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2334 (2016). The Secretary-General’s written report that you have already received covers the period between 21 September to 7 December 2022.

Before turning to developments subsequent to the written report, I would like to reiterate my deep concern over the high levels of violence we have witnessed in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel over the last several months.

Clashes, protests, attacks, Israeli security operations, including in Area A, and settler-related violence have continued. In 2022 to date, over one hundred and fifty Palestinians and more than twenty Israelis have been killed in the West Bank and Israel, the highest numbers of fatalities in years.

Regrettably, in the period following the submission of the written report, violence has continued throughout the OPT.

Since 8 December, six Palestinians, including two children, have been killed by Israeli security forces. Of these, four were killed during search and arrest operations in Jenin; one during an exchange of fire following an alleged shooting attack near Ofra settlement; and one was killed in the context of alleged stone-throwing

Madam President,

I will now turn to several observations concerning the implementation of the provisions of Security Council Resolution 2334 (2016) during the reporting period.

Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, remains deeply concerning. Settlements constitute a flagrant violation of United Nations resolutions and international law. They undermine the prospects of achieving a two-State solution by systematically eroding the possibility of establishing a contiguous, independent, viable and sovereign Palestinian State.

While the reporting period saw no advancements of housing units in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the total number of settlement housing units advanced in 2022 remains high, albeit slightly lower than in 2021. Overall, during the year, in Area C some 4,800 units were advanced, compared with some 5,400 in 2021, while tenders dropped from 1,800 in 2021 to 150 in 2022. Moreover, in occupied East Jerusalem, the number of housing units advanced more than tripled from the previous year – from some 900 units in 2021 to some 3,100 units in 2022, with tenders doubling from 200 to 400.

I call on the Government of Israel to cease the advancement of all settlement activities immediately.

I also remain deeply concerned by the continued demolitions and seizures of Palestinian structures. I am alarmed, in particular, by the demolition of a donor-funded school in Masafer Yatta and the stated intention of Israeli authorities to demolish additional structures in the herding communities of that area, which would have a significant humanitarian toll, if implemented.

I call upon the Government of Israel to end the demolition of Palestinian-owned property, prevent the possible displacement and eviction of Palestinians, in line with its obligations under international humanitarian and international human rights law, and approve plans that would enable Palestinians to build legally and address their development needs.

Madam President,

I am gravely concerned by the sharp increase in violence against civilians on both sides, which exacerbates mistrust and undermines a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

I am particularly appalled that children continue to be victims of violence. 2022 has tragically witnessed the killing of 44 Palestinian children and one Israeli child. These include the killing by Israeli security forces of a 16-year-old boy in the context of alleged stone-throwing in Aboud community, near Ramallah, on 8 December, and of a 15-year-old Palestinian girl in the context of a search and arrest operation in Jenin on 11 December that involved an exchange of fire between Israeli security forces and Palestinians. According to an initial IDF investigation, the girl was shot unintentionally and was not involved in hostilities. Children must never be the target of violence, used, or put in harm’s way.

Also disturbing are the continued killings of Palestinians by Israeli security forces in incidents where they did not appear to present an imminent threat to life.

I reiterate that security forces must exercise maximum restraint and use lethal force only when it is strictly unavoidable in order to protect life.

The increase in the number of Israelis killed or injured by Palestinians, including in bombings and shooting attacks is also alarming.

The violence must stop and all perpetrators must be held accountable. I condemn all acts of terrorism, which must be rejected and condemned by all. I call on political, religious and community leaders on all sides to help calm the situation, avoid spreading inflammatory rhetoric and speak up against those seeking to incite and escalate the situation.

Madam President,

I am increasingly concerned by the fragility of the current political and security dynamics, particularly in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The deepening occupation, the increase in violence, including terrorism, and the absence of a political horizon have empowered extremists and are eroding hope among Palestinians and Israelis, alike, that a resolution of the conflict is achievable.

Simultaneously, the Palestinian Authority is facing mounting economic and institutional challenges, compounded by the constraints of the occupation, the absence of serious reforms and unclear prospects for donor support.

In Gaza, the situation remains fragile, and the risk of escalation persists. Efforts by the United Nations and regional and international partners, including Egypt and the State of Qatar, to improve Palestinian lives, as well as measures by Israel to ease some movement and access restrictions and facilitate more economic activity, have enabled the ceasefire to hold. There are currently more than 18,000 permits for Palestinian residents of Gaza to work or do business in Israel, the highest number since 2007. The volume of goods exiting Gaza via Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel increased by nearly fifty per cent in 2022. While progress has been made, restrictions and delays continue to negatively affect humanitarian and development efforts as well as important sectors of the economy.

More needs to be done to alleviate the humanitarian situation and enable the economy to grow. Ultimately, solving Gaza’s challenges will require political solutions, including a return of the legitimate Palestinian Government to the Strip, a full lifting of Israeli closures, in line with UN Security Council resolution 1860 (2009) and an end to the militant buildup.

As commodity prices spike, humanitarian needs and costs are rising across the OPT. The World Food Programme, in particular, is facing a significant decline in bilateral financial support, putting at risk its ability to maintain critical food and cash assistance to more than 400,000 of the most vulnerable food-insecure people across the OPT. The World Food Programme needs USD 35 million over the next six months to be able to continue its ongoing support.

I also remain seriously concerned about the financial situation of UNRWA, which is putting at risk the delivery of essential services to Palestine refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in the region. As the West Bank witnesses the highest level of violence in years, UNRWA remains one of the most significant stabilizing elements in the lives of thousands of Palestinians. I reiterate my urgent call to provide UNRWA with the funds needed to fully deliver on its General Assembly mandate.

Madam President,

As I told the Council in my briefing last month, seeking to freeze this conflict or manage it in perpetuity are not viable options. There is no substitute for a legitimate political process that will resolve the core issues driving the conflict.

In line with the recommendations that I made to this Council in November, I urge the parties, along with regional States and the broader international community to take concrete steps that will change the negative trajectory on the ground and have an immediate impact on Palestinian and Israeli lives, while, at the same time, ensuring these steps are anchored in a political framework that moves the parties forward towards the establishment of two States.

The United Nations remains actively engaged in advancing these efforts with all relevant parties and is committed to supporting Palestinians and Israelis to resolve the conflict and end the occupation. The United Nations is committed to achieving a two-State solution, in line with relevant United Nations resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements.

Thank you.

In repeated briefings, I have warned of the dangers of military escalation in Syria. I am here in person today to tell you that escalatory dynamics are indeed taking place, and this is worrying and dangerous.

TOR WENNESLAND

SPECIAL COORDINATOR FOR THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS

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

28 November 2022

Mister President,

Members of the Security Council,

Each month, I brief you in detail on the latest developments on the ground relevant to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Today, however, I wish to provide a broader perspective on the challenges we are facing, while highlighting some potential ways forward for the parties and the international community.

A detailed update on recent incidents and developments will be provided in the forthcoming Report of the Secretary-General on the Implementation of UNSCR 2334 (2016) in December.

Mister President,

After decades of persistent violence, illegal settlement expansion, dormant negotiations and deepening occupation, the conflict is again reaching a boiling point.

High levels of violence in the occupied West Bank and Israel in recent months, including attacks against Israeli and Palestinian civilians, increased use of arms, and settler-related violence, have caused grave human suffering.

This past week I condemned bombings in Jerusalem that killed two Israelis, including a 16-year-old, and injured over a dozen more civilians. Such acts of terrorism must be clearly rejected and condemned by all.

Days before, I condemned a violent attack by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in Hebron that risks aggravating an already tense environment. All have a responsibility to act against extremists and to speak out against such acts of violence and incitement.

Let me reiterate that the targeting of civilians can never be justified, and the violence must stop.

This surge in violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is taking place in the context of a stalled peace process and entrenched occupation, and amidst mounting economic and institutional challenges faced by the Palestinian Authority. Global trends and declining donor support have compounded these challenges, alongside an absence of democratic renewal for the Palestinian people.

In Gaza, the fragile calm was recently interrupted by the launching of four rockets towards Israel by Palestinian militants and subsequent airstrikes by Israeli Defense Forces against what it said were Hamas targets. Once again, we are reminded that the mix of militant activity, debilitating closures, absence of the legitimate Palestinian Government and hopelessness create an ever-present risk of escalation.

Mister President,

I remain focused on addressing both the immediate threats to stability and to the longer-term objectives of my mandate.

In the occupied West Bank, my team and I have in recent weeks visited areas where violence has been severe, and I continue to hold discussions with a range of Palestinian and Israeli officials, as well as international and regional actors, to address the dangerous dynamics.

In Gaza, the UN worked closely, again alongside regional and international partners, to mediate and support ceasefires in May 2021and earlier this year. The UN leads the humanitarian response and has helped put in place measures to support Gaza’s economy, including improvements to movement and access in and out of Gaza for people and goods. Critical projects such as providing fuel to the Gaza power plant and cash assistance to more than 100,000 needy families is ongoing and will continue in 2023.

In this regard, progress has been made. Israel has approved the highest number of permits for Palestinians from Gaza to work in Israel since 2007 and the entry of a number of dual-use materials from Israel for the first time in more than a decade. Nevertheless, restrictions and delays continue to negatively impact humanitarian and development efforts, as well as important sectors of the economy, and much more remains to be done.

These preventive and de-escalation measures and diplomatic engagements have helped maintain calm on the ground and provide some space for progress, but without tangible movement on the political track, their benefits are likely to be short-lived.

Mister President,

While it may seem that events on the ground are stuck in a never-ending cycle, the truth is that nothing in this conflict is static. Freezing the conflict or permanently managing it are not viable options.

As violence mounts, settlement expansion and restrictions continue to squeeze the economic and physical space for developing a viable Palestinian State. Meanwhile, demography is moving faster than politics. In a few years exponential population growth in the West Bank and Gaza will it make it increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to manage the economic, political and security situation.

The Palestinian Authority is already facing significant institutional and financial challenges. Palestinians have not voted in general elections since 2006. More than 50 per cent of the electorate - those 18 to 35 - has never had the chance to make their voices heard by the ballot.

This is taking place against the backdrop of changing dynamics in the region, shifting international priorities, and more recently, the fallout of the conflict in Ukraine, which have significantly reduced the attention paid to this conflict.

The optimism, hope, and vocal support for a negotiated political solution that were so palpable when the peace process began have now dimmed, especially given the lack of political progress since the unsuccessful rounds of talks in 2007 and 2014. The principles that underpin the Oslo Accords are slipping away.

Political leadership is required to reset a trajectory toward a two-State solution. Failing to address the underlying causes of conflict, as well as the negative trends I just outlined, and without demonstrating a clear political path forward, the conflict will only escalate, causing more bloodshed and misery, and have a deeply destabilizing effect on the entire region. The current trends bring neither stability nor security for anyone.

Mister President,

For these reasons, it is necessary to take urgent steps towards a two-State solution, which still garners considerable support among Palestinians and Israelis. Through incremental but tangible steps, we can build a bridge between where we are now and the conditions necessary for a peaceful resolution of the conflict based on United Nations resolutions, international law and previous agreements.

First, we must continue to engage with the parties to reduce tensions and counter negative trends, particularly those impacting final status issues. This will involve reining in violence and incitement and holding perpetrators accountable. This means that both sides stop unilateral steps that undermine peace, including settlement expansion or legalization, demolitions and displacement. This means upholding the status quo at the Holy Sites, in accordance with the special and historic role of Jordan.

Second, we must continue to improve access, movement and trade to create room for the Palestinian economy to grow. Specifically, steps should be taken to increase access for Palestinians to land and resources in Area C of the West Bank, enabling crucial Palestinian development, and to increase permits for Palestinians to work in Israel.

In Gaza, a further and more comprehensive approach to easing restrictions on the movement of people and goods is needed. Re-linking the economy of Gaza to the West Bank should be a related, critical objective. Ultimately, ending the debilitating closure and addressing Gaza’s challenges require political solutions in line with UNSCR 1860 (2009).

Third, efforts are needed by all parties and the international community to strengthen Palestinian institutions, improve governance and shore up the fiscal health of the Palestinian Authority. The PA’s political legitimacy and accountability must also be strengthened through democratic reforms and opening of the civic space, holding elections across the OPT and ensuring the effectiveness and credibility of the Palestinian security forces. Without implementing points one and two above, this will not be possible.

These steps seek to enable the parties to move past ad-hoc efforts focused on security and economic matters, and towards meaningful engagement on more fundamental political issues. While they are intended to have immediate, concrete benefits for Palestinians and Israelis, these priorities are anchored to a broader political framework that advances us towards two States.

Mister President,

I recognize that under the current circumstances, advancing such steps will be a formidable task. Fundamental issues need to be addressed by the parties. A common approach where the two-State solution is the guiding political direction is essential to halting the current negative trajectory.

It will require a redoubled commitment from the international community, as well as coordinated and sustained attention, resources and engagement with the parties, despite the global challenges.

Clearly, circumstances have changed in the three decades since Israelis and Palestinians first embarked on the peace process. Neither can turn away from the realities of geography and demography that are reshaping the landscape, which, when combined with [fast] expanding settlements east of the 1967 lines, reflects an increase in friction points and a deepening conflict.

Such a direction has full support from the international community. In this regard, the United Nations, plays a critical role in anchoring and affirming the international consensus on how this conflict will ultimately be resolved: the establishment of two States, living side-by-side in peace and security, on the basis of the 1967 lines, in line with UN resolutions, international law and previous agreements.

This consensus is based on the recognition that both Palestinians and Israelis have deep national, religious, cultural and historic ties to their homeland, and that both have a right to self-determination in the form of a viable, contiguous, independent State of their own.

Ultimately, only Palestinians and Israelis can together determine their future. But the UN and the international community – including through regional and international frameworks – must support the parties in moving towards a political horizon aligned with the core principles outlined above.

Despite the bleakness of this moment, and in fact because of it, I encourage all of us to recommit to this ambitious but achievable goal.

Thank you.

TOR WENNESLAND

SPECIAL COORDINATOR FOR THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS

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

28 October 2022

Mr. President,

Members of the Security Council,

I brief you today as the security situation in the occupied West Bank is caught in a downward spiral.

Too many people, overwhelmingly Palestinians, have been killed and injured in daily violence. Mounting hopelessness, anger and tension have once again erupted into a deadly cycle of violence that is increasingly difficult to contain.

Decades of violence and its toll on both Israelis and Palestinians, as well as a prolonged absence of meaningful negotiations and a failure to resolve the key issues fueling the conflict have created fertile ground for this dynamic.

In recent weeks, I have had discussions with Palestinian officials and factions across the West Bank and in Gaza, and a range of Israeli officials and members of the international community to address this volatile situation. My message has been clear. The immediate priority is to work to calm the situation and reverse the negative trends on the ground. This will require determined actions by both parties, supported by the international community.

However, this cannot be a goal itself. Efforts are also urgently needed to empower and strengthen the Palestinian Authority and build towards a return to a political process. A failure to implement strategies to address both the symptoms and the root causes of violent escalation will only worsen an already explosive situation.

Mr. President,

Let me describe for the Council the current dynamic in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

In total, 32 Palestinians, including six children, were killed by Israeli security forces during demonstrations, clashes, search-and-arrest operations, attacks and alleged attacks against Israelis, and other incidents, and 311 Palestinians, including one woman and eight children, were injured. Israeli settlers or other civilians perpetrated 106 attacks against Palestinians resulting in 63 injuries and/or damage to Palestinian property.

In all, two Israeli security forces personnel were killed, and 25 Israeli civilians, including five women and three children, and 13 Israeli security forces personnel were injured by Palestinians in shooting and ramming attacks, clashes, the throwing of stones and Molotov cocktails, and other incidents. In total, Palestinians perpetrated some 115 attacks against Israeli civilians, 100 of which were stone-throwing incidents, resulting in injuries and/or damage to Israeli property.

In the reporting period, we saw a spike in fatal violence across the occupied West Bank. So far, 2022 is on course to be the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank since OCHA began systematically tracking Palestinian fatalities in 2005.

Violence was particularly intense in Jenin and Nablus Governorates, in the northern part of West Bank. In Jenin, ten Palestinians, including two children, were killed by ISF, while in Nablus, eight Palestinians were killed by ISF. Most of these fatalities occurred during military operations to arrest what Israeli authorities said were Palestinians suspected of involvement in attacks or planned attacks against Israelis, and during related armed clashes.

In one such incident, Israeli security forces killed five Palestinians during an operation in Jenin Refugee Camp on 28 September, which involved an exchange of fire with armed Palestinians. Among those killed was a bystander and a 12-year-old boy.

Amid a spate of Palestinian shooting attacks against Israelis in the occupied West Bank, Palestinians shot and killed two Israeli soldiers: on 8 October at a checkpoint outside Shu’fat Refugee Camp, near Jerusalem; and on 11 October in a drive-by shooting near Nablus. Al-Aqsa Martyrs brigade claimed the 8 October attacker as a member; and the Lions’ Den Brigades, a newly formed group of armed Palestinians based in Nablus, claimed responsibility for the attack on the twelfth.

Amid search operations for the perpetrators, Israeli authorities imposed strict movement restrictions. Entry to the Shu’fat Refugee Camp was severely restricted for six days; while in Nablus, strict restrictions were in place from 11 until yesterday, 27 October, impacting basic service delivery and economic activity.

Demonstrations and protests spread from Shu’fat to East Jerusalem and led to clashes between Palestinians and ISF. Tensions persisted when, on 13 October, a right-wing Israeli Member of the Knesset led a group through Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, at one point brandishing a weapon and making violent threats.

In Nablus’ Old City on 25 October, ISF shot and killed five Palestinians during a military operation. Israeli authorities said that they were targeting an explosives workshop belonging to the Lions’ Den and that a senior member of the group was among those killed. Thousands of Palestinians subsequently demonstrated in Nablus, with protests spreading across the occupied West Bank.

Amid the heightened tensions, Palestinians conducted general strikes and five days of civil disobedience campaigns across the West Bank, with further clashes between Palestinians and ISF.

Mister President,

Settler-related violence and provocations has also increased during the reporting period, contributing to the dynamic of escalating violence in the occupied West Bank.

Throughout the reporting period, settlers held numerous demonstrations across the West Bank, with protesters on multiple occasions blocking main roads, throwing stones and impeding movement for Palestinian residents.

Tensions were particularly high around Nablus, where settlers impeded main routes for Palestinian residents and, on several occasions, groups of Israeli settlers entered the Palestinian town of Huwwara, south of Nablus, damaging Palestinian property and prompting clashes with residents, in some cases in the presence of Israeli Security Forces.

On 4 October, three Palestinians, including two children, were injured after Israeli settlers attacked a school with rocks and sticks. On 14 October, 15 Palestinians were injured, including two with live ammunition, in clashes with Israeli settlers and the ISF.

On 20 October, two ISF were injured after they were attacked by a group of settlers south of Huwwara, prompting condemnation from senior Israeli officials.

During the reporting period, IDF announced that it had opened investigations into two separate cases where soldiers were documented violently assaulting Palestinians or shooting towards Palestinian homes.

Mr. President,

I am alarmed by the intensity of violence in the occupied West Bank, including the high number of Palestinians killed by Israeli security forces, numerous armed attacks by Palestinians against Israelis, including killings, and settler violence.

I reiterate that perpetrators of all acts of violence must be held accountable and that security forces must exercise maximum restraint and use lethal force only when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life.

I am appalled that children continue to be the victims of violence. Children must never be the targets of violence or put in harm’s way.

Mr. President,

During the reporting period, Israeli authorities demolished, seized or forced owners to demolish 38 Palestinian-owned structures in Area C and three in East Jerusalem, displacing 81Palestinians. The demolitions were carried out due to the lack of Israeli-issued building permits, which are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain.

On 3 October, with regard to the status of Khan al-Ahmar, the High Court of Justice granted the State of Israel a postponement until February 2023 for its response to a petition that seeks to compel Israeli authorities to evacuate the Bedouin village in Area C.

I call on Israeli authorities to end the displacement and eviction of Palestinians and to approve additional plans that would enable Palestinians to build legally and address their development needs.

Mr. President,

Despite the overall deterioration of the situation, there were some positive developments during the reporting period.

On 13 October, following an inter-factional dialogue hosted by the Government of Algeria, 14 Palestinian factions, including Fatah and Hamas, signed the Algeria Declaration. In the declaration, the factions agreed, inter alia, to recognize the Palestinian Liberation Organization as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and to hold elections for the presidency of the Palestinian Authority, the Palestinian Legislative Council and the Palestinian National Council. I echo the Secretary-General in welcoming the agreement and underscore the importance of Palestinian reconciliation for a viable, independent Palestinian State.

Mr. President,

Turning to the Gaza Strip, Israel increased by some 1,300 the issuance of permits for Palestinians from Gaza to work or conduct business in Israel, bringing the total number to over 16,000.

The reporting period saw the highest volume of imports from Egypt via Salah ad-Din gate since it began operations in February 2018, largely due to Egyptian-funded reconstruction projects with over 5,000 trucks entering Gaza in the period.

Exports from Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing to Israel increased by 26 per cent compared to the previous period. Notably, the transport of fish to the West Bank resumed.

Meanwhile, imports to Gaza through Kerem Shalom decreased slightly, with a daily average of 192 trucks compared to 223 trucks last month.

Delays in the implementation of large-scale infrastructure projects such as the Gaza Central Desalination Project have resulted from delays in Israeli approvals of entry for materials under the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism. Ensuring the timely approval for the entry of such materials is essential to moving important development projects forward and sustaining vital donor support for these projects.

In the West Bank, on 20 October, Israeli authorities began implementing a pilot phase of new regulations governing the entry of certain foreign passport holders into the West Bank. The new regulations were issued in the context of a petition submitted to the High Court of Justice and are far more detailed and specific than those used in the past.

Unfortunately, the humanitarian response across the OPT continues to face chronic funding gaps. As of October, only 57 per cent of the requirements of the Humanitarian Response Plan had been met, as Palestinians across the OPT face additional economic pressures and the risk of food insecurity due to cost of living increases.

Mr. President,

Turning to the region, in the Golan, the ceasefire between Israel and Syria was generally maintained despite several violations of the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement of Forces by both parties, including the Israel Defense Forces firing across the ceasefire line into the area of separation and Syrian armed forces maintaining presence in the area of separation. I remind the parties of the need to abide by the terms of the Agreement and prevent risks of escalation.

I welcome the 27 October signing by the Governments of Lebanon and Israel of an agreement that settles their maritime boundary dispute, mediated by the United States. This is an important and encouraging development and I hope it will promote increased stability in the region.

I underscore the importance of Lebanon’s forming a new government and electing a new president pursuant to the country’s constitutional framework.

Mr. President,

At the end, let me turn back to where I started, concrete steps by all sides are urgently needed to address the situation on the ground. I call on the Israeli and Palestinian leadership to recognize what is at stake and to take the necessary steps to restore calm.

Let me repeat such efforts need full support from the international community.

However, unless the core political issues are addressed, the deep-rooted mistrust and hostility will continue to grow. I see clearly the mounting frustration and anger of Palestinians in the face of decades of Israeli occupation.

The Palestinian Authority urgently needs the economic support and political space to fully exercise its authority, including security, in areas under its control.

The United Nations remains actively engaged with all relevant parties and is committed to supporting Palestinians and Israelis to resolve the conflict by ending the occupation and realizing a two-State solution on the basis of the 1967 lines, in line with relevant United Nations resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements.

Thank you.

Let me first thank all those Syrians, from inside and outside Syria, who continue to engage with us – especially Syrian women. In a few days, we mark the 22nd anniversary of Security Council resolution 1325. Over nearly 12 years of conflict, there is almost no indignity Syria’s women and girls have not suffered: poverty and malnutrition; detention, disappearance and abduction; sexual assault and rape; forced and early marriages; violence of multiple kinds when bearing children; denial of education and livelihoods.

TOR WENNESLAND

UN SPECIAL COORDINATOR FOR THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS

SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING ON THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF UNSCR 2334 (2016)

28 September 2022

(Full version)

Mister President,

Members of the Security Council,

Today’s briefing is devoted to the 23rd report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of Security Council resolution 2334 (2016). The reporting period is from 17 June to 20 September.

Mister 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.” Settlement activity has, nevertheless, continued during the reporting period.

Between 19 and 21 July, Israeli settlers erected tents across the occupied West Bank, in a widely publicized campaign by a settlement organization to establish new outposts. Israeli authorities subsequently removed the encampments because they were illegal under Israeli law.

On 25 July, Israeli authorities advanced plans for the construction of 1,215 housing units at the Lower Aqueduct site, adjacent to Kibbutz Ramat Rachel and the Palestinian neighborhood of Umm Tuba. Some units are intended for construction across the Green Line in occupied East Jerusalem.

On 27 July, Israel’s Supreme Court reversed its ruling ordering the evacuation of settlers from the illegal outpost of Mitzpeh Kramim, near Ramallah. The Court accepted the Government’s argument that the Palestinian land had been allocated to the settlers in “good faith” and that the principle of so-called “market regulation” should be applied.

On 28 July, Israeli settlers, accompanied by Israeli security forces, moved into an empty Palestinian-owned house in the H2 area of Hebron. This is the second takeover of a Palestinian home in H2 this year.

On 5 September, Israeli authorities advanced plans for some 700 units in the planned East Jerusalem settlement of Givat Hashaked, adjacent to the Palestinian neighborhoods of Beit Safafa and Sharafat

Demolitions and seizures of Palestinian-owned structures continued across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Israeli authorities, citing the lack of Israeli-issued building permits, which are almost impossible for Palestinians to obtain, demolished, seized or forced people to demolish 316 structures. These actions displaced 237 people, including 116 children. Forty-one structures were donor-funded.

On 21 July, Israel’s Supreme Court partially accepted the appeal of a Palestinian family under threat of eviction in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, freezing the eviction order until proceedings are completed in a lower court.

On 25 July and 8 August, Israeli security forces demolished four homes belonging to family members of Palestinians accused of or indicted for killing Israelis in April and May 2022, displacing 31 people, including 13 children.

Israeli pressure on two Palestinian communities to leave their homes in Area C continued to mount. On 12 July, 16 of the 35 households comprising the herding community of Ras al Tin left the area after facing settler-related violence, demolitions, and confiscations. In Masafer Yatta movement restrictions, including for humanitarian access, and arrests against Palestinian residents continued. On 8 September, Israel’s Supreme Court upheld the military commander’s decision to reject planning permission requested by a Masafer Yatta community. The court ordered a stay on demolition orders until 29 September. On 12 July, Israeli authorities announced that they would advance six plans for Palestinian construction in Area C.

Mister President,

Security Council resolution 2334 (2016) 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.”

Unfortunately, daily violence continued.

Overall, in the West Bank, 29 Palestinians, including six children, were killed and 1,813 Palestinians, including 27 women and 194 children were injured by Israeli security forces (ISF) during security operations, demonstrations, clashes, stone-throwing incidents, attacks and alleged attacks against Israelis, and other incidents. Of these, 1,206 injuries were due to tear gas inhalation while 202 were injured by live ammunition. In addition, Israeli settlers or other civilians perpetrated 128 attacks against Palestinians resulting in one death and 51injuries and/or damage to Palestinian property.

In Gaza, during the August escalation between Israel and Palestinian armed groups, 49 Palestinians were killed, of whom at least 26 were civilians, including four women and seventeen children. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, 360 Palestinians were injured, including 151 children and 58 women. Israeli officials reported two Israelis moderately injured and at least 62 lightly injured, including nine children. Ten houses in Gaza were completely destroyed and 48 severely damaged and rendered uninhabitable. According to the Gaza authorities, over 600 housing units were damaged, displacing 84 families.

One Israeli civilian and one Israeli security forces personnel was killed, and 49 Israelis, as well as two Israeli security forces personnel were injured by Palestinians in clashes, rock and Molotov cocktail throwing, attacks and other incidents. The majority of those were stone-throwing attacks against Israelis, including settlers, that resulted in injuries or damage to Israeli-owned property.

Israeli security forces carried out 906 search-and-arrest operations in the West Bank, resulting in 1528 Palestinians arrested.

On 19 June, Israeli security forces shot and killed an unarmed 53-year-old Palestinian while he was attempting to enter Israel, reportedly for work, through a breach in the Separation Barrier near Qalqiliya.

On 24 June, a 16-year-old Palestinian was killed by ISF while throwing stones in Silwad village near Ramallah.

In the village of Jab’a, near Jenin, on 2 July, ISF shot and killed a 17-year-old Palestinian, after he reportedly threw a Molotov cocktail, and in a separate incident, on 6 July, killed another Palestinian as he was running away during a search operation.

On 5 July, an Israeli man was seriously injured after being stabbed in Bnei Brak in central Israel. ISF arrested a Palestinian man suspected of carrying out the attack.

On 19 July, an Israeli was stabbed and injured by a Palestinian on a bus in Jerusalem. The assailant was subsequently shot and injured by an Israeli civilian.

On 26 July, ISF shot an unarmed 59-year-old Palestinian man with a mental disability at Huwwara checkpoint, south of Nablus. The man subsequently died of his injuries.

On 9 August, four Palestinians, including a senior militant commander and a 16-year-old, were killed by ISF in Nablus, and 76 injured with live ammunition during a search operation and subsequent clashes. The same day a 16-year-old was killed by ISF in Hebron while throwing stones.

On 14 August, a Palestinian opened fire at a group of Jewish worshippers in Jerusalem’s Old City. Eight civilians, including a pregnant woman, were injured, two seriously. The assailant was arrested.

On 15 August, ISF shot and killed a Palestinian during a search operation and subsequent clashes in Kufr Aqab, north of Jerusalem. ISF said that the man was attempting to stab officers. An eye-witness denied the allegation.

On 17 August near Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus, ISF shot and killed a Palestinian and injured three others with live ammunition in clashes, after Palestinians threw stones and reportedly fired on buses transporting Jewish worshippers to the site, in accordance with established procedures. On 30 August, Palestinians opened fire at the car of five Jewish worshippers, injuring two, as they entered the site in Area A without prior coordination, which is illegal under Israeli law.

On 19 August, an unarmed 58-year-old Palestinian man, an apparent bystander to an armed exchange, was shot and killed in Tubas during an ISF search operation.

On 6 September, ISF shot and killed a Palestinian man live-broadcasting a punitive demolition and related clashes in Jenin. Sixteen other Palestinians were injured with live ammunition during the clashes, one of whom subsequently died.

On 8 September, a 16-year-old Palestinian attacked and lightly injured an ISF personnel with a hammer before being shot and killed by ISF.

On 13 September, an ISF officer and two armed Palestinian men were killed in an exchange of fire near Jalama checkpoint in Jenin. One of the Palestinians killed was an intelligence officer in the Palestinian Security Forces.

On 15 September, ISF shot and killed a 17-year-old Palestinian attempting to launch a Molotov cocktail during clashes in Kafr Dan, near Jenin.

On 19 September, clashes erupted between Palestinian Security Forces (PSF) and armed Palestinians in Nablus following the arrest of two suspected Hamas militants by PSF. One Palestinian man was killed during an exchange of fire. Clashes continued over the following day; eight Palestinians and one PSF officer were injured by live ammunition.

On 20 September, a Palestinian from the occupied West Bank struck and killed an 84-year-old woman with a metal bar in Holon, in central Israel. The following day, police discovered the body of the Palestinian in Tel Aviv.

Settler-related violence continued in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

On 21 June, as Israeli settlers set up tents on Palestinian-owned property near the village of Iskaka in Salfit, a settler stabbed and killed an unarmed Palestinian man, in the presence of ISF. Israeli police arrested a suspect but no charges were filed.

On 29 July, a 15-year-old Palestinian was shot outside al-Mughhayyir village, near Ramallah, during a confrontation between Palestinians and armed Israeli settlers, accompanied by ISF. The boy subsequently died. Witnesses said he had been throwing stones and was shot in the back while running away. It is unclear who fired the shot.

On 12 September, five Israeli settlers attacked and injured a 55-year-old Palestinian on his land near At Tuwani, south of Hebron. ISF subsequently arrested the Palestinian man.

On 15 September, a group of 15 Israeli settlers, in the presence of ISF, attacked a group of 10 Palestinian men northeast of Sinjil village, near Ramallah. Three Palestinians were injured. The next day, Palestinian protestors clashed with settlers and ISF in Sinjil village; four Palestinians were injured, including two by live ammunition, and two Israelis were injured by stone-throwing.

Madam President,

Security Council resolution 2334 (2016) calls for the parties to refrain from acts of provocation, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric. Some Palestinian and Israeli officials continued to engage in such activity during the reporting period.

Several Members of Knesset (MK) issued provocative and inflammatory statements regarding Palestinian leadership. A senior Member of Knesset said on social media that, after a decade, his party had “removed the Palestinian issue from the international agenda,” only for his political rivals to bring “Abu Mazen, who doesn’t stop inciting for the murder of Israelis, to the international stage.” Another referred to President Abbas as a “terrorist. One Knesset Member alongside 100 supporters raised Israeli flags and threw stone and bottles in a Palestinian village at some 25 residents and Israeli peace activists.

Several PLO and Fatah officials praised or glorified perpetrators of terrorist attacks against Israelis. One official praised a Palestinian imprisoned for killing three Israeli civilians and seven soldiers in a shooting attack in 2003, calling the attack “a milestone in proactive national action.” Ahead of the August escalation, a Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader in Gaza threatened, “We have every right to bomb Israel with our most advanced weapons, and make the occupier pay a heavy price. We…we will bomb the center of the so-called State of Israel."

Mister 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.”

On 7 July, President Abbas and Defense Minister Gantz met in Ramallah, and on 8 July Israeli President Herzog and Prime Minister Lapid spoke with President Abbas by phone.

During his 13-15 July visit to Israel and the OPT, U.S. President Biden announced, inter alia: a USD 100 million contribution to the East Jerusalem Hospital Network; USD 201 million for UNRWA; USD 15 million to address food insecurity; two new grants under the Middle East Partnership for Peace Act; and an agreement to speed 4G deployment in the West Bank and Gaza.

As of the end of the reporting period, some 16,000 workers and other business permits have been issued by Israel for Palestinians in Gaza. On 1 August, social entitlements under Israeli labor law were extended to workers entering Israel from the Gaza Strip.

Kerem Shalom crossing saw a 1.5 per cent rise in imports and 54 per cent rise in exports compared to the monthly average in the first two quarters of 2022.

From 3-8 August, before and during the Gaza escalation, Kerem Shalom and Erez crossings were closed, except for some urgent humanitarian cases. At least 194 patients were unable to access specialized healthcare and the Gaza power plant ceased operations for two days, affecting hospitals and other basic services. On 9 August, movement through both crossings returned to pre-escalation levels.

On 28 July, Israel’s Ministry of Education announced that it had given instructions to halt the granting of permanent licenses to six Palestinian-run schools in occupied East Jerusalem, due to what it said was incitement against Israel in the school curriculum. On 19 September, Palestinian schools in East Jerusalem went on strike to protest the move. If a solution is not found, more than 2,000 Palestinian students will be impacted.

On 17 August, the IDF Military Commander rejected objections by five non-governmental organizations against their proscription as “unlawful associations”. That same day, Israel’s Defense Minister announced that “terrorist” designations issued in October 2021 against three of these organizations had been made permanent. Three others have appealed their designations in Israel.

On 18 August Israeli security forces ordered the closure of the offices of seven NGOs that Israel has designated as “terrorist or otherwise unlawful associations” and searched their offices in Ramallah, damaging and confiscating some property, including confidential casefiles on children and gender-based violence. Israeli authorities also summoned the directors of three of the organizations for questioning.

On 30 August, Mohammed el-Halabi, the former Director of World Vision in Gaza, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, inclusive of time served. He was convicted of 13 counts of terrorism-related crimes, despite concerns of serious procedural irregularities. El-Halabi has maintained his innocence and said that he will appeal to the Supreme Court.

Madam President,

In its resolution 2334 (2016), the Security Council called upon all States “to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967.” No such steps were taken during the reporting period.

Resolution 2334 (2016) also called upon “all parties to continue, inter alia, to exert collective efforts to launch credible negotiations.” No such steps were taken during the reporting period.

Madam President,

In closing, allow me to share the Secretary-General’s observations concerning the implementation of the provisions of Security Council Resolution 2334 (2016) during the reporting period.

1. I remain deeply troubled by continued Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and attempts by some Israelis to further expand the settlement footprint through the establishment of outposts which are illegal also under Israeli law. I am also concerned that the Supreme Court’s Mitzpeh Kramim decision could set precedent for the legalization of additional outposts under Israeli law. I reiterate that Israeli settlements have no legal validity and constitute a flagrant violation of international law and United Nations resolutions. I call on the Government of Israel to cease all settlement activity immediately.

2. Demolitions and seizures of Palestinian-owned property remain a serious concern. I am particularly concerned by the ongoing situation in Masafer Yatta, where over 1,000 Palestinians, including 569 children, are at imminent risk of eviction. I urge Israeli authorities to cease immediately the demolition of Palestinian-owned property and the forcible displacement and eviction of Palestinians, in line with Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law, and to approve plans that would enable Palestinians to build legally and address their development needs.

3. I am deeply concerned by the tragic civilian deaths and injuries, including of children, caused by the latest escalation in Gaza. Israel must abide by its obligations under international humanitarian law, including the proportional use of force, and take all feasible precautions to spare civilians and civilian objects during military operations. Further, I condemn the indiscriminate launching of rockets by Palestinian armed groups from highly populated neighborhoods in Gaza into civilian population centers in Israel, which also resulted in casualties and violates international humanitarian law and puts the lives of civilians at risk.

4. I am gravely concerned by the deteriorating security situation in the occupied West Bank, including the increase in attacks and armed exchanges between Israelis and Palestinians.

5. The high number of Palestinians killed and injured by Israeli security forces in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, remains deeply troubling, particularly reports that some did not appear to pose a threat. The possible excessive use of force by Israeli security forces continues to raise serious concerns, particularly the use of live ammunition. Security forces must use lethal force only when strictly unavoidable to protect life and must promptly, thoroughly investigate all instances of death or injury resulting from its use, and hold those responsible accountable.

6. I am particularly appalled that children continue to be killed and injured in large numbers. Children must never be the target of violence or put in harm’s way.

7. I remain deeply concerned by the high levels of settler-related violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, which often occur in the presence of Israeli security forces. I urge Israel to abide by their obligations under international law to protect the Palestinian population against all acts or threats of violence, to ensure that all attacks are investigated promptly and transparently and to hold perpetrators to account.

8. I condemn all acts of terrorism against civilians, including the 14 August attack targeting Jewish worshippers near Jerusalem’s Old City. The glorification of such acts is unacceptable and further undermines the possibility of a peaceful future for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

9. I am deeply troubled by the ISF search and closure of offices of seven Palestinian NGOs. I remain concerned about the shrinking space for civil society in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

10. I reiterate my call for the parties to respect and uphold the status quo, taking into account the special and historic role of Jordan as custodian of the Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

11. The absence of intra-Palestinian unity continues to undermine Palestinian national aspirations and prevent a common Palestinian approach towards resolving the conflict and addressing the needs of the population. I call upon all Palestinian factions to redouble efforts to reunite Gaza and the occupied West Bank, under a single, democratic, national government. Gaza is, and must remain, an integral part of a future Palestinian State as part of a two-State solution. It is also crucial that Palestinians hold elections – not only a key step towards Palestinian unity, but also as a means to renew legitimacy of national institutions.

12. I welcome U.S. and regional support pledged to East Jerusalem hospitals, that are vital Palestinian institutions. Israel’s commitment to improve movement and access for Palestinians at Allenby Bridge and the transition to 4G technology to support economic growth is also important and welcomed. I call on the Member States to support UNRWA with sustainable funding sources to protect the delivery of vital services to millions of Palestine refugees. This is crucial to upholding their rights and supporting the stabilizing role of the Agency in the region.

13. In Gaza, the humanitarian and economic situation remains dire, although some important improvements have taken place in access and movement, particularly an increase of permits for Palestinians from Gaza to work in Israel. The limited availability of key materials and equipment coupled with cumbersome protocols and restrictions continue to impede private sector development, job creation and economic growth. I encourage the parties to solidify the ceasefire and enable further economic development. Ultimately, the debilitating Israeli closures should be lifted, in line with Security Council resolution 1860 (2009).

14. The current negative trajectory puts at great risk the socioeconomic and institution-building that has prepared the Palestinian Authority for statehood. There must be a bridge between these immediate challenges and the longer-term objective of achieving the vision of two States – Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, viable and sovereign Palestinian State – living side by side in peace and security within secure and recognized borders, on the basis of the pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States.

15. I welcome the four strategic elements put forward in UNSCO’s report to the Ad-hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) on 22 September for a comprehensive package of incremental, durable, and meaningful steps that the parties and their partners should take to address the current situation, strengthen the PA, and advance the goal of a sustainable peace: (i) address the continuing drivers of conflict and instability; (ii) strengthen Palestinian institutions and address the challenge of Palestinian governance; (iii) improve access, movement, and trade and thereby create space for the Palestinian economy to grow; and (iv) better align the framework of economic and administrative relationships with the economic transformations of the past decades.

Mister President,

Before closing, I wish to note a few important developments during this year’s opening of the General Assembly just after the close of the reporting period. Firstly, I commend Prime Minister Yair Lapid’s reaffirmation of support to two-States made during his statement on 22 September. I also wish to acknowledge President Mahmoud Abbas’s continued commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict, as well as his urgent appeal to re-establish a political horizon made in his address on the 23^rd of this month.

On the margins, a number of important meetings took place including a meeting on the Arab Peace Initiative co-hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the European Union, a ministerial meeting of the Munich format, a Jordanian and Swedish co-hosted event in support of UNRWA and the Norwegian-chaired Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, which focused on preserving the viability of the two-State solution and moving the state-building process forward.

Returning to my closing, we continue to see little progress in the implementation of Security Council resolution 2334 since its adoption in December 2016.

The absence of a meaningful peace process to end the Israeli occupation and resolve the conflict is fueling a dangerous deterioration across the OPT, particularly in the West Bank, and driving the perception that the conflict in unresolvable.

Israelis and Palestinians must determine how they envision the future. Negotiations can no longer be pushed off indefinitely. The current course is leading us towards a perpetual state of violence and conflict. Meaningful initiatives are needed to turn the current trajectory around and they are needed quickly.

Ending the occupation and realizing a two-State solution must drive our collective efforts.

I remain actively engaged in advancing these objectives with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, and with key international and regional partners.

Thank you.

The Special Envoy briefed you two weeks ago on his latest engagement to move the political process forward. Since then, he has engaged Arab, European, Iranian, Russian, Turkish and US representatives in Geneva, and appreciates their support.