There is urgent need to safeguard the global consensus on the Palestinian question, the Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine said today, expressing hope that forthcoming elections in both Israel and the United States will offer a path towards shifting the political dynamics around the two-State formula.
With the aim to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and ensure operational continuity, the Secretary-General has decided, in coordination with UNRWA’s Commissioner-General, to appoint Christian Saunders of the United Kingdom as Acting Deputy Commissioner-General of UNRWA at the level of Assistant Secretary-General.
As they adressed the stalled peace process and “creeping annexation” by Israel of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, delegates, activists and policymakers participating in a high-level forum on the question of Palestine considered a variety of solutions ranging from full Palestinian statehood recognition to a bill in Ireland’s parliament to ban imported goods produced in the illegal settlements.
The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People will convene the United Nations Forum on the Question of Palestine, “The threat of de facto annexation — What next for Palestine?”, on 4 April from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Trusteeship Chamber at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Updating the Palestinian Rights Committee on recent developments in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the observer for the State of Palestine today cautioned that the international community’s inaction, blanket support from the United States President and hate speech by Israeli politicians in the run‑up to Israel’s presidential elections in April has emboldened the occupying Power.
Marked by sporadic deadly violence, the current situation in Israel and Palestine is untenable in terms of advancing the agreed-upon two-State solution, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres told the Palestinian Rights Committee today.
Following are UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ remarks to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, in New York today:
The General Assembly today concluded its annual debate on the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East by adopting six resolutions — including one calling for a final peace settlement to the Israeli‑Palestinian conflict — with some speakers warning against biased, one‑sided texts.
The Palestinian people’s struggle is not directed against Judaism as a religion, but against the colonial occupation of their land and people, the Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine said during a special observance today.
Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, in New York today:
