Security Council meeting 5940

The President

I should like to inform the Council that I have received letters from the representatives of Argentina, Cuba, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Qatar and the Syrian Arab Republic, in which they request to be invited to participate in the consideration of the item on the Council's agenda. In conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite those representatives to participate in the consideration of the item, without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure.

There being no objection, it is so decided.

The President

I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter dated 18 July 2008 from the Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations, which will be issued as document S/2008/473 and which reads as follows:

"I have the honour to request that, in accordance with its previous practice, the Security Council invite the Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations to participate in the meeting of the Security Council which will be held on Tuesday, 22 July 2008, regarding the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question."

I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite the Chargé d'affaires ad interim of the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to participate in the meeting, in accordance with the provisional rules of procedure and the previous practice in this regard.

There being no objection, it is so decided.

The President

In accordance with the understanding reached in the Council's prior consultations, I shall take it that the Security Council agrees to extend an invitation under rule 39 of its provisional rules of procedure to Mr. Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs.

There being no objection, it is so decided.

I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter dated 15 July 2008 from His Excellency Mr. Paul Badji, representative of Senegal, in which he requests to be invited, in his capacity as Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, to participate in the consideration of the item on the Council's agenda. If I hear no objection, I shall take it that the Council agrees to extend an invitation under rule 39 of its provisional rules of procedure to Mr. Paul Badji.

There being no objection, it is so decided.

The President

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations.

At this meeting, the Security Council will hear a briefing by Mr. Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs. I now give him the floor.

Mr. Pascoe (Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs)

During a month that saw a number of encouraging developments across the Middle East, we are particularly heartened by the progress in Lebanon, where a major step forward was taken with the announcement of a national unity Government. It is also positive that the indirect talks between Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic continue. In Gaza, the ceasefire has held and there was a marked decline in violence. We are concerned, however, about the lack of improvement in the situation on the ground in the West Bank.

The political process begun at Annapolis continues, with regular meetings and discussions of the core issues taking place at various levels, both in the region and elsewhere. Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas held a meeting on the margins of the Paris Summit for the Mediterranean on 13 July. They underscored their determination to make progress and reach an agreement. However, some significant gaps reportedly remain, and in discussions with Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas in Paris, the Secretary-General emphasized the need to press ahead with bilateral talks with the goal of overcoming all outstanding differences. It is nevertheless encouraging that today, for the first time, Israeli President Peres hosted President Abbas in his residence in Jerusalem.

In Gaza and Israel, the security situation has improved, as the Egyptian-mediated ceasefire that entered into effect last month has generally been upheld. During the reporting period, one Palestinian civilian was killed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) near the Gaza-Israel border, and two others were injured. Palestinian militants fired 7 rockets and 10 mortars at Israel, which resulted in no casualties. No IDF air strikes or incursions were reported. Hamas is communicating to the public in Gaza its support for the calm and has detained individuals involved in firing mortars. However, 9 Palestinians were killed and 29 injured by internal violence, reckless handling of weaponry and tunnel collapses along the Gaza-Egypt border.

Building on the ceasefire, Egypt continues to work on an agreement to exchange the captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, for a number of Palestinian prisoners currently held by Israel. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has still not been provided with access to Corporal Shalit after more than two years in captivity.

I am pleased to report that the number of truckloads entering the Gaza Strip through the Sufa and Karni crossings increased by 54 per cent during the four weeks following the ceasefire, as compared to the month before. Imports of cement increased substantially and met Gazan requirements for the reporting period. There has generally been a slight increase in the import of non-food commodities. We welcome that improvement, but note that current import levels stand at approximately 30 per cent of the level before June 2007. The continued lack of many raw materials and the prohibition against exports preclude any significant economic recovery. Approximately 95 per cent of local industrial establishments remain closed.

On 17 July, Israeli officials informed their counterparts in the Palestinian Authority that they would increase the amount of fuel being allowed into Gaza. That is encouraging and necessary, as the amount of fuel has remained substantially lower than the actual needs. Between 27 June and 20 July, only 17 per cent of daily needs of petrol, 57 per cent of diesel, 40 per cent of cooking gas and 81 per cent of industrial gas requirements were met. The Gaza Electricity Company continues to operate at less than 70 per cent of its full capacity. The hardships caused by that policy have been reported in past briefings.

United Nations Special Coordinator Serry visited the Gaza Strip on 10 July to explore suitable ways to resume stalled projects, including United Nations projects, as requested by the Quartet. The United Nations has asked the Government of Israel to facilitate the resumption of priority projects as a matter of urgency, and Prime Minister Olmert, in his discussions with the Secretary-General, has undertaken to consider that matter carefully.

President Abbas continued wide-ranging consultations on the basis of his 5 June speech, which called for national dialogue to implement the Yemeni initiative. Both the Secretary-General and Special Coordinator Serry have underlined their support for President Abbas' initiative for progress towards the goal of reunification of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank within the framework of the legitimate Palestinian Authority. The members of the League of Arab States will have a leading role to play in facilitating such efforts.

As efforts continue to solidify the ceasefire in Gaza, it is critical to accelerate progress on the ground in the West Bank. In this connection, we note with concern that Israeli forces have stepped up their military operations throughout the West Bank since 19 June. The IDF closed down and seized equipment of alleged Hamas-affiliated institutions in Nablus, including schools, medical centres, media outlets and civic associations. Israel has outlawed 36 international non-governmental organizations, charging them with fundraising for Hamas. Israeli troops raided the Nablus municipality, arrested elected Palestinian Authority officials and ordered the closure of Nablus' main shopping mall.

Palestinian Authority officials, including Prime Minister Fayyad, have criticized those operations as undermining the economy and the Authority's efforts to improve security in the West Bank. Palestinian security forces have continued their efforts to impose law and order and to disarm and arrest militants, in compliance with Palestinian obligations under phase I of the Road Map. We are concerned about the effects of Israeli raids on the efforts of Palestinian security forces to operate effectively in areas under their control.

On 2 July, three Israeli civilians, including two women, were killed and 30 others injured, when a Palestinian from East Jerusalem used a bulldozer to attack vehicles in West Jerusalem. The Secretary-General condemned that attack. This morning, as I am sure the Council is aware, a similar attack took place again, resulting in the injury of two Israelis.

Meanwhile, in the West Bank, three Palestinians, including one civilian, were killed by the IDF, and 136 others were injured, including at least 22 children. Most of the injuries occurred during anti-barrier demonstrations and were caused by rubber bullets and tear gas. On three occasions since mid-June, Israeli settlers are reported to have fired a total of six rockets towards the Palestinian villages of Burin, southwest of Nablus. On 12 July, Israeli police arrested a settler suspected of manufacturing and launching those projectiles and seized explosives and weapons in the settlement of Yizhar. Subsequently, on 21 July, another rocket was fired from the settlement.

Construction activity in Israeli settlements across the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem, has continued in the reporting period, and on 3 July, it was reported that Defense Minister Ehud Barak had approved construction for a new building in the Beit Romano settlement in Hebron's old city.

As the Secretary-General has stressed many times before, Israeli construction in settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory is contrary to international law and contrary to Israel's commitments under the Road Map and the Annapolis process. He urges Israel to heed the clear call of the Quartet to freeze all settlement activity, including natural growth, and to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001.

Across the West Bank, a slight deterioration in movement and access has been observed, at a time when we had hoped for improvement. Four significant obstacles that had been removed during June were reinstalled by the IDF in July, bringing the total number of closure obstacles to 609. In addition, Israel is renovating the Wadi Nar or Container checkpoint, controlling movement from the north to the southern part of the West Bank, rather than honouring its prior commitment to remove it.

A recent report by the Office of the Coordinator of Humanitarian Affairs confirmed that 56 per cent of the planned route of the barrier has now been constructed. The majority of the construction deviates from the Green Line and is therefore contrary to the 2004 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice.

The report found that only 20 per cent of farmers in the northern West Bank, who used to farm their land west of the barrier, are being issued permits by the Israeli authorities to access their land. This increases dependency on food and humanitarian assistance and it is undermining livelihoods as well.

Let me turn now to the Palestinian economic situation. Owing to budget shortfalls this month, the Palestinian Authority barely managed to make salary payments for June. It plans to pay July salaries through loans and donor aid, but will need an additional $600 million in order to stay solvent from August through December -- excluding aid for development projects. We urge all donors who have not yet fulfilled their pledges at the December 2007 donors' conference to provide budget support in order to avert a financial crisis.

The Chair of the Paris Conference, France, and the three co-chairs, Norway, the European Commission and the Quartet representative, met on 7 July to discuss developments since the donor conference in December 2007. A meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee is scheduled to be held in September on the margins of the General Assembly.

Another round of indirect talks between Syria and Israel, mediated by Turkey, is expected later this month and will be followed by further talks in August. The Secretary-General expressed his appreciation for Turkey's efforts and his support for these talks in his meetings with Prime Minister Erdogan, President Assad and Prime Minister Olmert in Paris.

Special Coordinator Serry visited Damascus and underlined United Nations support for the important efforts on this track. The Government of Syria raised the issue of prisoners from the occupied Syrian Golan with Mr. Serry and I note here the release from Israeli custody of Sitan Al-Wali on 8 July. The situation in the occupied Syrian Golan has remained quiet through the reporting period, although settlement activity continues.

Yesterday Syrian Foreign Minister Mouallem arrived in Beirut, where he handed over to Lebanese President Michel Sleiman an official invitation to visit Syria. We urge both countries to establish full diplomatic relations and representation, consistent with Security Council resolution 1680 (2006).

As for Lebanon, we applaud the major step forward taken on 11 July, when President Sleiman announced that agreement had been reached on the composition of the national unity cabinet, subject to a vote of confidence in Parliament in the coming weeks. The Secretary-General welcomed this development and reiterated his call upon all parties to continue to work towards the full implementation of the Doha Accord. The United Nations looks forward to working closely with the new Government.

An important achievement of the reporting period was the implementation of the major humanitarian aspects of resolution 1701 (2006). On 16 July, the bodies of the two abducted soldiers were returned to Israel, in exchange for Lebanese detainees and remains. The Secretary-General's Facilitator has worked with great perseverance for almost two years and will be submitting a full report to the Secretary-General in the coming period.

As you are aware, the Secretary-General has received letters from the Government of Israel and from Hizbullah, committing themselves to further humanitarian action. The Secretary-General will continue to keep the Council informed of these and other developments.

A number of security incidents occurred in and around the northern city of Tripoli and other parts of the country during the reporting period. We are concerned about these clashes and the implication they have for the stability and security of Lebanon. We welcome steps taken by the Lebanese authorities to improve security around Tripoli.

Since the last Security Council briefing, United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon's (UNIFIL) area of operations has remained generally quiet. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Command has not yet returned the army units that it redeployed out of the area of operations in May, due to the security situation in other parts of the country. The UNIFIL Force Commander has called on the LAF Command to return those units as quickly as possible.

In the meantime, UNIFIL and the LAF are working to ensure that the shortage of units does not adversely affect their ability to carry out their obligations under resolution 1701 (2006).

Over the reporting period, UNIFIL has continued to record significant numbers of Israeli air violations, which have occurred on an almost daily basis. We again urge Israel to cease these violations.

The reduction of violence in Gaza is a significant, but fragile, achievement. We hope that this calm can be sustained and, together with internal Palestinian dialogue, lead to other positive steps: the return of the legitimate Palestinian Authority to the Gaza Strip, the reopening of the crossings, the release of Gilad Shalit and a number of Palestinian prisoners and the reunification of Gaza and the West Bank under the legitimate Palestinian Authority on a basis that allows the peace process to move forward.

We are encouraged by the determination of the parties to continue negotiations within the Annapolis framework, and by the active role of the United States and other members of the international community. The Quartet will meet in September here in New York and in the period between now and then it is important that progress continue. It is vital that there are visible improvements in the situation on the ground, in the consolidation of the ceasefire in Gaza and in improved conditions in the West Bank.

In conclusion, let me reiterate that the Secretary-General remains committed to a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003).

The President

I now give the floor to the representative of the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine.

Ms. Abdelhady-Nasser (Palestine)

Mr. President, allow me to congratulate you and your country, the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, on your presidency of the Security Council this month, affirming our confidence in your ability to wisely guide the Council's important work.

I also express our thanks to the United States of America for its able stewardship of the Council in June.

We also thank the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Mr. Pascoe, for his briefing today.

The Middle East peace process, which was begun 17 years ago in Madrid on the basis of United Nations resolutions and the principle of land for peace, was launched officially between the Palestinian and Israeli sides 15 years ago in Washington with the signing of the Oslo accords, and renewed once again with much hope last November in Annapolis after a bitter seven year freeze -- this process, even in the most benign assessment, is in a state of disrepair. That is so because the entire premise of the peace process is being incessantly undermined by the illegal actions of Israel, the occupying Power, in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, actions that are totally contrary to the principle of land for peace and the objective of achieving a just, lasting and peaceful settlement based on a two-State solution.

Despite many resolutions, agreements and initiatives undertaken over the years to sustain and salvage the peace process, Israel's deliberate actions continue to harm the peace process, preventing that process from overcoming the serious obstacles on the path to achievement of its goals.

The main obstruction has been Israel's illegal settlement campaign in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, as well as in the occupied Syrian Golan, by which Israel has, for over 41 years, been aggressively colonizing the land it forcibly occupied in 1967 in grave breach of international humanitarian law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention, which absolutely prohibits the transfer by the occupying Power of its civilian population into the territory it occupies.

In the occupied Palestinian Territory, Israel's settlement campaign has aimed at creating unilateral facts on the ground and illegally altering the demographic composition, status and character of the territory, in order to facilitate the de facto annexation of large areas of land, especially in and around occupied East Jerusalem. As such, this colonization represents the primary danger to the realization by the Palestinian people of their inalienable and national rights and the achievement of the two-State solution with an independent Palestinian State living side by side with Israel in peace and security on the basis of the 1967 borders. Indeed, the settlements issue is not only one of the final status issues in the peace process, but is also intricately related to and at the crux of nearly all other final status issues, including Jerusalem, borders, water and security, and continues to complicate efforts to justly resolve all of these issues.

Israeli settlement activities have been relentless, in spite of the United Nations resolutions demanding cessation of all settlement activities and the dismantlement of the settlements, in spite of the calls by the high contracting parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention for Israel to respect the Convention and abide by its legal obligations, and in spite of the fact that the cornerstone of the Road Map is Israel's obligation to freeze all settlement activity and to dismantle settlement outposts.

Israel remains defiant against the will and calls of the international community and continues its illegal settlement activities, imposing more facts on the ground to advance its land grab, with settlement activities especially intense in occupied East Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley, in the recent period. It is a blatant situation of acquisition of territory by force, driven by Israel's expansionist agenda, which has prolonged the occupation and stood in the way of all peacemaking efforts.

This massive colonization campaign has been carried out through the vast confiscation of Palestinian land, the construction and expansion of settlements, transfer of hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers and construction of the wall, which is directly linked to the settlements and intended to protect them and facilitate their expansion and annexation, as well as by numerous other illegal measures.

In this regard, we recall that this month marked the four-year anniversary of the landmark Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legal consequences of the construction of the wall in the occupied Palestinian Territory. The Court affirmed the illegality of the wall, which is being constructed deep in the Palestinian territory in deviation from the 1967 Green Line, as well as the illegality of its associated regime, and called upon Israel to cease construction of the wall, to dismantle it and to make reparations for all damage caused by it.

The wall is part and parcel of Israel's colonization attempts, and that was recognized by the Court, which concluded, inter alia, that the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian Territory have been established in breach of international law and that

"the route chosen for the wall gives expression in loco to the illegal measures taken by Israel with regard to Jerusalem and the settlements, as deplored by the Security Council"

(A/ES-10/273, 13 July 2004, para. 122).

Taken together, the 150 Israeli settlements, the more than 100 settlement outposts, the extensive labyrinth of Israeli-only bypass roads connecting the settlements to each other and to Israel itself, and the wall, which is projected to be more than twice the length of the 1967 Green Line, occupy huge swaths of Palestinian land, including areas with water and other natural resources, totalling approximately 50 per cent of the occupied West Bank.

This vast colonial network, along with the more than 600 Israeli checkpoints erected to completely restrict Palestinian movement, has created a situation on the ground whereby Palestinian communities have been separated, with many transformed into walled cantons and some destroyed in their entirety, causing the displacement of thousands of Palestinian civilians. East Jerusalem is being isolated from the rest of the Palestinian territory, which is being dissected into northern, central and southern parts. In other words, economic and social devastation is being imposed on the Palestinian people.

The overall result is the severe fragmentation of the occupied Palestinian Territory and the undermining of its contiguity, integrity and unity. The entrenchment and continuation of this illegitimate situation will make physically impossible the establishment of a sovereign, contiguous, viable and independent Palestinian State, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and the ultimate realization of the two-State solution for peace in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003), by which the Council endorsed the Quartet Road Map.

The situation in the rest of the occupied Palestinian Territory, namely the Gaza Strip, also remains critical. Israel's siege of Gaza has surpassed one year, and the occupying Power continues to impose a suffocating closure of border crossings, obstructing the movement of persons and goods, in collective punishment of the entire Palestinian civilian population there.

Poverty and hardships continue to rise as a result of declining socio-economic conditions. Health conditions continue to deteriorate owing to inadequate medical and food supplies as well as the breakdown of sewage and sanitation systems because of lack of spare parts and fuel. And, the continuing fuel crisis has disrupted all sectors of life and has even disrupted United Nations operations in Gaza. Moreover, this deliberately imposed humanitarian crisis is only worsening with the globally rising food and fuel prices affecting the whole international community.

At the same time, the Israeli occupying forces continue to carry out violent military raids and attacks in the occupied Palestinian Territory. As a result, Palestinian civilians, including children, continue to be killed, injured, detained and arrested, and Palestinian homes, property and infrastructure continue to be destroyed. We call for an immediate end to such illegal, deplorable actions and call on Israel instead to abide by its legal obligations and its commitments in order to create an environment actually conducive to the pursuit of peace.

In this connection, I wish to refer to the truce agreement reached as a result of the intensive, commendable efforts undertaken by the Government of Egypt. The truce took effect in the Gaza Strip on 19 June and continues to be upheld despite several infractions. President Abbas continues to appeal for respect of the truce on both sides and continues to call as well for extension of the truce to the West Bank. The West Bank and the Gaza Strip constitute one geopolitical unit -- the occupied Palestinian territory -- and, accordingly, Israeli military attacks in either area affect the other negatively. As we have witnessed repeatedly, reckless and violent Israeli actions similar to the raids and killings in Nablus shortly after the truce began in June have in the past undercut attempts to bring about a cessation of violence, sabotaged Palestinian Authority efforts to promote law and order, harmed peace negotiations and fuelled the deadly cycle of violence.

Nevertheless, we reaffirm our hope that the truce will hold, that calm will prevail and that the occupying Power will completely lift the siege of Gaza and allow for the movement of persons and goods to ease the isolation and humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian civilian population.

In that regard, we reiterate the Palestinian Authority's readiness to assume responsibility for the Palestinian side of Gaza's border crossings and call upon Israel to allow for the opening of the crossings in line with the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access.

In 2008, despite the investment of so much hope, energy and effort in the peace process, we are still witness to the perpetuation of the longest military occupation in contemporary history, the active colonization of occupied land in violation of international law and United Nations resolutions, and the continued denial and violation of the inalienable human rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination and the right of the Palestine refugees to return. All attempts to rectify that unjust situation have been impeded by Israel's continuing illegal practices, and real progress has been elusive. The situation continues to decline and the opportunities for peace continue to be undermined.

That is why we have continued to appeal to the international community to address the critical issues before us, and why we specifically returned to the Council, imploring it to uphold its responsibilities under the Charter and international law, particularly with regard to the illegal Israeli settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory. That is a matter of international peace and security, for the continuation of that illegal situation is not only obstructing the peace process but is seriously harming it, endangering the achievement of a peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and consequently the future prospects for peace and stability in the Middle East region and beyond.

The United Nations has a permanent responsibility towards the question of Palestine until it is resolved in all its aspects, including a just resolution for the plight of the Palestine refugees in accordance with General Assembly resolution 194 (III). The Council should not be exempt from its responsibilities in that regard, and here we emphasize the importance of the role of the caucus of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries as a voice for the 118 countries members of the Non-Aligned Movement, including Palestine, in the Council.

If the Council remains unable to bear its responsibilities vis-à-vis the question of Palestine in the face of flagrant breaches, its credibility will be undermined. Moreover, it will continue negatively to affect the image of the United Nations and feed the perception of double standards held by those in the Middle East and the developing world, a conclusion borne out by several assessments, including the latest investigation by an independent panel.

In our international community, alliances should be made in favour of international law and not against it. Unlawful actions should be confronted and not tolerated or excused. If the latter options are chosen, justice and peace, and their associated benefits of security, stability, prosperity and development, can never be truly realized, and the rule of law and the foundations of our international system will continue to be gravely weakened. Such an outcome must be avoided at all costs.

Accordingly, despite our deep disappointment and frustration, we have not lost hope and will continue to call on the international community, including the Council, to uphold international law towards the promotion of a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Arab-Israeli conflict as a whole. Moreover, we reaffirm in this forum the continued commitment of the Palestinian side to the peace process, according to its agreed terms of reference, as the means to bring an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967, to achieve a just, lasting and peaceful settlement, and to realize the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and freedom in their independent State of Palestine.

The President

I thank the Chargé d'affaires of the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine for her kind words on Viet Nam's presidency of the Council.

I now give the floor to the representative of Israel.

Mr. Gillerman (Israel)

Thank you, Sir, for your able stewardship of the Council this month. I also wish to thank the Mission of the United States for their very able leadership of the Council last month and Under-Secretary-General Pascoe for his customarily comprehensive briefing.

I would also like to take this opportunity to express to the Secretary-General our great admiration for his leadership, integrity and compassion in dealing with the very delicate effort concerning the release our two boys, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. In spite of the sad closure of that chapter, we are very grateful to the Secretary-General for his efforts, both personally and through his mediator, to bring it to a close. We realize how compassionate he was about it, and we are, both as a State and personally speaking on behalf of the families, eternally grateful to him.

I have prepared a speech for this meeting, Sir, which I will submit to you and ask you to read, because some very good people have worked very hard on it, and it is, I think, a very good speech that I think should be read by everybody. But, as this is most probably my last appearance before the Council as Permanent Representative of the State of Israel, I would like to take the liberty to speak to the Council from the heart rather than from the written word.

I would like to start by thanking everyone here, each and every representative -- Permanent Representatives and Deputy Permanent Representatives, members of the Council and other Ambassadors -- for the time and the energy that everyone has spent on, among other issues, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and our problems. Throughout, many representatives have shown great integrity and great leadership. Many representatives have spent much time and energy on a conflict that to so many of them is so far away. But I would like truly to express my appreciation for what has been over the years a true demonstration of care, compassion, intelligence and integrity by very many.

I would also like to share with the Council what it is like and what it feels like to represent Israel at the United Nations and around this table. One of the first things I would like to point out is that I am afraid that many of those present have not been to Israel, and I think that whatever words I use and whatever descriptions I give will never fully bring to the awareness of the world, or even of those present, what an incredible country Israel truly is.

I invite each and every representative here -- some representatives have been invited and have not yet been able to make the journey -- to come to Israel. Everyone will see a country that is very different from the perception he sees on the television screens, from the perception he gets from watching cable networks, where one sees only a country that seems to be a place torn by violence and bloodshed. Everyone will discover a very vibrant country of great excellence and innovation, where young people go about their lives enjoying themselves, while contributing to the country and to the world. Everyone will see a country that has contributed and is contributing each and every day to mankind and to humanity, not just to itself and the Jewish people, by making deserts bloom with its agriculture, by making limbs move with its medicine, and by making the world a better place each and every day with its innovations, patents, creativity and excellence, and indeed a richer place with its art and its culture. I would urge everyone here to come and see for themselves because, as with many other countries, one can never understand what Israel is really like unless one touches it and smells it and feels it. We urge everyone to come and visit.

But I would also like everyone here, for one moment, to imagine -- to imagine what it is like to be an Israeli. Imagine being a grandfather like me, who sometimes goes to the kindergarten to pick up his young grandchild and whose heart breaks when he sees the armed guard in front of that kindergarten and for a moment is not sure whether he will live to see the moment when he will embrace his grandchild alive. Imagine what it is to embark on a bus and look around in fear, not knowing whether that bus will reach its destination or blow up. Imagine what it is like to sit in a café in Jerusalem and to realize that, while a coffee on the Champs-Elysées or in the Pushkin Café in Moscow or right here in New York may cost $2 or $3, a coffee in Jerusalem could cost many, many lives. Imagine being a mother in Sderot whose children wet their beds every night out of fear and who, when she comes to collect them from school, is not sure they will be there.

Imagine. Imagine what it is like this morning to drive on the main street of Jerusalem and have a bulldozer turn over cars and crush them. Imagine being on Fifth Avenue or Oxford Street or the Champs-Elysées and seeing a bulldozer overturning buses and crushing cars with their occupants inside. Imagine that reality. Imagine the terror we face and the fear we live with each and every day, and try to understand what it is like to be an Israeli.

Now, I have been here for nearly six years. I have sat here many, many times, and I have often been accused by some of my colleagues of overreacting, overdramatizing and being oversensitive. But if those present here were to come to Israel, or even just to imagine being there, they would understand that, while to many what we are dealing with -- including in these quarterly meetings -- is a technicality and something that is happening far, far away, to us it is everyday life. To us, it is not just statistics and numbers. To us, it is indeed human faces, living faces and, unfortunately all too often, dead bodies.

I will be leaving here with a sense of achievement, because we and Israel have had some very memorable achievements at the United Nations over the years, but also with some sense of frustration. Represented around this table are many countries that mean well and are here because they want to make a difference. I truly believe that each and every representative around this table is here because he or she wants to make the world a better place for our children and for our grandchildren. Most are here because they care; most are here to make a difference. In that, I include my Palestinian colleague Riyad Mansour, who is not here. I truly believe that, when he speaks and when he is here, he cares very deeply about his people and wants to see their aspirations and their dreams realized. We may have had our differences, but they were always out of caring and doing the right thing.

I can, unfortunately, not say that about every single member of the Council, because we do have a member whose main aim is to block any reasonable resolution and any mention or any condemnation of terror. I think that that reality should be considered very carefully when we next come to elect members to the Security Council. I think the standards should be higher and the considerations should be deeper.

We are dealing with terror every day, and we have seen a new manifestation of terror only a few hours ago in Jerusalem. A few yards away from where President Peres was having lunch in his residence with President Abbas, another terrorist used a bulldozer as a death machine, trying to kill as many people as he could. That is the second time this has happened. When it happened the first time, people thought it was a just a crazy man doing something crazy. Now, it is becoming a pattern and we are seeing yet another contribution from those people whom one member of this Council totally supports. That member supports terrorism.

When I look around this table, I see people representing countries that gave the world great Asian art; that gave the world Emile Zola and Hector Berlioz; that gave the world alternative medicine; that gave the world Breughel; that gave the world Benjamin Franklin, the Declaration of Independence, Albert Einstein and Leonard Bernstein; that gave the world Thomas Moore and Benjamin Britten; that gave the world Dostoyevsky and Tchaikovsky; that gave the world Verdi; and that have given the world, among other things, Nelson Mandela.

What are the contributions of those terrorists to our world? Their biggest inventions and most advanced exports are airplane hijackings, hostage-takings, suicide bombings and, indeed now, using bulldozers as death machines. I would ask those here, when they next talk about the Middle East, discuss the situation there and talk about Israel, to think about that and to think about what we are dealing with each and every day. I wonder what they will think of next.

But what I would ask and urge those here to do is to think of the world we live in. We are here to really deal with the real problems of the world we live in. We are, each and every one of us, here to make a difference. We are here to make the world a safer and better place. But what we are truly witnessing today is no longer a clash of civilizations. We are indeed witnessing a clash of civilization, in the singular, because most of the horror, most of the bloodshed, most of the killing and most of the violence, sadly and tragically, is within Islam.

Not only is the vast majority of terrorists Muslim, but sadly and tragically, the vast majority of victims is Muslim. Each and every day, Muslims are being killed by Muslims in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Algeria, Morocco, Sharm el-Sheikh and Amman. What is the most frightening thing to me is the eerie silence of the Muslim world, the fact that we do not see in this Council or in the world a Muslim leader -- be he secular, religious, political or academic -- getting up to say "Enough is enough. What are we doing?"

I hope very much that such a leader will emerge, and I hope very much that the Arab and Muslim world will realize that it is its duty and responsibility today, in that very clash, to support the moderates and to isolate and marginalize the extremists, because that is indeed what we are witnessing: a horrible clash between moderates and extremists. Nowhere is that illustrated more starkly than in Iran, where there is a President who denies the Holocaust while preparing the next one and who calls for wiping another Member State of this Organization off the face of the map.

I think that much of the Arab world and the Muslim world, as I witnessed first-hand in Annapolis, realizes where the real threat is. It is up to them to stand up today for what is right, to support and legitimize a moderate Palestinian leadership, and to tell those leaders that if they go for a fair and long-lasting settlement the Arab and Muslim world will stand by them, legitimize them and support them. I believe that this is also the solemn duty of the Security Council: to support the talks on the ground between the moderate and democratically elected leadership of the Palestinians and the Israeli leadership, and to let the parties reach an agreement which -- hopefully very, very soon -- will bring an end to the cycle of violence and make our two peoples live side by side in peace, security and prosperity.

I believe it will happen. I am saddened by the fact that it will not happen during my tenure, but my wish for my successor is that it may happen on her watch.

In the meantime, I want once again to thank members for their comradeship, for their collegiality, for their understanding, for their compassion, for their leadership and for their integrity. It has been an honour for me to serve with them, and I want on this very special occasion to make one more pledge: whatever happens, whatever the Council discusses, whatever transpires, Israel will prevail, because a country that has given the world the Weitzmann Institute, Hebrew University and the Israel Philharmonic can do no less. Thank you very much, and goodbye.

The President

I thank the representative of Israel for his kind words about Viet Nam's presidency of the Security Council.

In accordance with the understanding reached among Council members, I should like to remind all speakers to limit their statements to no more than five minutes, in order to enable the Council to carry out its work expeditiously. Speakers with lengthy statements are kindly requested to circulate their texts in the Chamber and to deliver a condensed version when speaking.

Mr. Mubarak (Libya)

I wish at the outset to thank Mr. Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, for his briefing.

The situation in the occupied Palestinian territories remains the same. More than a month after the ceasefire agreement between Palestinian factions and the Zionist occupying forces -- which came about as a result of the efforts of Egypt and which entered into force on 19 June -- the situation at crossing points remains one of closure and only partial opening. That is in contravention of the occupying forces' commitment to the declared period of calm. Israeli forces continue to assassinate Palestinian activists in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which reflects the persistent attempt by the occupying authorities to put an end to this temporary ceasefire.

Such partial openings of crossing points should not be understood as a concession by the occupying Power: they are a commitment of the Israeli occupying forces under international law and human rights law. The occupying Power's policy of collective punishment has been described in this Chamber by the Secretary-General and the Under-Secretaries-General for Political Affairs and for Humanitarian Affairs as a crime under international law and humanitarian law, and it is considered to be a crime of genocide under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which the Council discussed two days ago. A number of other international officials and international organizations have also spoken out, most recently the European Commission, which has called for the siege on Gaza to be lifted.

The activities undertaken by the Israeli authorities following the Annapolis Conference, in particular their continued construction of settlements, leave no doubt that they are not serious about attaining a permanent, just and comprehensive solution to the situation in the region. All those activities not only impede the peace process, but also endanger the concept of a two-State solution.

Despite all the requests, exhortations and appeals to the occupying Power to halt the construction of settlements, the occupying authorities continue daily to issue new permits for the construction of new settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. They are also entrenching the settlements by continuing to build the apartheid separation wall, in spite the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. There is evidently international paralysis in the face of this expansion of the settlements, which has resulted in the seizure of 76 per cent of the occupied Palestinian territory.

The Security Council's inability to express its will on the settlements, which the international community has unequivocally rejected, calls for a review of the Council's working methods and its machinery. It is legally and morally unacceptable for some States to prevent the Council from shouldering its responsibilities on this issue. There is injustice in the unequal treatment accorded to a people under occupation and an occupying Power that is daily violating its obligations as an occupying Power.

For more than a month, the Arab Group has been making intensive efforts to bring about a Security Council resolution to address the issue of settlements as an impediment to progress in the peace negotiations and to address the illegal actions undertaken by the occupying Power in contravention of all international norms and agreements, which have been condemned by all international and regional parties. Regrettably, however, that endeavour has met with paralysis and flimsy justifications and pretexts aimed at using the Middle East problem as a way to impose a solution that will protect the occupying Power and metes out unjust treatment to the victim. That is not the proper stance for an impartial mediator to take.

My delegation stresses the right of the Palestinian people to resist occupation. That right is recognized under all international norms and laws. My country completely rejects any linkage between resistance to occupation and terrorism. Real terrorism is the confiscation of Palestinian property, the continued killing of Palestinian leaders and activists and the siege imposed on 1.5 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Real terrorism is more than 60 years of forced displacement of Palestinians and of not permitting them to return to their homes. Real terrorism is the detention without trial of 11,000 Palestinians, some of them children, old people, women or members of the Palestinian Legislative Council -- and when there is a trial, it is usually unfair and a mere formality.

My delegation is astonished by the suggestion by some that it is futile for the Council to discuss a question as important as that of the Middle East. Perhaps such comments will help us to understand why the Council is unable to shoulder its responsibility on this issue and to understand the paralysis and lack of credibility resulting from the abuse of authority and the double standards used in addressing the question of the Middle East.

Turning to Lebanon, my delegation has consistently emphasized non-intervention in Lebanese affairs. Such intervention leads to crisis rather than helping the Lebanese parties to achieve reconciliation. When, in Doha, the Lebanese were offered the opportunity, they succeeded in emerging from the political crisis that Lebanon had faced for more than a year and a half. We welcome the positive developments in Lebanon following the Doha agreement, the developments in Syrian-Lebanese relations, and the return of Lebanese prisoners of war from Israel.

But despite those positive developments, Lebanon still faces daily violations of its airspace and borders. The most recent report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 1701 (2006) (S/2008/425) notes an unprecedented increase in the number of Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace since February, reaching 72 in a single day.

Israel, the occupying Power, continues to occupy the Shaba'a farms and the Lebanese village of al-Ghajar. It has failed to respond to the appeals of the Secretary-General and his representatives or to the requests by the forces of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon to present maps showing the locations of mines, explosive devices and cluster munitions, which, as emphasized in the Secretary-General's report (S/2008/425), cover 49 per cent of the surface area of southern Lebanon. All of these acts, including the daily violations, the continued occupation of Lebanese territory and the non-response to efforts to determine the locations of mines and other remnants of war are in flagrant violation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006).

The occupied Syrian Golan continues to be subjected to the Israeli settlements policy, which has been in effect since 1967. Despite Syria's announcement and emphasis on the fact that peace is its strategic option and that it is prepared to negotiate without conditions, and despite the many resolutions declaring the annexation of the Golan null and void and without any legal basis, the occupying Power continues its expansionist settlement policy in the occupied Syrian Golan. The recent announcement by the Israeli Knesset that it will not give up the occupied Syrian Golan except through a general referendum reflects the utmost arrogance and constitutes blackmail and the seizure of others' lands.

A few minutes ago, we heard the representative of the Israeli entity present a tourism promotion in the Security Council, as if the Council were a travel agency. I believe that his propaganda was inspired by what we saw a couple of days ago on television: photos of a young Palestinian, blindfolded and handcuffed, who had been shot by Israeli soldiers. Those photos were actually provided by the Israeli entity. That propaganda should make us think twice about accepting the revolting invitation to visit the Israeli entity. We want the representative of the Israeli entity to respond to the appeals of the Security Council, and those contained in the relevant resolutions adopted by the Human Rights Council, to permit observers to see what is actually happening in the Palestinian refugee camps. I believe that, instead of making statements concerning Libya's conduct, the representative should improve the conduct of his own country, which is based on terrorism. I do not wish to take up the Council's time by listing the terrorist acts committed by the State called Israel since its establishment. We thank God that that was the last statement to be made by the representative of that country in the Council.

Mr. Kafando (Burkina Faso)

We thank Mr. Lynn Pascoe for having briefed us on the situation in the Middle East within the framework of the regular consideration of this item by the Security Council. We also welcome the presence of the Permanent Representatives of Palestine and Israel, and we take due note of their respective statements.

Since the Council's most recent meeting on this important issue, many events have occurred. The most meaningful of these are, in our view, the following. First, there was the recent formation of a new Lebanese Government. We hope that it will strive to put an end to the country's internal political difficulties, so that Lebanon can immediately undertake national reconstruction. Then, there was the exchange of prisoners and remains, which took place on 15 July between Israel and Hizbullah. More than symbols, those signs of détente and even rapprochement show that dialogue is possible, just as peace is, if there is goodwill on both sides. Therefore, the international community should encourage this easing of tension, which is undoubtedly a positive step towards peace.

With regard to the specific case of Syrian-Lebanese relations, we are impatient to familiarize ourselves with the report of the United Nations team of experts on Lebanon, which should keep us abreast of the progress made. Already, however, we must welcome the positive attitudes of both countries towards establishing diplomatic relations. Such an event would be a historic turning point in the relations between the two States. Such a normalization, so long awaited by the international community, would undoubtedly be a decisive step in settling the Lebanese crisis, at least, it being understood that, if there is to be a comprehensive settlement of the Middle East issue, there must be a normalization of relations among all the parties concerned.

Concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it is important that the Palestinian Authority and Israel continue their negotiations, guided by the objectives defined by the Annapolis process and the Quartet's Road Map. The latest news that we have, which we welcome, is of the meeting in Jerusalem between the President of the Palestinian Authority and the President of the State of Israel. We have always said that a settlement of the dispute requires that the belligerent parties fairly share duties, obligations and responsibilities.

It is the duty of Israel to put an end to the settlements policy and to any other activities that could jeopardize the progress currently being made in the bilateral negotiations. In the view of the Palestinian side, the problem of land is the primary obstacle. At the same time, Israel must take all possible measures to fully lift the siege against Gaza and permit the humanitarian issue to be resolved once and for all. On the other hand, the Palestinian Authority must also strive to honour its commitments aimed at guaranteeing absolute security for Israel, particularly as regards the firing of rockets against Israeli populations.

It is clear that, while the sharing of responsibilities regarding the Middle East is incumbent primarily on the parties directly affected, the international community must also do its part. First are the countries of the region. Whether through individual initiatives, such as those of Turkey, Qatar and Egypt, or through the actions of regional organizations, such as the Arab peace plan, their role is decisive, and the truce currently in effect in Gaza is due to their involvement. Burkina Faso welcomes and encourages their efforts.

As for the Security Council, it must maintain the necessary pressure on the political leaders of Israel and Palestine by reminding them of the need for strict compliance with the Charter of the United Nations.

Finally, international organizations must continue their assistance to the development of Palestine with a view to the building of a viable State within the framework of the agreement to establish the two States.

With respect to international cooperation, it may be that the new organization, the Union for the Mediterranean, whose members include some Middle East States, could also make a contribution to the settlement of the conflict.

One thing is certain: it is the expressed will of Palestinian and Israeli officials to persevere and make progress in the bilateral negotiations to achieve the solution of two States living side by side in peace and security, if possible by the end of this year. We earnestly encourage them in that effort, convinced that, ultimately, that is the only way to find a solution.

Mr. Arias (Panama)

First and foremost, I would like to thank Mr. Lynn Pascoe for the briefing that he has just given us and the representatives of Israel and Palestine for their respective statements.

Allow me to take this opportunity to bid farewell to Ambassador Dan Gillerman, to convey to him the gratitude of Panama and myself for the manner in which he has led his mission to the United Nations, and to wish him every success in his future activities.

Mr. Pascoe's briefing conveyed both a negative and positive picture of the region, but it is on the latter that Panama wishes to place emphasis on this occasion. As was stated by Mr. Pascoe in his report, the ceasefire mediated by Egypt over a month ago between Hamas and Israel has remained nearly unbroken, inaugurating a period of relative calm to Gaza and Israel and allowing their respective populations at the very least to live in a space free from violence. We trust that that reciprocal measure will enable the bilateral negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians to take place in an improved climate of trust, and we call for the extension of the ceasefire to the West Bank.

We are also encouraged by the news of the exchange of prisoners or human remains between Israel and Hizbullah through the mediation of Germany, proximity talks between Israeli and Syrian negotiators through the good offices of Turkey, and the efforts of the President of France to encourage Syria and Lebanon to resume diplomatic relations.

In addition, we recognize the significant efforts deployed by Qatar towards the establishment of a national unity Government in Lebanon. The delegation of Panama expresses its profound gratitude to all those individuals and Governments who worked to ensure that those events would take place.

Those achievements confirm the fact that, in spite of the desire and need to obtain a comprehensive peace in order to resolve the question of the Middle East, taking discreet steps and reaching timely agreements can serve as catalysts for reaching broader and more substantial agreements. In that context, my delegation echoes all those Governments and non-governmental organizations that have declared that Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories, and in particular its construction of settlements in those territories, remain serious obstacles to the peace process. Israel must therefore immediately cease the construction of settlements.

In that context, Panama takes this opportunity to affirm, as we have on earlier occasions, that any peace agreement between Palestine and Israel must provide for the existence of two States living side by side in peace with each other and with their neighbours, with the 1967 borders recognized as their common borders. In that regard, we call for a timely completion of the respective negotiations to achieve the rapid release of the abducted Israeli corporal, Gilad Shalit, and Israel's transfer to Lebanon of the Shaba'a Farms.

Finally, now more than ever, the peace process in the Middle East requires the political resolve of all the parties directly involved and the active participation of the international community and of this Security Council. Everything indicates that this is a rare and all-too-elusive moment of hope.

Sir John Sawers (United Kingdom)

Allow me to begin by paying a warm tribute to the work of Ambassador Gillerman. I do not think there is anyone here at the United Nations who has to work harder than Ambassador Gillerman to defend the reputation of his country, or anyone who does it with the same brilliance, charm, incisive intellect and dedication that he has brought to the task over the past six years. He is going to be sorely missed, although I am sure we will listen to his successor in this Chamber with the same rapt attention with which we have listened to him.

I would also like to thank Mr. Pascoe for his detailed briefing on the situation in the region. My country gives its unwavering support to the peace process and the agreements reached at Annapolis. We welcome the most recent meeting between President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert in Paris this past week. The success of the bilateral negotiations is going to depend in part on a public perception in the region that progress is being made on the ground.

My Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, earlier this week visited the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel and gave a moving and powerful speech to the Knesset, the first ever by a British Prime Minister. When he was in Israel, my Prime Minister reiterated that settlement-building erodes trust, heightens Palestinian suffering and makes the compromises that Israel will need to make for peace more difficult. It is therefore crucial, both for the daily lives of Palestinians and for peace to be achieved, that Israel freeze settlements and dismantle outposts, as it has agreed to do.

While in Palestine, my Prime Minister made clear that the Palestinians must continue to act with perseverance and persistence against terrorists who target Israeli civilians. We welcome the security sector reforms that the Palestinian Authority is implementing and we are happy to play a part in those efforts.

Egypt's tireless work has led to a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. We commend all parties for their continued commitment to that agreement, and it is important that the United Nations support efforts to deal with the outstanding issues, including the end of arms smuggling and the return of Corporal Shalit. We hope that Israel, in line with its own commitments, will reopen crossings and increase supplies to Gaza. We welcome the lead the United Nations is taking by putting forward the immediate steps that could be taken to improve the humanitarian situation.

However, the Palestinian Authority is at a critical juncture. As Mr. Pascoe's briefing made clear, the Authority will be in the red in a matter of weeks. The European Union and the United Kingdom have responded to Palestinian requests to front-load our budget support. We have done so, and we have spent what we can for this year. Others must now follow through on the pledges they made at Paris last December, and to which they committed again at the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meeting in London in May.

The Security Council has its part to play. We have consistently made clear that the Security Council should be able to find its voice once more on the issue of the Middle East. To that end, the Council has worked for some weeks to seek agreement on a draft resolution that is both balanced and engages constructively in support of the Annapolis process and of progress on the ground. Our assessment is that a text that focuses on only one aspect of the conflict will not find the necessary degree of support in this Council. We hope that the Council can continue to work on that issue without a fixed timeline and offer its voice and its authority in support of the intensive efforts under way to find peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

The United Kingdom welcomes the formation of a national unity Government in Lebanon. That is an important step in delivering on the Doha agreement of May and in promoting the long-term stability of Lebanon. Lebanon has the United Kingdom's full support in tackling the important challenges that lie ahead. Those include a programme of support to the Lebanese security sector, assistance to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and unswerving support for the International Independent Investigation Commission and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

The United Kingdom underlines the importance of the full implementation of resolution 1701 (2006). We welcome the exchange of prisoners that was brokered by the German authorities and pay tribute to those who have worked intensively to secure that outcome. We continue to support the vital work of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon in maintaining peace and stability in south Lebanon. It is important, too, that Lebanese militias be prevented from acquiring arms via Syrian territory and we will continue to provide support to Lebanese security forces to increase their capacity for effective border management.

We welcome the recent meeting between President Sleiman and President Assad in Paris and hope that renewed political contacts between the leaders of Syria and Lebanon will translate into concrete action to delineate borders and establish diplomatic relations between the two countries, as called for in Security Council resolutions.

We are encouraged by the continued proximity talks between Israel and Syria under Turkey's auspices. However, we believe that there is more that Syria could do to support the wider peace process, including by ending their support for Palestinian rejectionist movements.

Mr. Kleib (Indonesia)

Let me first of all join previous speakers in thanking Mr. Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, for his briefing.

My delegation also would like to associate itself with the statement to be made by the distinguished representative of Cuba, who will speak on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Conflict in the Middle East has continued for far too long, taking the lives of countless civilians, wrecking families and preventing its young population from fully reaping the benefits of global economic development. For sixty years, the region has been a theatre of tension and violence, and on the Palestinian side, the nation has continuously faced hardship and has had to survive without a State. They have suffered the worst.

This has been going on for far too long, so long that it has tarnished our collective conscience. The Middle East conflict continues to pose a threat to international peace and security. Not because merely in and of itself, but also because of the inability of the Council to take concrete and resolute action.

The Council should play its own role in the process of achieving comprehensive peace in the region. It has moral and Charter responsibilities to make a contribution to the solution of the Middle East and should devote the same consummate political energy to resolve this conflict as it has devoted to conflicts in other parts of the globe. We call for the same vigour and allocation of time in addressing the Middle East conflict.

At present, prospects for peace in the region are flourishing. We must seize this opportunity. We are particularly heartened by the current surge in diplomacy aimed at jumpstarting a comprehensive peace process, as demonstrated by the ongoing negotiations between Israel and Palestine, the launching of indirect talks between Syria and Israel and potential steps on the Lebanon-Israeli track.

We are also encouraged by the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, steps towards normalization of relations between Lebanon and Syria, the swap of prisoners between Israel and Hezbollah, as well as the increasing stability in Lebanon after the election of its President.

Also key to the establishment of a Palestinian State and genuine peace for all Palestinians is inter-Palestinian dialogue and reconciliation. We therefore continue to attach great significance to the Yemen agreement that outlined important avenues for dialogue and reconciliation among Palestinians.

With those positive developments, we have reasons to be hopeful that those achievements could eventually crystallize into a new equilibrium, in which all nations in the region share peace dividends and an independent and viable State of Palestine stands side by side in harmony with its neighbours. We, the international community, have been waiting for that moment.

Despite recent progress, we certainly cannot be complacent. Much remain to be done. The Middle East conflict will remain unresolved if all parties concerned do not go beyond the ordinary in their efforts to ensure a viable solution to the conflict. There is no better time than now to act to resolve the conflict and broker a peace. We welcome in that regard the unflagging commitment and contribution of the Arab League, the Quartet and countries in the region.

One challenge that now needs to be urgently addressed is the problem of Israeli settlement activities in the Palestinian territory. Those activities constitute grave breaches of international law and a serious obstacle to the establishment of a physically viable, sovereign and independent Palestinian State and thus to the achievement of peace itself. These illegal activities must be terminated immediately. The Security Council, for its part, should pronounce itself clearly and vigorously on this very important matter.

Indonesia therefore fully supports the draft resolution recently proposed by the members of the Arab Group.

Similarly important to achieving sustainable peace are continuous efforts in addressing other core issues, including borders, the issue of Palestinian refugees and the status of Jerusalem. The humanitarian situation in Gaza, which remains dire, also warrants continued response from the international community.

A viable Palestine State cannot be built in a day. It will require continued preparation and planning. Indonesia, therefore, attaches great importance to the Paris donors conference, the Palestine Investment Conference and the Berlin Conference in Support of Palestinian Civil Security and Rule of Law.

For our part, Indonesia, in collaboration with South Africa, has hosted the Asia-Africa Ministerial Conference on Capacity-Building for Palestine in Jakarta from 14 to 15 July 2008.

As a logical complement to the Annapolis Conference, this initiative is aimed at, among other goals, serving as a catalyst to the peace process in the light of the anticipated establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian State. Imbued with the Bandung spirit, the conference resulted in a list of commitments, including training assistance for as many as 10,000 Palestinians, including in the fields of law enforcement and administrative reform.

With regard to Lebanon, in line with the Doha agreement on Lebanon, we welcome the election of General Sleiman as President of Lebanon and we are hopeful that the new cabinet will be established as soon as possible.

We are concerned over the recent clashes in Tripoli, which caused injuries and casualties. My delegation therefore attaches primary significance to an item in the Doha agreement underlining that all parties will commit not to resort to arms or violence in order to resolve political conflicts.

Unity is a key aspect to the achievement of sustainable peace in Lebanon. Accordingly, we welcome President Sleiman's efforts in promoting dialogue and reconciliation in the country.

A peace process is not an easy venture. It never has been. It is a long and arduous journey that needs our outmost care and constant attention. As long as we promote peaceful ways rather than violence, negotiations rather than the use of military force and dialogue rather than confrontation, we shall surely be able to reach our end goal of comprehensive peace in the region.

It is therefore our fervent hope that ongoing efforts will yield results in the realization of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East, based on relevant resolutions of the Council, including resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003), the Madrid terms of reference and the principle of Land for Peace and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Mr. Skraci (Croatia)

Let me begin by extending our thanks to Under-Secretary-General Pascoe for his candid and informative statement.

While Croatia aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by France on behalf of the European Union, allow me to make some further points on behalf of my delegation.

My country joined the Council as an elected member in a year marked by renewed hope for reaching comprehensive peace in the Middle East. Late last year, the international community gathered at the Annapolis Peace Conference and pledged its support for this process.

The parties have since demonstrated admirable courage and determination in pursuing that track. My delegation finds encouragement in the fact, that, despite the challenges, the two parties remain committed to and engaged in bilateral talks within the framework of the Annapolis process.

Achieving a two-State solution and a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East, based on the relevant Security Council resolutions, should remain the ultimate goal. We believe that the international community, including this Council, has to do its utmost to support the parties in this goal.

We remain cognizant of the fact that progress in the political and diplomatic process remains inextricably linked with tangible improvements on the ground, and we share the views expressed in the latest Quartet statement in Berlin on 24 June that there is urgent need for more progress on the ground in order to build confidence and support the progress in the negotiations.

That is why we fully support the international effort that began last December with the Paris donors conference, followed by the Palestinian Investment Conference in Bethlehem in May and the Berlin Conference in Support of Palestinian Civil Security and the Rule of Law in June. This effort, coupled with the special envoy's effort to bring the parties together and stimulate economic renewal, helps to bring about a climate of confidence, security and physical mobility, thereby building a platform for peace. That is why it is critical that donors' commitments are being fulfilled.

In this context, let me also reiterate our support for the objectives promoted by the Berlin conference on security and the rule of law. Security is the most important service that any Government can provide to its citizens, if I may cite Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. This requirement extends to building up an effective and accountable security infrastructure, including a proper criminal justice system, as well as the police sector. The ability of the Palestinian Authority to build credible institutions and manage security is of key importance for both sides. Not only is it an essential element of Palestinian State-building, it is also a legitimate expectation on the Israeli side. Israel must have confidence that a two-State solution will not compromise the safety and security of its citizens. That can only be achieved if there is a viable, responsible and democratic Palestinian State by its side, a State that is willing and able to combat terrorism and anarchy.

Over recent weeks, we have seen a number of positive signals coming from the region. Having said that, let me also congratulate France, which holds the presidency of the European Union, on its successful effort to introduce new dynamism in the region through the establishment of the Union for the Mediterranean.

Recognizing that peace in the Middle East requires a comprehensive solution, we welcome Israel's readiness to take steps to reach out to the other actors in the region, demonstrating interest in addressing a number of challenging issues. We remain hopeful that these steps will be met with a positive and responsible response so as to reinforce the dynamic of peace.

The period of calm in Gaza and the announcement that Israel and Syria have been conducting indirect peace talks have been encouraging indeed, as was last week's prisoner exchange between Israel and Hizbullah, which we hope will be conducive to further positive moves.

We are gravely concerned by actions that are putting strains on the Gaza period of calm, including today's attack, as well as the outrageous attack that took place in Jerusalem on 2 July, which we condemn once again in the strongest terms. We appeal for every effort to sustain the period of calm in Gaza and thus to enable the restrictions on Gaza to be progressively eased, the crossings reopened and the United Nations projects resumed. We also hope to see progress regarding the case of abducted Israeli corporal Gilad Shalit.

Turning to Lebanon, my delegation welcomes the recent formation of a national unity Government in Beirut as well as the election of Mr. Sleiman as President of Lebanon in May. We hope that this momentum, initiated by the Doha agreement, will be used to consolidate the constitutional institutions of Lebanon and strengthen the Government's control over its entire territory.

The acute sectarian violence in May was a stark reminder of the relevance of the requirement to disarm all non-government groups, Lebanese and non-Lebanese alike. It is now essential that the totality of the commitments accepted by Lebanon's political leaders in the Doha agreement be fully implemented, including the ban against using arms to further political goals.

It is equally important that the obligations arising out of the Taif Agreement also be implemented, along with relevant Security Council resolutions. We are encouraged by the announced intentions to establish diplomatic relations between Syria and Lebanon and salute this week's high-level meetings in Beirut. It is our hope that these recent developments will translate into effective consolidation of Lebanon's stability and sovereignty, thus contributing to the peace and stability of the wider region.

Mr. Kumalo (South Africa)

We too wish to thank Mr. Pascoe, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, for his briefing on the developments in the region over the past month. My delegation also aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by the representative of Cuba on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Let me also welcome the participation of the Observer Mission of Palestine and, of course, our friend Ambassador Gillerman, who will be leaving his post at the end of this month. Mr. Gillerman said in his statement that, being the ambassador for Israel was not always an easy task, and as someone who has been here for the six years that he has served, I agree. I wish him well in his new responsibilities as he leaves here to pursue other tasks.

Over the last few months, we have seen various positive initiatives aimed at finding a negotiated settlement to the myriad of disputes in the Middle East. Many of these initiatives are in their infancy. However, they have already led to a relative calming of the situation, and some have already produced positive results.

As we consider these developments in the Middle East, it is important to note that it is the parties themselves, with the support of the countries in their own region, including mediation efforts by the League of Arab States, who are embarking on the initiative to resolve these conflicts. The Security Council should support and encourage these home-grown solutions and regional efforts.

It is also for this reason that we welcome recent positive developments. We support the view that the situation in Lebanon can only be resolved through peaceful dialogue, national reconciliation, bilateral cooperation with Lebanon's neighbours, the withdrawal of all Israeli forces and settlers from its territory, and a fair solution to the Palestinian refugee issue as part of a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace settlement.

My delegation joins the global condemnation of Israeli settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory. We believe that the settlement activity in the occupied territory is illegal and changes the facts on the ground and that it is a key obstacle to the peace process. The Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, prohibits are occupying Power from transferring parts of its own civilian population to the territory it occupies. We urge the Council to demand that Israel immediately and completely freeze all settlement activity, including dismantling outposts erected since March 2001, in order not to change facts on the ground and prejudice final status negotiations.

My delegation welcomes the efforts of the Egyptian Government in brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip and urges both Israel and Hamas to abide by their obligations in terms of their agreement to avoid a further deterioration in the cycle of violence in the region.

We note that discussions are continuing on further outstanding issues, including easing border restrictions even further. We would like to recall the letter dated 25 June 2008 from the Permanent Observer of Palestine addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council, in which Ambassador Mansour stated:

"we reaffirm the imperative of extending the ceasefire to the West Bank, as the Gaza Strip and the West Bank constitute one geographical unit -- the occupied Palestinian territory -- and, as such, Israeli military operations and attacks in either area have negative repercussions". (S/2008/421)

South Africa continues to encourage both the Israeli and the Palestinian negotiating teams to continue their negotiations to achieve the goal of the establishment of a Palestinian State before the end of 2008, as declared at the Annapolis Middle East peace meeting. The parties and the international community cannot sit back and allow the situation on the ground to continue to deteriorate, ending all hopes for a negotiated two-State solution.

We reiterate that the responsibility for peace and security lies with the two sides. In that regard, it is crucial that their actions and pronouncements be calculated to advance the quest for peace.

Finally, every briefing that we have received continues to indicate that the situation on the ground in the occupied Palestinian areas has not significantly improved. The innocent civilians on both sides, on the Israeli side and the Palestinian side, continue to suffer the consequences of an elusive peace. The unjustified and illegal acts by Israel, such as the siege of Gaza, as well the continued incursions into the West Bank, the expansion of illegal settlements, military posts and checkpoints, and the separation wall in the West Bank, are not contributing to any change in the situation.

South Africa believes that the two-State solution, one that creates a State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital living side by side in peace and security with a State of Israel, is the only way to bring about long-term peace to Israel. I am very pleased that Ambassador Gillerman, in his final statement before the Council, reiterated that the vision of the two-State solution is the one that may finally bring peace to that area and, once again, we wish him well in his next venture.

Mr. Spatafora (Italy)

I wish to thank Under-Secretary-General Pascoe for his comprehensive briefing and welcome the presence with us of the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine. I wish to pay tribute to the Permanent Representative of Israel, Ambassador Gillerman, who is sitting in the Council for the last time in his tenure in New York.

Italy aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by the representative of France on behalf of the European Union.

As negotiations proceed, the concerns of the parties are being clearly outlined in terms of the pain that the inevitable compromises in the future peace agreement will entail. Italy considers the security of Israel as non-negotiable. Israel's security cannot be truly guaranteed until an independent, modern, democratic and viable Palestinian State is created. The establishment of solid institutions based on the rule of law and good governance is fundamental. We need to facilitate the formation of a modern legal framework by supporting appropriate reforms in public administration at both the local and the central levels. The reform and the strengthening of the Palestinian security sector and the rule of law are therefore a priority.

It is also essential to finalize a solution to the inter-Palestinian crisis, fully restoring constitutional legality in the Gaza Strip and reopening all crossing points. It is important to increase the level of coordination of all international contributions in support of the Palestinian economy and administration.

However, Israel must be encouraged to reduce obstacles to the free movement of goods and persons in the West Bank and increase corporation with the Palestinian security authorities. At the same time, the Palestinian Authority must be supported and encouraged in its endeavours to consolidate security, particularly the control and repression of terrorism.

In view of a progressive realization of conditions for a peace agreement, the Arab countries must play their part in contributing to the development of the Palestinian economy.

The lasting calm in the Gaza Strip and southern Israel contributes favourably to a continuation of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, as it considerably reduces the risk of instability or violence jeopardizing the dialogue.

On Lebanon, Italy expresses great satisfaction at the formation of the Lebanese Government. It is now time for the international community strongly to support the resumption of a national dialogue, in keeping with the Doha Agreement. In that respect, Italy reaffirms its support for the independence and sovereignty of Lebanon. Our role in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, which constitutes a crucial factor in the country's stabilization, is a clear sign of our commitment. In view of thorough stabilization, the progressive disarmament of militia through the political process, in line with the commitments made in Doha, could prove to be a vital contribution to the future growth of Lebanon in conditions of lasting peace and harmony.

It is also with great satisfaction that we learn of Syria's recent decision to start constructive political talks with neighbouring countries. The recent statements by Syrian leaders expressing the will to proceed with the normalization of relations with Lebanon are promising. It is our hope that the necessary steps towards normalization will be taken first and foremost by restoring diplomatic relations and beginning work on the demarcation of the border.

Mr. Ripert (France)

First of all, I would like to thank Mr. Pascoe for his very detailed briefing. I should also like to thank the representative of Palestine for her statement. Lastly, like my colleagues, I should like to pay tribute to our colleague and friend Dan Gillerman, who, with talent and a great sense of interaction, was able to uphold the positions of his country, Israel, a country that is a friend and crucial partner of France and Europe, particularly within the Barcelona Process-Union of the Mediterranean that has just been established in Paris. Like my colleagues, I would like to wish him all the best as he continues his personal and professional life.

Today, I have the honour to speak on behalf of France and on behalf of the European Union, as well as the countries that align themselves with those statements.

In the Middle East, we have been getting encouraging signs from the different tracks of the peace process: between Israelis and Palestinians, who have engaged in comprehensive discussions since Annapolis; between the Israelis and Syrians, who have engaged in indirect talks under the auspices of Turkey; in Lebanon, where the implementation of the Doha Agreement and of resolution 1701 (2006) has continued; and lastly in Gaza, where with Egyptian mediation a truce has been called.

The international community must continue to mobilize and support that momentum so that the various parties involved in Middle East tension and conflict move towards sustainable peace.

The recent Union for the Mediterranean Summit showed that the European Union could make a contribution to stability and peace in the Middle East, notably via the creation of new dialogue forums.

Pursuant to the commitments made in Annapolis, the objective remains to create a viable, independent, democratic and fully sovereign Palestinian State living in peace and security alongside Israel by year's end. Naturally, that is a hard road, obstacles exist and both parties must make painful compromises that will be necessary in the coming weeks and months.

Negotiations between the parties continue, whilst the day-to-day reality damages public opinion regarding the credibility of the political process in the eyes of the public as a result of attacks in Jerusalem, Israeli incursions into the West Bank, the critical humanitarian situation in Gaza and continued sporadic violence despite the truce, including firing rockets that the European Union strongly condemns, the maintaining of checkpoints, settlement activity, especially in East Jerusalem but also in the West Bank. The building of settlements anywhere in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, is illegal under international law. Settlement activities prejudice the outcome of final status negotiations and compromise the viability of a jointly agreed two-State solution.

In parallel with negotiations and in order to ensure that the populations involved stick to the ongoing political process, the situation on the ground and in day-to-day life must change. The reforms undertaken by Mahmoud Abbas and Salam Fayyad are to be welcomed, but if they are to bear fruit, meaningful gestures must be made in the days and weeks to come. That is most urgent. If the Palestinian economy is to develop, a genuine improvement in the free movement of goods and persons in the West Bank must be a priority. For its part, the Palestinian Authority must pursue its security efforts. The Israeli freeze on all settlement activity and the dismantling of unauthorized settlement outposts built since 2001 must begin.

The situation in the Gaza Strip, a territory that has suffered for far too long, must not be forgotten. We welcome President Abbas's efforts to achieve political reconciliation among the Palestinians. His approach to peace should enjoy the broadest possible support. Hamas must comply with the three Quartet principles guiding the peace process, first and foremost among which is the renunciation of violence.

If the gains achieved in Annapolis and at the Paris, London, Berlin and Bethlehem conferences and the summit of the Barcelona Process-Union for the Mediterranean process are not to be squandered, the parties must push ahead with negotiations and the situation on the ground must change for the better. Naturally, it is up to the leaders of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples to decide through negotiation upon the terms of a comprehensive settlement. The international community, and in particular the European Union and all nations of the Middle East, can contribute to the finalization and implementation of the final agreement. The international community can provide guarantees to the parties to promote the implementation of an agreement on peace, security, the economy, refugees and Jerusalem.

The changing situation in Lebanon has helped to restore sorely needed calm to the eastern coast of the Mediterranean and to the Near East. In that context, we welcome the formation of a Government of National Unity, headed by Fouad Siniora, that allows all major stakeholders to be represented. Following the election of President Michel Sleiman, that was another step in implementation of the Doha agreement. The agreement favours the logic of dialogue that the European Union has tirelessly promoted through the ongoing efforts of the League of Arab States and Qatar. As we all know, the implementation of the agreement should now proceed with the drafting of an electoral law and the launch of national dialogue in the interests of all parties in Lebanon and throughout the region.

The Europeans are committed to encouraging the irreversible process of establishing the Special Tribunal. They remain committed to the unity, independence, sovereignty and stability of Lebanon in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions, in particular resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1701 (2006). It is essential that the Lebanese State be able to extend its authority throughout its territory. The European Union comprises the backbone of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and will continue to lend it its full support.

While fully respecting the independence and sovereignty of both countries and well aware of the special relations that history has bequeathed them, we hope that the détente made possible in Lebanon by the Doha agreement will encourage dialogue between Syria and Lebanon. We welcome the commitment made in Paris by the two heads of State to establish diplomatic relations. That decision must now be implemented, as must the border demarcation between the two States.

In conclusion, Syrian and Israel have begun proximity peace talks under the auspices of Turkey. That is yet another example of the triumph of the logic of dialogue and should be encouraged without dismissing the difficulties involved and by advancing through a series of necessary phases. That progress must be pursued and Syria must continue to play a constructive role in the region.

Mr. Urbina (Costa Rica)

I should like to begin by bidding farewell to my good friend Ambassador Gillerman, who has appeared before the Council today for the last time. I wish to tell him that we will miss him and his impassioned defence of his country's interests, and we shall always remember him gratefully.

I also wish to thank the representative of Palestine for her statement.

We thank you, Sir, and the Vietnamese delegation for convening this open debate and commend your leadership in ensuring that it took place. The situation in the Middle East truly requires the frequent involvement of the membership of the Organization. We understand and share the frustration of those who have criticized the way in which opportunities such as this are exploited by those seeking to advance domestic policy agendas. However, we feel that to be the price we must pay for the legitimacy that accrues to the Council when it heeds the voices of the States on whose behalf it exercises its mandate.

I thank the Secretary-General for his report and Mr. Pascoe for his briefing this morning.

As I have said on a previous occasion, the Security Council has become a part of the problems besetting the Middle East. For some years now, the voice of the Security Council has gone unheard and its contribution to resolving the region's problems has been close to nil. Worse yet, the Council's silence, arising from a stalemate caused by cross-purposes and selfish interests, is a sorry contribution to those problems, and not to the solutions that millions of human beings living in fear and anguish deserve. Our dear friend Ambassador Spatafora of Italy recently warned us that the Council's inaction could make it irrelevant as an actor on the international stage. Costa Rica is convinced that that is a luxury that the international community can ill afford. The United Nations and the Security Council in particular are part of a common estate that humankind must not squander. As has already been seen, the Council's irrelevance can lead only to a world that exists beyond the bounds of the law. That is a responsibility that Costa Rica will not join in shouldering.

The consideration of the situation in the Middle East requires courage, as we know. We have sometimes borne witness in other forums to demonstrations of the courage that is so lacking here in the Council. Outside these walls, the President of France, the United States Secretary of State and the Quartet freely reproach Israel for its persistent policy of establishing illegal settlements, but in this Council we are unable to reach a similar agreement, nor have we mustered sufficient resolve to condemn acts directed against Israeli territory that cannot be qualified as anything but terrorist. Frequently, too, we hear the Secretary-General voice ideas and launch appeals that should originate from or, at the very least, be embraced by the Council.

For Costa Rica, the Council's silence can lead only to the persistent violation of all the norms that should govern civilized coexistence among peoples. The Council's irrelevance to international life could allow multilateral mechanisms to go to waste instead of being used as innovative instruments for attaining peace, protecting human rights and promoting development for all.

In the light of all that, Costa Rica wishes to contribute to this debate a brief assessment of the situation in the Middle East. If the Council will not or cannot express its concern at the long-standing grave humanitarian situation in Gaza, and if the Council is will not or cannot condemn, as it should, policies and actions that undermine efforts to attain peace, it should at the very least consider positive elements that could help establish a climate conducive to understanding.

In that regard, we are grateful to Egypt for its mediation that resulted in a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. We are also grateful to Turkey for its mediation, which has encouraged rapprochement between Israel and Syria, and to Qatar for its good offices, which have facilitated institutional normalization in Lebanon. We also recognize the efforts that made possible the exchange of prisoners between Israel and Hizbullah. We welcome the measures adopted by Palestinian security forces aimed at restoring order in the West Bank.

We welcome the convening of the summit of the Union for the Mediterranean under the auspices of French President Sarkozy, which underscored the resolve of all parties to continue to work to ensure peace throughout the Mediterranean Basin and during which Syria and Lebanon announced the resumption of diplomatic relations.

Costa Rica echoes the report of the Secretary-General and reaffirms the need for compliance with obligations with which the parties are very well acquainted. In the Middle East, there will be no final victory for some over the others: peace can only be the outcome of moderate voices calling for the creative and respectful coexistence of two independent States within secure and recognized boundaries.

Mr. Li Kexin (China)

The Chinese delegation thanks you, Mr. President, for having convened this public debate. Our thanks go also to Mr. Lynn Pascoe for his briefing.

Although the situation in the Middle East remains fragile and volatile, there has been significant progress since March, when the Council held its previous open debate on the subject (see S/PV.5859). We welcome the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and we are pleased to see that leaders on both sides -- in Palestine and in Israel -- are determined to move the negotiating process forward. We welcome the active diplomatic efforts of Arab countries to promote the internal unity of Palestine. We are greatly encouraged by developments such as the proximity talks between Syria and Israel, the agreement on an exchange of prisoners between Lebanon and Israel, and the commitment made by Lebanon and Syria to strengthen their relations. Recently, a Government of national unity was formed in Lebanon, and we congratulate the Lebanese people on that achievement.

The current positive progress and momentum are hard-won results achieved jointly by the parties concerned with the support of the international community. Those results are to be doubly prized in the light of the difficult situation over the past two years, and in particular over the past several months. The parties concerned should continue to show their political will and tackle the difficulties and challenges head-on. They should redouble their efforts to attain a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East. Here, I wish to make three points.

First, it is important to provide further assistance to the Palestinian people. There has been no discernable improvement in the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, and the situation in the West Bank is also a matter of concern. The Palestinian people both in Gaza and in the West Bank are a single whole, and the international community should accord them equal importance. It is important both to provide them with assistance and to help the Palestinian Authority with the building of institutions and capacity. To maintain the internal unity of the various Palestinian factions is the ardent hope of the vast majority of the Palestinian people. The international community should intensify its efforts to promote Palestinian internal unity. Here, we express our support for the efforts being undertaken by Egypt and other Arab countries.

Secondly, it is important to create conditions conducive to political negotiations between Israel and Palestine. We are now at the midpoint of the Annapolis process timetable, and the parties have high expectations of the negotiations. We hope that the parties concerned will take concrete action to accelerate the negotiating process and do everything possible to avoid any action that could harm the negotiating climate. Israel's continued establishment of settlements while negotiations are under way is clearly not conducive to those negotiations. Countries with substantial leverage on the negotiating parties should exert a positive influence by urging them to make strategic choices.

Thirdly, it is important to promote a comprehensive peace in the Middle East. The Lebanon-Israel track and the Syria-Israel track are both important parts of the overall Middle East issue and are closely linked to the Palestine-Israel track. At present there are important opportunities to improve relations between Lebanon and Israel and between Syria and Israel; that would have a positive impact on the negotiations between Israel and Palestine. The international community should provide further assistance in that regard.

The support of the international community is indispensable for the achievement of peace in the Middle East. We are confident that the Security Council, as an organ of great importance for the maintenance of international peace and security, has an important role to play and that it can play it.

Mr. Grauls (Belgium)

I too wish to thank Under-Secretary-General Lynn Pascoe for his very detailed and comprehensive briefing. I wish also to thank the representative of Palestine and Ambassador Gillerman for their useful contributions to our debate. On behalf of Belgium, a friend of Israel, I wish Ambassador Gillerman all the best in his future endeavours.

Two years ago, the most serious crisis that had affected the region in a long time threatened to bury once and for all the hope of the peoples of the Middle East that they might live in common peace and security. By contrast, the developments of recent weeks -- at the international level, regionally and on the ground -- give the affected populations hope of lasting stability. That hope is fragile to be sure, but it is real. The events of recent weeks are also a source of encouragement for all concerned to continue and redouble our efforts.

It is from that dual perspective that I wish to address the Council today. Meeting in Paris along with the 27 members of the European Union and all other Mediterranean countries, President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert publicly confirmed their shared commitment to Annapolis. In-depth negotiations are to lead by the end of 2008 to a peace agreement leading to the establishment in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip of an independent and viable Palestinian State. It seems inevitable that there will be difficulties before such an agreement is concluded, but Belgium and its European partners extend their support to the Israeli and Palestinian leaders for the political courage they have shown in pursuing this process.

But negotiations alone will not be enough. As the European Union and its Quartet partners recalled on 24 June, it is urgent that tangible progress support the ongoing process of bilateral negotiations. The daily realities indeed threaten the credibility of the entire political process.

In that context, there are a number of priority issues. Several projects, in Jenin and in Bethlehem, have proven that there is potential for cooperation between the Israelis and the Palestinians in making a difference in the security and economic spheres.

Those examples show the path to follow. But, if we are to avoid a crisis of confidence, which would threaten this cooperation, those projects must be linked to respect for the commitments set out in the Road Map. In that connection, we encourage the efforts of Prime Minister Fayyad to strengthen his Government's capacities to ensure the rule of law. We reiterate our appeal to the Israeli Government to facilitate those efforts, in particular by avoiding new military operations in the areas now under the control of the Palestinian Authority and by ensuring a tangible improvement in freedom of movement in the West Bank. Finally, we call on the Israeli Government to immediately put an end to all settlement activity, including in East Jerusalem. Indeed, such activity is not only illegal, but totally contradicts the spirit of the ongoing negotiating process.

In Gaza, thanks to the Egyptian mediation, the populations in the Gaza Strip and in southern Israel have been enjoying a period of relative calm for several weeks. However, several incidents remind us of its fragility and of the urgent need for a halt to the violence, beginning with the firing of rockets. Thus, if it is to last, this period of calm must not be an end in itself; rather, it must become a step towards normalization not only of the security situation in the Gaza Strip, but also of the humanitarian, economic and political situation there, and must lead to the release of Corporal Shalit.

Moreover, we encourage the efforts of President Abbas with a view to a political reconciliation among the Palestinians. We appeal to the parties concerned to do their utmost to permit the reopening of the crossing points under Palestinian Authority control, while reaffirming the European Union's readiness to resume its monitoring mission in Rafah.

In addition to facilitating the negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians, the summit of the Union for the Mediterranean enabled the Syrian and Israeli leaders to confirm the continuation of their indirect negotiations, which were re-launched under the aegis of Turkey. Belgium welcomes this resumption of a dialogue that is taking place within the framework of the Madrid Agreements and that thus can only benefit all the efforts to achieve a comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

In the context of the hopes and challenges that have arisen out of recent regional developments, I should like to conclude with a few words on Lebanon. After a prolonged political and institutional stalemate, and after the fears aroused by the resort to arms by some Lebanese against other Lebanese, the Doha agreement has offered the prospect of lasting stabilization of the country and of its rejection of violence. The election of President Sleiman and the formation of a unity Government are important steps. They should encourage the Lebanese leaders to invest in comprehensive implementation of the Doha agreement, while agreeing on the electoral law and resuming the national dialogue, so as to guarantee the unity, independence, sovereignty and stability of Lebanon, as hoped for by the Lebanese. It is in that context that we appeal to Presidents Sleiman and Al-Assad to swiftly implement their joint statements aimed at normalizing the bilateral relations between their countries.

With the objectives of stability and peace, which are at the heart of resolution 1701 (2006), in mind, Belgium associates itself with the statement of the Secretary-General in hoping that the humanitarian gestures of 16 July will make a positive contribution to regional stability, while we convey our condolences to the affected families.

Mr. Churkin (Russia)

We thank Under-Secretary-General Pascoe for his briefing on the situation regarding a Middle East settlement. We listened carefully to the statements made by the representative of Palestine and the Permanent Representative of Israel. We hope that, after he leaves New York, Ambassador Gillerman will, on the basis of the rich experience gained here, devote his ene