No peace under expansion of Israeli occupation - Amb. Al-Otaibi

NEW YORK, May 23 (KUNA) -- The State of Kuwait reiterates that there will be no peace in the Middle East under the Israeli occupation's efforts to continue its illegal expansion over Palestinian lands, said a senior Kuwaiti diplomat late Wednesday.
In a speech to the UNSC session the Middle East's situation, Kuwaiti Permanent Representative to the UN headquarters in New York Ambassador Mansour Al-Otaibi affirmed that the expansion of illegal settlements was the biggest obstacle in achieving a comprehensive and just peace in the region.
On May 9, Kuwait chaired with Indonesia and South Africa the Arria-Formula Meeting on (Israeli-Settlements and Settlers: Core of the occupation, protection crisis and obstruction of peace), indicated Al-Otaibi who condemned all settlements expansion activities and violence against Palestinians which seriously hindered any chances for peace.
He added that the international community should have an active role in ending Israeli injustice against the Palestinians and continuous degradation of holy sites chiefly the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
Al-Otaibi reminded the gathering that they were meeting a year or so after the massacre committed against the innocent Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on May 14, 2018, leaving some 60 people, including children, dead while 2,000 suffered some serious injuries.
Reports regarding atrocities against innocent Palestinians should be thoroughly investigated by members of the UN to prevent any further crimes committed by the occupying force Israel, indicated Al-Otaibi who called on the UNSC to force Israelis to follow all humanitarian laws namely the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
He noted that peace should be based on a solid desire to end the conflict, pointing out that the Arab World had reiterated its stance on the issue of just peace in the March 31 Summit held Tunisia.
While Israel continues to make life miserable by taking unilateral decisions, Palestinians have barely the means to run a government especially with weak financial capabilities and resources, said Al-Otaibi who accused the Israelis of disrespecting the Oslo Accords, which reflected their truce disregard of any chances for peace in the region.
Ambassador Al-Otaibi affirmed that Arab nations refused Israel's attempts to impose its unlawful version of the peace process, adding that the Arabs have an unequivocal stance in support of the Palestinian cause.
The Kuwaiti diplomat also shed light on the financial difficulties faced by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), stressing that the important role played by the agency in support of the Palestinians.
Despite Israeli meddling and efforts attempting at shutting down UNRWA, Kuwait continues to be a strong backer of the agency's efforts to support Palestinians, said Al-Otaibi, adding that his country donated a sum of USD 113 million in the last four years and will continue to provide its assistance.
Stopping all sorts of encouragements by some parties towards the Israeli oppression and focusing on a comprehensive and just peace plan based on international conventions and laws will put an end to the long conflict in the Middle East, affirmed Al-Otaibi.
He mentioned that the last Arab European summit held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, had called for a peace process based on the 1967 borders and including the issue of east Jerusalem, the proposed capital for the future Palestinian independent state. (end) asf.gta