Kuwait urges UNSC to take measures to end Israeli-Palestinian dispute

NEW YORK, Oct 19 (KUNA) - Kuwait underlined the urgency for the Security Council to assume its Charter-mandated role and take the necessary measures to end the deteriorating situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Kuwait's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Mansour Ayyad Al-Otaibi spoke before the Security Council today on behalf of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at the Open Debate "The situation in the Middle East, including the Question of Palestine." the OIC called for a clear resolution to be adopted addressing Israel's violations of the law, including its settlement policy.
"The demands for a halt to this illegal colonization campaign and for an end to Israel's prolonged occupation must be clear and unequivocal," said Al-Otaibi.
He affirmed that such resolution will constitute a meaningful contribution to and real support for the ongoing international efforts aimed at preserving and attaining the two-State solution on the basis of the relevant UN resolutions, the Madrid principle of land for peace and the Arab Peace Initiative, which sets forth a clear and just path for peace.
In this regard, the OIC reiterated its support for the French initiative to restore a political horizon under an international, multilateral patronage and within a specified time frame, with a view to ending the Israeli occupation and achieving a just, comprehensive, lasting and peaceful solution, which has been too long obstructed and delayed.
"Fifty years of occupation, oppression, humiliation and the worst kinds of human rights violations is enough, and it is morally, legally and politically unacceptable to allow this to continue," Al-Otaibi added.
Further, the OIC Chair warned in his speech against the repeated provocations and attacks on worshippers and Islamic and Christian holy sites, especially the Al-Aqsa Mosque and a number of churches in Jerusalem, by extremist Jewish groups. The dangerous consequences of such extremist actions would be far-reaching and grave and must be averted, he stressed.
Al-Otaibi underlined that Israel's illegal practices and measures aims at falsifying the history of the occupied city of Jerusalem, obliterating its Palestinian Arab identity, attempting to alter its indigenous demographic composition, the expansion of colonial settlements and expulsion of Palestinian citizens must end.
In parallel, Kuwait's representative warned about the grave impact of the actions of Israeli terrorist settler groups, including "Price Tag" and "Hilltop Youth" militias, which continue their incitement and terrorist attacks against Palestinian civilians, all with support and protection of the Israeli occupation forces.
These Israeli practices, he said, have created a tragic situation that calls for serious action by this Council to stop the ongoing Israeli violations, as they nurture extremism, violence and racism and further destabilize an already fragile situation. "Such action also further fuel a religious conflict, which endangers regional and international peace and security," he added.
Stressing that the right to security is not exclusive to Israel, Al-Otaibi told the Council that Security is a right that should be provided to and enjoyed by all nations, especially victims of occupation.
The OIC called on the 15-member body to assume its responsibility and provide the Palestinian people with international protection, in accordance with international humanitarian law.
In line with its Charter duty, the OIC called the Council to maintain international peace and security, must also act to preserve the prospects for peace and chart a way forward to finally justly resolve the question of Palestine after all of these decades and contribute to the establishment of lasting peace and security in the Middle East region.
Recent figures reveal that the socio-economic and humanitarian situation of the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip in particular, where Israel has for nearly ten years imposed an illegal blockade, is the worst it has ever been since 1967 when the occupation began. (pick up previous) mao.mb