China’s permanent envoy to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, called on the international community on Monday to advance the two-state solution and support the Palestinian people in restoring and exercising their inalienable rights.
During his remarks at the UN Security Council briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, the Chinese envoy said the Palestinian-Israeli question has been on the UN agenda for over seven decades.
Each day of inaction by the international community is a disservice to peace, a betrayal of justice, and a failure to the next generation, added Jun.
“We call on all parties to show their conscience to uphold justice and fulfill their commitments with actions. We hope that the United Nations and the Security Council will take substantive steps to advance the two-state solution, and support the Palestinian people in restoring and exercising their inalienable rights..”
China supports the full implementation of the two-state solution. The historical injustice suffered by the Palestinian people cannot be prolonged indefinitely. Their legitimate national rights cannot be traded. And their demand for independent statehood cannot be vetoed. The international community should stay committed and work together to translate the two-state solution from consensus into action and from vision into reality, he said.
China is in favor of putting the Palestine question high on the international agenda, supports the resumption of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks as soon as possible on the basis of the two-state solution, and calls for the convening of a larger scale, more authoritative, and more influential international peace conference, he said.
China condemns all indiscriminate attacks against civilians, condemns serious violations against children, opposes the excessive use of force by security forces, and calls for investigations to ensure accountability. The occupying power should effectively fulfill its obligations under international law to ensure the security of the population in the occupied territory, he said.
Zhang said the expansion of Israeli settlement activities encroaches on Palestinian land and resources, squeezes the living space of the Palestinian people, and violates the Palestinian right to self-determination, making a contiguous, independent, and sovereign Palestinian state even more elusive.
China urges Israel to comply with its obligations under Security Council resolutions and cease all settlement activities, including the demolition of Palestinian homes, stop unilateral changes to the status quo in the occupied territory, and return to the right track of the two-state solution, he said.
China supports the improvement of the Palestinian economy and people’s livelihood, said Zhang.
“We call on Israel to ease unreasonable restrictions on the movement of people and goods and the use of land in the occupied territory, create conditions for the development of Palestinian communities in the West Bank, and lift the blockade of Gaza as soon as possible.”
The international community should provide assistance to Palestine through multiple channels to help ease its financial crisis and guarantee public services, he added.
China always cares about the Palestinian people, he said, adding that China will continue to provide humanitarian assistance, support the implementation of livelihood projects, and increase contribution to the UN agency for Palestine refugees.
