Chapter VI. Middle East

Transcription

1 Chapter VI Middle East The year 2013 witnessed the renewal of direct talks between Israel and Palestine, brokered by the United States. On 29 July, direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations resumed, after being discontinued in September The Quartet the coordinating mechanism for international peace efforts comprising the Russian Federation, the United States, the European Union and the United Nations commended both the President of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, for resuming direct negotiations, and called on all parties to take every possible step to promote conditions conducive to the success of the negotiating process and to refrain from actions that undermined trust. Preliminary meetings were followed by a first formal round of talks in Jerusalem on 14 August, after the release of 26 pre-oslo prisoners from Gaza and the West Bank. A second round took place on 20 August in Jericho. Negotiators engaged in several rounds of talks, while envoys of the Quartet consulted each other and engaged with the parties, as well as with Arab partners. An essential component of the political process was the Palestinians State-building programme. Despite strong international consensus that the Palestinian Authority was capable of running a State, the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians was concerned over the fiscal sustainability of such a process, due to the Palestinian Authority s fiscal difficulties. On 26 November, the General Assembly adopted resolution 68/15, by which it reaffirmed its support for the Middle East peace process. The situation on the ground, however, presented a cause for concern in regard to the viability of the two- State solution. Negotiations were complicated by the settlement expansion in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which resulted in daily violence between settlers and Palestinians. The lack of accountability for crimes committed by Israeli settlers persisted. Israel continued to occupy also the Syrian Golan and to encourage the growth of the settlements through socioeconomic incentives. The situation in Gaza remained precarious, with shortages of fuel and building materials, owing both to the closure of the Egyptian tunnels into Gaza by the Egyptian authorities, and to the sea, air and land blockade imposed by Israel since Only one crossing for goods from Israel into Gaza was open, which added to the deterioration of the humanitarian situation. Meanwhile, Israel continued to face the threat of rocket fire originating from Gaza. 377 The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (unrwa) continued to provide services and assistance to the Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The Agency experienced a grave and recurrent financial crisis, which threatened its ability to sustain its services and its emergency assistance, as well as to complete essential projects. In February, unrwa launched an emergency appeal for $300 million, of which 81 per cent would cover activities in the Gaza Strip and 19 per cent activities in the West Bank. As a result of the funding shortfall under the 2012 emergency appeal (only 48 per cent was funded) and in view of the expected shortfall for the 2013 appeal, unrwa was compelled to prioritize and improve efficiency in the implementation of its emergency activities. The registered Palestine refugee population in Gaza stood at 1,240,000, as at 31 December. By the end of 2013, the registered refugee population in the West Bank stood at 754,411. During the year, the crisis in Syria further impacted Lebanon, increasing concerns about its sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence, including challenges to uphold the government policy of disassociation from the Syrian crisis. On several occasions, the Security Council appealed to all Lebanese to preserve national unity in the face of attempts to undermine the country s stability, and stressed the importance for all Lebanese parties to refrain from any involvement in the Syrian crisis, consistent with their commitment in the 2012 Baabda Declaration. To mobilize support for the stability of Lebanon against the impact of the Syrian conflict, in September, the Secretary-General established the International Support Group for Lebanon. Throughout the year, the country witnessed devastating terrorist incidents. The situation along the Blue Line and in the area of operation of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (unifil) remained generally calm, despite the increase in the number of Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace and the shooting of an Israeli soldier on 15 December. In August, the Security Council extended the mandate of unifil until 31 August 2014 with no major operational changes. The influx of Syrian refugees into Lebanon reached a dramatic level. As at 29 October, over 805,741 Syrians had approached the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, almost 80 per cent of whom were women and children. The fifth regional response plan, which called for more than $1.6 billion to address refu-

2 378 Part One: Political and security questions gee needs in Lebanon until the end of the year, was 44 per cent funded, as at November. In 2013, the overall situation in the Syrian Arab Republic continued to deteriorate. The armed forces of the Government, along with pro-government militias, and the armed opposition continued to engage in violent confrontations. The threat of regional destabilization brought about by the conflict continued to grow. The direct involvement of Hizbullah fighters inside Syria, alongside the forces of the Government and in defiance of the disassociation policy of the Government of Lebanon, gave momentum to the military approach of the Syrian Government, creating a dangerously volatile environment. During the year, the Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the League of Arab States, Lakhdar Brahimi, chaired several trilateral meetings with senior officials from the Russian Federation, the United States and the United Nations to prepare for the Geneva Conference on Syria. On 21 March, the Secretary-General established the United Nations Mission to Investigate Allegations of the Use of Chemical Weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic. The Mission began its fact-finding activities in Syria on 19 August and submitted two reports, in September and in December, on the alleged use of chemical weapons in seven locations. The conclusions confirmed that chemical weapons had been used in five of those locations. Furthermore, on 11 October, the Security Council authorized a joint mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations for the elimination of the chemical weapons programme in Syria. The Mission s mandate was to be completed by 30 June The mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (undof), established to supervise the observance of the ceasefire between Israel and Syria in the Syrian Golan and to ensure the separation of their forces, was renewed twice in 2013, in June and December, for six-month periods. Continued military activities in the undof area of operation during the year had the potential to escalate tensions between Israel and Syria, jeopardizing the ceasefire between the two countries; and adversely affected undof ability to carry out its mandated tasks. The conditions on the ground also had an impact on undof personnel and mission support, with an increase in the number of incidents involving UN personnel, including abductions. Peace process Diplomatic efforts On 29 November 2012, by its resolution 67/19 [YUN 2012, p. 1426], the General Assembly had accorded Palestine non-member observer State status in the United Nations. In 2013, the application for full United Nations membership remained pending before the Security Council. Quartet envoys met in Brussels, Belgium, on 12 December 2012, and in Amman, Jordan, on 10 January 2013, to discuss ways to help the parties avoid an escalation of violence diplomatically in the short term and also to find a path back to negotiations. On 23 January, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General, Robert Serry, briefing the Council on the situation in the Middle East, reported on his visit to Jordan and Egypt, two key Arab stakeholders with peace treaties with Israel. The two countries reiterated their support to realizing the two- State solution, but also questioned the effectiveness of international efforts to bring about decisive results. On 29 July, direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations discontinued in September 2010 resumed, brokered by the United States and aimed at resolving all core final status issues and concluding a final peace agreement within an agreed nine-month time frame. The following day, the Quartet welcomed the announcement by United States Secretary of State John Kerry that direct talks between Israelis and Palestinians had resumed, with senior negotiators from both sides meeting in Washington, D.C. The first formal round of talks was held on 14 August in Jerusalem, after the release of the first tranche of pre-oslo Palestinian prisoners, in accordance with the agreement for resuming the peace negotiations. On 15 and 16 August, the Secretary- General travelled to the region lending his support to the leaders on both sides, and stressing the need to sustain an environment conducive to the peace process. A second round of negotiations was held on 20 August in Jericho. On 27 September, representatives of the Quartet met in New York, where they were joined by Quartet Representative Tony Blair and the Israeli and Palestinian chief negotiators. The United States Secretary of State updated the Quartet on the progress of negotiations since the resumption of talks on 29 July. The Quartet reviewed the situation in Gaza and underscored the importance of addressing the humanitarian situation there. It also agreed to continue to meet regularly, including through monthly meetings of the Quartet envoys, who would report on the progress on the ground. Quartet envoys met again on 29 October in Jerusalem. On 26 November, the General Assembly adopted resolution 68/15 (see p. 383), by which it reaffirmed its full support for the Middle East peace process. Negotiations, however, were complicated by the Israeli settlement expansion. Violence between settlers and Palestinians continued throughout the year in the West Bank. In Gaza, the humanitarian and economic situation deteriorated, while Israel continued to face the threat of rocket fire originating from Gaza. The imprisonment and detention by Israel of Palestinians, including children, under harsh conditions was also a cause of concern.

3 Chapter VI: Middle East 379 The Council discussed the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, at meetings held on 23 January [S/PV.6906 & Resumption 1], 26 February [S/PV.6926], 25 March [S/PV.6940], 24 April [S/PV.6950 & Resumption 1], 22 May [S/PV.6969], 25 June [S/PV.6986], 23 July [S/PV.7007], 20 August [S/PV.7020], 17 September [S/PV.7032], 22 October [S/PV.7047], 19 November [S/PV.7063] and 16 December [S/PV.7084]. Occupied Palestinian Territory Political and security developments Communications. Israel and Palestine brought to the attention of the Secretary-General and the Security Council President information on attacks or violations of international law committed by either side throughout the year [A/ES-10/577-S/2013/23, A/ES-10/579-S/2013/52, A/ES-10/582-S/2013/109, A/ES-10/583-S/2013/111, S/2013/114, A/ES-10/584-S/2013/128, A/ES-10/585-S/2013/160, A/ES-10/586- S/2013/206, S/2013/214, A/ES-10/587-S/2013/218, A/ES-10/589- S/2013/269, A/ES-10/590-S/2013/272, A/ES-10/592-S/2013/282, A/ES-10/593-S/2013/289, S/2013/373, A/ES-10/602-S/2013/509, A/ES-10/603-S/2013/567, S/2013/600, S/2013/632, S/2013/638, S/2013/665, A/ES-10/608-S/2013/729, A/ES-10/609-S/2013/752, A/ES-10/610-S/2013/767, S/2013/771]. On 28 February [A/67/781-S/2013/126], Iran, in its capacity as chair of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement conveyed to the Secretary- General the Movement s concern regarding the situation of Palestinian prisoners and detainees being held by Israel in prisons and detention centres in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in Israel. Security Council consideration (January February). On 23 January [S/PV.6906 & Resumption 1], Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General Robert Serry, briefing the Council on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, reported on his recent visit to Jordan and Egypt, two key Arab stakeholders with peace treaties with Israel. The two countries reiterated their support to realizing the two-state solution, but also questioned the effectiveness of international efforts to bring about decisive results. The Quartet envoys met on 10 January in Amman, Jordan, and recognized the urgent need for action. The Special Coordinator also expressed his concern that there was still no clear path ahead, and that, absent a new perspective on the political track, negative trends would worsen. After the General Assembly accorded Palestine non-member observer State status in the United Nations [YUN 2012 p. 1426], Israeli settlements announcements increased dramatically including in the critical E-1 area east of Jerusalem and the withholding by Israel of tax revenues it collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority took place. President Abbas had warned that if plans proceeded to build in the E-1 area, he would consider raising his opposition in international forums, including the International Criminal Court. In regard to the fiscal situation of the Palestinian Authority, the withholding of clearance revenues was seriously weakening the capacity of the Palestinian Government to meet its obligations, such as the payment of salaries to civil servants or the granting of exemptions allowed to refugees to pay for electricity. On the ground, trends included the continued settlement construction and increased violence, as plans to approve new settlements in different locations advanced. Furthermore, Israeli security forces demolished 105 structures in the West Bank, resulting in the displacement of 170 Palestinians; and clashes between settlers and Palestinians continued to occur. Israeli operations and arrests in the West Bank, and protests over the fate of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails increased. Palestinian attacks on Israeli security forces also took place. In efforts to overcome the Palestinian divide, President Abbas met with Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal on 10 January in Cairo, Egypt, to discuss the implementation of previous Palestinian reconciliation deals. On 17 January, members of Fatah and Hamas held in Cairo the first of what was intended to become a series of regular meetings. On 26 February [S/PV.6926], Under-Secretary- General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman informed the Council that a rocket attack fired from Gaza into Israel on that same day was evidence that the situation between Israelis and Palestinians was deteriorating again, with the situation of Palestinian prisoners being the most immediate but not the only cause. Concerning the fiscal situation of the Palestinian Authority, Israel decided to release Palestinian revenue clearances for January. The Secretary-General had reminded Israeli authorities that the full transfer of Palestinian tax and custom revenues in a predictable manner was an obligation that Israel had accepted as part of the Protocol on Economic Relations between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (Paris Protocol). The Under-Secretary-General reiterated that the full implementation of resolution 1860(2009) [YUN 2009, p. 434] included overcoming the Palestinian political divide. In that regard, the Palestinian Central Elections Commission was able to conduct voter registration from 11 to 20 February, in both the West Bank and Gaza, for the first time since A total of 450,000 new electors were registered, including 350,000 in Gaza, which represented a very high turnout. Communication. In a letter dated 27 February [A/67/760-S/2013/121], the Russian Federation transmitted a Joint Statement of the first session of the Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum, held in Moscow on 20 February.

4 380 Part One: Political and security questions Security Council consideration (March July). On 25 March [S/PV.6940], the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General, briefing the Council on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, reported that the visit by the President of the United States to the region the previous week had marked an important opportunity to reinvigorate efforts towards a two-state solution, and stressed that the United Nations and the international community were mandated to help bridge the differences between the parties in order to attain such a solution. During the reporting period, no new settlement announcements were made. Also, there were fewer incursions by Israeli security forces in the West Bank and a decrease in demolitions of Palestinian structures. Violence levels, however, remained high, with continued settler violence, an increase in stone-throwing and clashes between Israelis and Palestinians. The Special Coordinator also expressed concern over the situation of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody. On 24 April [S/PV.6950 & Resumption 1], the Under- Secretary-General for Political Affairs reported that during the reporting period, there was a considerable increase in Palestinian casualties, resulting mostly from clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli security forces. On the occasion of Palestinian Prisoners Day, on 17 April, approximately 3,000 prisoners went on hunger strike and demonstrations were held in the West Bank, resulting in 11 Palestinians being injured by rubber-coated bullets fired by Israeli security forces. The issue of Palestinian prisoners had fuelled much of the unrest. Settlement activities, as well as demolitions and displacement, with resulting clashes between Israeli settlers and Palestinians, continued. The situation in Gaza had become increasingly fragile: over the previous month, a total of 20 rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel and towards the sea. In reaction to the shooting of rockets, Israel again closed the Kerem Shalom crossing and maintained a reduced offshore fishing limit of three nautical miles. Efforts to achieve Palestinian reconciliation continued with the resumption of informal working-level meetings between Hamas and Fatah, but with no progress in their discussions. On 22 May [S/PV.6969], the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process stated that the Middle East continued to undergo a period of grave turmoil with tragic human consequences and an uncertain outcome. Both parties were exercising some restraint on the ground to support the ongoing diplomatic effort. On the Israeli side, no new approvals or tenders had been issued for settlements in the West Bank or in East Jerusalem since March. Palestinians had shown countenance in diplomatic forums, and Palestinian security forces had effectively maintained law and order. Tensions increased around the sensitive issue of Jerusalem, particularly with regard to restrictions of access to holy sites. Clashes occurred on 7 and 8 May in and around the Old City in East Jerusalem, in the context of what Israelis called Jerusalem Day. Restrictions of access for Palestinians were imposed for visits in the esplanade of the Haram Al-Sharif/Temple Mount by right-wing Israeli activists, which occurred in conjunction with the temporary detention of the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem for interrogation owing to reported incitement. While his detention was short, the incident added to existing friction and drew wide criticism from Palestinian, Arab and Muslim leaders. It also led to an emergency meeting of the League of Arab States in Cairo on 12 May. Clashes between Palestinians and settlers in the occupied West Bank intensified during the reporting period, and demolitions of Palestinian homes and property in Area C and East Jerusalem continued. The United Nations continued to monitor the condition of Palestinian prisoners. Despite the release of two hunger strikers, on 14 May, Israel renewed the administrative detention of four Palestinian Legislative Council members for another six months. On Palestinian reconciliation, at a 14 May meeting, Fatah and Hamas recommitted to consultations on the formation of a national consensus Government headed by President Abbas. On 25 June [S/PV.6986], Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco reported to the Council that there were too few encouraging signs on the prospects of breaking the deadlock towards an Israeli-Palestinian peace. While the United Nations had welcomed the re-engagement of the United States, the re-engagement in negotiations of the parties was the only way to achieve a two-state solution. A new Palestinian Cabinet had been sworn in on 6 June under the leadership of Rami Hamdallah, as an interim measure until a national consensus government was formed. Prime Minister Hamdallah tendered his resignation on 20 June, but stayed as caretaker until a successor would be named, creating renewed uncertainty for a government that relied considerably on international support. While violence between Palestinians and settlers continued in the West Bank, a relative calm had returned to Gaza until 23 June, when six rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel, reportedly by Islamic Jihad. In response, Israel conducted three air strikes into Gaza and closed the Kerem Shalom and Erez crossings. On 23 July [S/PV.7007], the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General reported that the Secretary-General had welcomed the intense diplomatic efforts of the Secretary of State of the United States and his announcement that a basis had been established for the resumption of direct final status negotiations

5 Chapter VI: Middle East 381 between Israelis and Palestinians. Both leaders had to win the support of their domestic constituencies for renewed negotiations. The meetings that President Abbas had held with the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (plo) and the Al-Fatah Central Committee were an indication thereof. The continued Palestinian prisoner protests, including a number of hunger strikes that had already lasted more than two months, was a cause of concern. President Abbas called on Israel to address the legitimate concern of Palestinian prisoners and, as a confidencebuilding measure, to consider releasing prisoners. The situation in Gaza was relatively calm, but affected by political developments in Egypt, where authorities had taken measures against the tunnels into Gaza, resulting in shortages of fuel and basic building materials. Communication. In a letter to the Security Council dated 13 August [S/2013/484], Israel stated that the reports presented monthly by the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process showed a distorted picture of the situation between Israelis and Palestinians, tapping into sources and data about Israeli infractions, but largely ignoring Israel s security concerns and Palestinian attacks aimed at Israel. Quartet statement. On 30 July [SG/2196], the Quartet welcomed the announcement by the United States Secretary of State that direct talks between Israelis and Palestinians had resumed on 29 July, with senior negotiators from both sides meeting in Washington, D.C., to begin final status negotiations. Security Council consideration (August September). On 20 August [S/PV.7020], the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, briefing the Security Council, reported that during preparatory meetings between the negotiators in Washington, D.C., on 29 and 30 July, Israelis and Palestinians had agreed on an agenda with the objective of achieving a peaceful and comprehensive settlement on all core final status issues within a nine-month period. Those meetings were followed by a first formal round of talks in Jerusalem on 14 August, after the release of 26 pre-oslo prisoners from Gaza and the West Bank, based on an Israeli Cabinet decision of 29 July. A second round of talks took place on 20 August in Jericho. On 15 and 16 August, the Secretary-General travelled to the region lending his support to the leaders on both sides, and stressing that both sides needed to sustain an environment conducive to the peace process. Both Palestinian and Israeli leadership had recommitted to the vision of a two-state solution. The Secretary- General met in Ramallah with the newly reappointed Palestinian Prime Minister, Rami Hamdallah, who was asked by President Abbas on 15 August to form a new government within five weeks. The reporting period witnessed a decrease in search and arrest operations conducted by Israeli security forces. Israeli authorities implemented measures to ease access for Palestinians from the West Bank to East Jerusalem during the holy month of Ramadan. They also partially opened to Palestinian traffic the historic access road into Hebron from the south, which had been closed for the previous 12 years. The Secretary-General remained troubled, however, by Israel s uninterrupted settlement activities in the West Bank, by the continued settler violence, and by the fate of approximately 5,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, especially those on hunger strike. On 17 September [S/PV.7032], Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General Robert Serry, briefing the Council, referred to the meetings the United States Secretary of State had held with President Abbas in London on 8 September and with Prime Minister Netanyahu in Jerusalem on 15 September. Settlement activities continued in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and so did clashes between settlers and Palestinians. Increased tensions in the Old City of Jerusalem resulted in clashes between worshippers, injuries, arrests, and restrictions imposed on Palestinian access to the Haram Al-Sharif/Temple Mount compound. The calm in Gaza was mostly sustained. Communication. In a letter [S/2013/514] of 28 August to the Security Council, Israel expressed its concern about the report on the situation in the Middle East delivered on 20 August by the Assistant Secretary- General for Political Affairs, which Israel considered biased. A number of attacks aimed at Israel were not reported, and the humanitarian crisis in Syria was not fully addressed. Quartet statement. On 27 September [SG/2202], representatives of the Quartet met in New York, where they were joined by Quartet Representative Tony Blair and the Israeli and Palestinian chief negotiators. The United States Secretary of State updated the Quartet on the progress of negotiations since the resumption of talks on 29 July. The Quartet was briefed by the chief negotiators of the two sides. The Quartet also reviewed the situation in Gaza and underscored the importance of addressing the humanitarian situation there. Security Council consideration (October December). On 22 October [S/PV.7047], the Under-Secretary- General for Political Affairs, briefing the Council on the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, said that during the reporting period, Palestinians shot and killed two Israeli soldiers on 20 and 22 September. President Abbas publicly condemned the incidents, and Israeli and Palestinian security officials held coordination meetings to prevent an escalation of violence. In the Gaza Strip, on 13 October, Israel Defense Forces (idf) announced that it had uncovered a milelong tunnel from Gaza into Israel constructed with

6 382 Part One: Political and security questions slabs of concrete the third tunnel discovered in a year. Hamas senior leadership had claimed responsibility for the construction. Following the tunnel discovery, the Government of Israel temporarily suspended the transfer of construction material through the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza. In another violation of the ceasefire, Palestinians launched a total of five rockets and one mortar shell into Israel. During the 19 November meeting of the Security Council [S/PV.7063] on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, the Under- Secretary-General for Political Affairs stated that four months since their resumption, the talks had reached a delicate moment. On the positive side, it appeared that the negotiators had been engaging on substantive issues and had gone some way towards narrowing their differences. The negotiation process, however, suffered a significant setback with the announcements of settlement plans in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, following the agreed release on 29 October of 26 pre-oslo prisoners in the second of four tranches. The situation on the ground remained tense. Violence between settlers and Palestinians continued on a daily basis throughout the West Bank. In Gaza, the situation was deteriorating, amid renewed violence and worsening economic and humanitarian conditions. Briefing the Council on 16 December [S/PV.7084], the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary- General stressed that the year had been decisive for the peace process with the resumption of direct talks between Israel and Palestine. The parties were approaching another important timeline, the third release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel, scheduled for 29 December. The situation on the ground, however, was worrisome with the continued settlement activity, which could not be reconciled with the goal of a two-state solution and was illegal under international law. Status of Palestine in the United Nations On 8 March, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 67/19 [YUN 2012, p. 1426], the Secretary-General submitted a report [A/67/738] providing information on steps taken regarding the change of the status of Palestine in the United Nations. Since the adoption of the resolution, Palestine had been treated as a non-member observer State by the Secretariat; and the designation of State of Palestine was being used in all United Nations documents and on nameplates for United Nations meetings. The State of Palestine continued to enjoy the right of participation in the sessions and work of the General Assembly, and the international conferences convened under the auspices of the Assembly or other United Nations organs. The State of Palestine did not, however, enjoy the right to vote, including in elections; nor could it submit its own candidacy for any election or appointment or submit the names of candidates for any election or appointment, with the exception of the submission of nominations for and vote in the elections for the permanent and ad litem judges of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals. The State of Palestine could place items on the provisional agenda of the Security Council and the Assembly, and participate fully and on an equal basis with other States in conferences convened under the auspices of the Assembly and other United Nations conferences open to members of specialized agencies or to all States. The application for full United Nations membership remained pending before the Council. Following the adoption of resolution 67/19, President Abbas constituted a committee of Palestinian officials to examine issues related to statehood. Meanwhile, the United Nations continued to provide support to Palestine in the areas of governance, rule of law and human rights, livelihoods and productive sectors, education and culture, health, social protection, and infrastructure and water. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine In January [A/67/364/Add.1-S/2012/701/Add.1], the Secretary-General submitted an addendum to his 2012 report on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine [YUN 2012, p. 382]. The addendum contained the reply of the Security Council to the Secretary-General s letter seeking the Council s views on the topic. In a September report [A/68/363-S/2013/524], submitted in response to General Assembly resolution 67/23 [YUN 2012, p. 383] and covering the period from September 2012 to August 2013, the Secretary- General shared the replies received from the parties concerned to the notes verbales he sent pursuant to that resolution, and presented his observations on the current state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and on international efforts to move the peace process forward. The Secretary-General observed that efforts to achieve the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine had intensified during the latter half of the reporting period. Direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, discontinued since September 2010, had resumed on 29 July. The situation on the ground, however, presented a growing cause for concern over the viability of the two-state solution and remained challenging in particular for the population living under closure in Gaza. Also, Israel continued to face the threat of rocket fire and, in the West Bank, settlement activity continued to accelerate. At the same time, the Palestinians continued to implement an ambitious State-building programme. They also briefly resumed their efforts towards reuniting the West Bank and Gaza, albeit with limited success at reconciliation.

7 Chapter VI: Middle East 383 The Secretary-General expressed his concern about the condition of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails; the tensions and violent incidents in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem; the Sinai peninsula, where rockets had been fired on at least three occasions targeting the Israeli Red Sea resort of Eilat; the state of human rights in Gaza, in particular in detention centres; and the ability of the Palestinian Authority to maintain what it had built in the past three years in the light of the dire financial situation. The Secretary-General strongly encouraged the Government of Israel to take all necessary measures to facilitate Palestinians economic growth, and urged it to cease all settlements activities, including in East Jerusalem, and to take concrete steps to further ease the numerous restrictions in place both in the West Bank and Gaza. Furthermore, he strongly encouraged all Palestinians onto the path of non-violence and unity in line with past plo commitments, and called on them to pursue their efforts to improve law and order and combat extremism and incitement against Israel, and to continue building strong and democratic institutions that were essential to a viable, independent Palestinian State. GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION On 26 November [meeting 58], the General Assembly adopted resolution 68/15 [draft: A/68/L.15 & Add.1] by recorded vote ( ) [agenda item 36]. Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine The General Assembly, Recalling its relevant resolutions, including those adopted at its tenth emergency special session, Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004, Recalling further relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242(1967) of 22 November 1967, 338(1973) of 22 October 1973, 1397(2002) of 12 March 2002, 1515(2003) of 19 November 2003, 1544(2004) of 19 May 2004 and 1850(2008) of 16 December 2008, Recalling the affirmation by the Security Council of the vision of a region where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized borders, Noting with concern that it has been 66 years since the adoption of its resolution 181(II) of 29 November 1947 and 46 years since the occupation of Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, in 1967, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General submitted pursuant to the request made in its resolution 67/23 of 30 November 2012, Reaffirming the permanent responsibility of the United Nations with regard to the question of Palestine until the question is resolved in all its aspects in accordance with international law and relevant resolutions, Recalling the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and recalling also its resolutions ES- 10/15 of 20 July 2004 and ES-10/17 of 15 December 2006, Convinced that achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is imperative for the attainment of comprehensive and lasting peace and stability in the Middle East, Stressing that the principle of equal rights and selfdetermination of peoples is among the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Reaffirming the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war, Recalling its resolution 2625(XXV) of 24 October 1970, Reaffirming the illegality of the Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, Expressing grave concern about the extremely detrimental impact of Israeli settlement policies, decisions and activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, including on the contiguity, integrity and viability of the Territory and the efforts to advance the peace process and to achieve peace in the Middle East, Expressing grave concern also about all acts of violence, intimidation and provocation by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians and properties, including homes, mosques, churches and agricultural lands, and calling for accountability for the illegal actions perpetrated in this regard, Reaffirming the illegality of Israeli actions aimed at changing the status of Jerusalem, including settlement construction and expansion, home demolitions, evictions of Palestinian residents, excavations in and around religious and historic sites, and all other unilateral measures aimed at altering the character, status and demographic composition of the city and of the Territory as a whole, Reaffirming also that the construction by Israel, the occupying Power, of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and its associated regime are contrary to international law, Encouraging all States and international organizations to continue to actively pursue policies to ensure respect for their obligations under international law with regard to all illegal Israeli practices and measures in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly Israeli settlements, Expressing deep concern about the continuing Israeli policies of closures and severe restrictions on the movement of persons and goods, including medical and humanitarian, via the imposition of prolonged closures and severe economic and movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade, as well as of checkpoints and a permit regime throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Expressing deep concern also about the consequent negative impact of such policies on the contiguity of the Territory and the serious socioeconomic and humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people, which is critical in the Gaza Strip, and on the efforts aimed at rehabilitating and developing the damaged Palestinian economy, despite some measures taken by Israel in 2012 and 2013, Recalling the mutual recognition 20 years ago between the Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the representative of the Palestinian people, and the need for full compliance with the agreements concluded between the two sides, Recalling also the endorsement by the Security Council, in resolution 1515(2003), of the Quartet road map to a per-

8 384 Part One: Political and security questions manent two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the call in Council resolution 1850(2008) for the parties to fulfil their obligations under the road map and to refrain from any steps that could undermine confidence or prejudice the outcome of negotiations, and recalling further in this regard the relevant Quartet statements, including those of 23 September 2011 and 27 September 2013, Stressing the road map obligation upon Israel to freeze settlement activity, including so-called natural growth, and to dismantle all settlement outposts erected since March 2001, Recalling the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session, held in Beirut on 27 and 28 March 2002, Expressing support for the agreed principles for bilateral negotiations, as affirmed by the parties in the Israeli- Palestinian Joint Understanding reached at the international conference held in Annapolis, United States of America, on 27 November 2007, aimed at concluding a peace treaty resolving all outstanding issues, including all core issues, without exception, for the achievement of a just, lasting and peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and ultimately of the Arab-Israeli conflict as a whole for the realization of a comprehensive peace in the Middle East, Reiterating support for the convening of an international conference in Moscow, as envisioned by the Security Council in resolution 1850(2008) and the Quartet statement of 23 September 2011, for the advancement and acceleration of a resumed peace process towards the fulfilment of its stated objectives, Noting the important contribution to the peace process of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, including within the framework of the activities of the Quartet, Noting also the continuing efforts of the Quartet s Special Representative, in particular the efforts to strengthen Palestinian institutions, promote Palestinian economic development and mobilize donor support, Welcoming the ongoing efforts of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians, under the chairmanship of Norway, and noting its recent meeting at United Nations Headquarters on 25 September 2013, at which donor countries reaffirmed the necessity of continued and increased donor support in this critical period, Recognizing the efforts being undertaken by the Government of the State of Palestine, with international support, to reform, develop and strengthen its institutions, emphasizing the need to preserve and further develop Palestinian institutions and infrastructure, and commending in this regard the implementation of the August 2009 plan of the Palestinian Authority for constructing the institutions of an independent Palestinian State and the ongoing implementation of the National Development Plan on governance, economy, social development and infrastructure and the significant achievements made, as confirmed by the positive assessments made by international institutions regarding readiness for statehood, including by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations and the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, while also expressing concern about the negative impact of the current financial crisis being faced by the Government of the State of Palestine, Welcoming the launch, on 15 August 2013, of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework, which is aimed, inter alia, at enhancing developmental support and assistance to the Palestinian people and strengthening institutional capacity in line with Palestinian national priorities, Welcoming also the continued efforts and tangible progress made in the Palestinian security sector, calling upon the parties to continue cooperation that benefits both Palestinians and Israelis, in particular by promoting security and building confidence, and expressing the hope that such progress will be extended to all major population centres, Reiterating its concern over the negative developments that have continued to occur in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, including the large number of deaths and injuries, mostly among Palestinian civilians, the construction and expansion of settlements and the wall, the arbitrary arrest and detention of more Palestinian civilians, the acts of violence, vandalism and brutality committed against Palestinian civilians by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, the widespread destruction of public and private Palestinian property, including religious sites, and infrastructure, the internal forced displacement of civilians and the consequent deterioration of the socioeconomic and humanitarian conditions of the Palestinian people, Expressing grave concern, in particular, over the continuing crisis in the Gaza Strip as a result of the prolonged Israeli closures and severe economic and movement restrictions that in effect amount to a blockade and the continuing negative repercussions of the military operations in the Gaza Strip in November 2012 and between December 2008 and January 2009, which caused extensive loss of life and injury, particularly among Palestinian civilians, including children and women, widespread damage and destruction to Palestinian homes, properties, vital infrastructure, public institutions, including hospitals and schools, and United Nations facilities, and internal displacement of civilians, Stressing the need for the full implementation by all parties of Security Council resolution 1860(2009) of 8 January 2009 and General Assembly resolution ES-10/18 of 16 January 2009, Expressing concern over the continued imposition of hundreds of checkpoints and obstacles to movement in and around Palestinian population centres by the Israeli occupying forces, and emphasizing in this regard the need for the implementation by both sides of the Sharm el-sheikh understandings, Expressing grave concern about the imprisonment and detention by Israel of thousands of Palestinians, including children, under harsh conditions, Emphasizing the importance of the safety, protection and well-being of all civilians in the whole Middle East region, and condemning all acts of violence and terror against civilians on both sides, including the firing of rockets, Expressing the hope for tangible progress towards Palestinian reconciliation for the restoration of Palestinian unity, under the leadership of the President, Mahmoud Abbas, and consistent with Palestine Liberation Organization commitments, and of the situation in the Gaza Strip to that which existed prior to June 2007, and calling for the continuation of the serious efforts being exerted by Egypt, the League of Arab States and other concerned parties towards the achievement of this aim,

9 Chapter VI: Middle East 385 Stressing the urgent need for sustained and active international involvement, including by the Quartet, including through the proposed monthly meetings of its envoys and initiatives to support the parties in building a climate for peace, to assist the parties in advancing and accelerating the peace process negotiations for the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement that ends the occupation which began in 1967 and results in the independence of a democratic, contiguous and viable State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security with Israel and its other neighbours, on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions, the road map and the Arab Peace Initiative, Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the United Nations, submitted on 23 September 2011, Taking note also of its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, by which, inter alia, Palestine was accorded nonmember observer State status in the United Nations, and taking note of the follow-up report of the Secretary-General, Acknowledging the efforts being undertaken by civil society to promote a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, Recalling the findings by the International Court of Justice, in its advisory opinion, including on the urgent necessity for the United Nations as a whole to redouble its efforts to bring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which continues to pose a threat to international peace and security, to a speedy conclusion, thereby establishing a just and lasting peace in the region, Affirming once again the right of all States in the region to live in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders, 1. Reaffirms the necessity of achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, the core of the Arab- Israeli conflict, in all its aspects, and of intensifying all efforts towards that end, and stresses in this regard the urgency of salvaging the prospects for realizing the two-state solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borders; 2. Reaffirms its full support for the Middle East peace process and the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, based on the relevant United Nations resolutions, the terms of reference of the Madrid Conference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States at its fourteenth session, and the Quartet road map to a permanent two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and for the existing agreements between the Israeli and Palestinian sides; 3. Welcomes the resumption, on 29 July 2013, of Israeli- Palestinian negotiations aimed at resolving all core final status issues and concluding a final peace agreement within the agreed nine-month time frame, and expresses appreciation in this regard for the efforts and support of the United States of America, the European Union, the Russian Federation and the United Nations, as the members of the Quartet, and of the League of Arab States and all other concerned States; 4. Encourages, in this regard, continued serious regional and international efforts to follow up and promote the Arab Peace Initiative, including by the Ministerial Committee formed at the Riyadh summit in March 2007; 5. Urges the parties to undertake, with the support of the Quartet and the international community, immediate and concrete steps in follow-up to the Israeli-Palestinian Joint Understanding reached at the international conference held in Annapolis; 6. Calls for, in this regard, the timely convening of an international conference in Moscow, as envisioned by the Security Council in resolution 1850(2008), for the advancement and acceleration of the resumed peace process; 7. Calls upon both parties to act on the basis of international law and their previous agreements and obligations, in particular adherence to the road map, irrespective of reciprocity, in order to create the conditions necessary for the advancement of negotiations within the nine-month time frame agreed to at the resumption of negotiations; 8. Calls upon the parties themselves, with the support of the Quartet and other interested parties, to exert all efforts necessary to halt the deterioration of the situation, to reverse all unilateral and unlawful measures taken on the ground since 28 September 2000, to take every possible step to promote conditions conducive to the success of the negotiating process and to refrain from actions that undermine trust or prejudge final status issues; 9. Calls upon the parties to observe calm and restraint and to refrain from provocative actions, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric, especially in areas of religious and cultural sensitivity, including in East Jerusalem; 10. Underscores the need for the parties to take confidence-building measures aimed at improving the situation on the ground, promoting stability and fostering the peace process, including the need for the further release of prisoners, and notes in this regard the exchange of prisoners in October and December 2011 and the release of prisoners by Israel in August and October 2013; 11. Stresses the need for the removal of checkpoints and other obstructions to the movement of persons and goods throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the need for respect and preservation of the territorial unity, contiguity and integrity of all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; 12. Also stresses the need for an immediate and complete cessation of all acts of violence, including military attacks, destruction and acts of terror; 13. Reiterates its demand for the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1860(2009); 14. Reiterates the need for the full implementation by both parties of the Agreement on Movement and Access and of the Agreed Principles for the Rafah Crossing, of 15 November 2005, and the need, specifically, to allow for the sustained opening of all crossings into and out of the Gaza Strip for humanitarian supplies, movement and access, as well as for commercial flows and all necessary construction materials, and stresses the urgent need to promote reconstruction, including through the implementation of United Nationsled projects and civilian reconstruction activities, all of which are essential for alleviating the humanitarian crisis, improving the living conditions of the Palestinian people and promoting the recovery of the Palestinian economy; 15. Calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and to cease all of its measures that are contrary to international law and all unilateral actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, that are aimed at altering the character, status and demographic composition of the Territory, including via the confiscation and de facto annexation of land, and thus at prejudging the final outcome of peace negotiations;