The Permanent Representative of the Palestinian Authority to the United Nations Riad Mansour said that the UN’s Security Council is ‘paralyzed’ when it comes to Israel.
Mansour reiterated the “commitment of the Palestinians despite the difficulties to the two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders and the relevant UN resolutions.”
He added “We have done our part by reunifying our people territories and political system which are among top national priorities” referring to the Palestinian reconciliation agreement signed recently in Cairo.
Mansour’s remarks came in a statement Wednesday night during the regular session of the UN’s Security Council on the Palestinian issue.
“We are committed both at the regional and international levels to our obligations. We carry out our responsibilities in line with international law including humanitarian law and human rights law” he continued. “What about Israel?” he asked. “The UNSC gets paralyzed when it comes to Israel and we ask you: When will you act?”
He noted “We continue to insist on peaceful political and legal means to end the Israeli occupation of our land and end the repression of our people and recognize their national rights and aspirations including living in dignity and prosperity in their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
In his statement the Palestinian diplomat stressed the importance of the international community’s support for the reconciliation agreement “in order to ensure its success.”
Of course this must include lifting the illegal and inhumane Israeli blockade imposed on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip for more than a decade now and this must also include meaningful steps to accelerate reconstruction and healing.”
Mansour expressed his “deep gratitude for Egypt” for its role in reaching the reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas.
Hamas and Fatah signed a reconciliation agreement in Cairo last week brokered by Egypt which allows the Palestinian national government to manage the affairs of the Gaza Strip.
