UNITED NATIONS, Dec 19 (NNN-KUNA) — Robert Serry, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, has said that the end of the Israeli occupation of Arab lands is “possible, necessary, and urgent.”
Addressing the Security Council in its monthly meeting Thursday, Serry said a “comprehensive peace in the region, with an end of occupation and the creation of a Palestinian state … is possible, necessary, and urgent.”
He noted that an “important platform for peace” has been established in 2008 …. The challenge now is to build on this platform and turn the promise of peace into a reality. I am convinced that this can and must be done.”
The open meeting in which over 30 representatives participated was held for two days following a ministerial meeting attended by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband who managed to have the council issue a resolution that set the stage for a decisive push for peace in 2009.
Praising the Palestinian Authority for its continued efforts to impose law and order in conformity with its roadmap commitments, Serry criticized Israel for failing to do so. “We urge any new Israeli government to decisively address the question of settlement expansion … and refrain from unilateral actions in Jerusalem which alter the status quo or undermine trust,” he said.
He noted that the “unprecedented level of closure of crossing points into Gaza has caused unacceptable hardship to the civilian population” and condemned the launching of rockets by Hamas into Israel, warning that a major escalation of violence would have “grave consequences” for the protection of civilians in Israel and Gaza.
“On behalf of the secretary-general, I make today a direct and urgent appeal for the calm to be respected and extended,” he said.
Addressing the council, Palestinian envoy Riyadh Mansour expressed hope that 2009 will bring an “end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the tragedy of our peoples with the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace, the cornerstone of which is the two-state solution … and we look forward to the day … when we can together open a new chapter of peace, security and coexistence in our region.”
Israeli envoy Gabriella Shalev, whose country has always objected to the UN involvement in the Middle East peace process, congratulated the council during the meeting for adopting the “important” resolution 1850 two days ago, praising 2008 as the “most constructive year for the peace process.”